British 20th Regiment of Foot

By Crusader1307

Also known as The ''Lankenshire Fusiliers'', The 20^th Regiment of Foot was raised in 1688. They were first deployed to Ireland to fight in The Williamite Wars. They were originally (2) Companies of 200 Officers and Men. They were early participants in The French Revolutionary Wars – and fought in Portugal and The Peninsular War. They spent most of their time fighting in Spain and the surrounding Region.

The Regiment would be deployed to The Crimea in the 1850s, and fought at Alma and also at Inkerman (1854). They retained their identity through The Childers Reforms to The Army in 1881, although several other smaller Regiments were assigned. Stationed in Ireland, The Regiment would be deployed to The Sudan in the 1890s, fighting against Mahdist Forces. During the later phases of The Boer War in South Africa, The Fusiliers were deployed, fighting at Sion Kop and Relieving The Forces at The Siege of Ladysmith (1900). Over 500 of their number would remain as Garrison. During World War I, elements of The Regiment suffered at Gallipoli (1915) with other components sent to The Western Front.

Later during World War II, The Regiment (now mostly Mechanized), were part of the Evacuation at Dunkirk (1940). They would go on to fight in Italy, winning several Victoria Crosses in the process. In 1968, The Regiment was amalgamated with surviving Regiments of Fusiliers to form The Royal Fusiliers Regiment (as they are known today).