This is the 28th North Gloucestershire Regiment

For their conduct at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801 the 28th was given the unique honour of wearing a badge on both the front and rear of their head dress. This commemorated a possibly unique feat, when, drawn up in two ranks to repel a French infantry attack, they were simultaneously attacked from the rear by French cavalry. Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers, who had taken over command following the serious wounding of the Commanding Officer, Colonel Paget, gave the historic order "Rear rank, 28th! Right about face!". The rear ranks turned and with exemplary discipline waited until the French cavalry were a few horse lengths away. They then fired one devastating volley, causing heavy casualties amongst the cavalry and forcing them to withdraw. They served throughout the Peninsula War including the battles of Talavera, Albuhera and Vittoria. They were one of the few Peninsula veteran regiments which were available for the Hundred Days campaign and fought in the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo as part of the 8th Brigade commanded by James Kempt. Because of their actions in this campaign, they earned distinguished mention in the dispatches of the Duke of Wellington. During the Hundred Days the 28th continued to wear the old style stovepipe shako, distinguishing them from most British regiments that had adopted the new Belgic shako.


Lady Butlers The 28th Regiment at Quatre Bras
The 28th Regiment were the subject of a famous oil painting on canvas from 1875 by Elizabeth Thompson (Lady Butler), portraying the regiment in action at Quatre Bras.

Archive material of the 28th Regiment of Foot is held by The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum in the Historic Docks Gloucester.