The Regiment saw action immediately in 1794-5 fighting in Holland and Flanders. After an expedition to the Cape of Good Hope, the Regiment spent four years in Ceylon, before, in 1801, being sent to Egypt as part of the force sent to eject Napoleon. Although they arrived too late to take part in the fighting, due to the arduous journey via the Red Sea and across the desert, the British Government were so impressed with the 80th's performance they received the Battle Honour 'The Sphinx, superscribed Egypt'.
In 1836 the Regiment left for New South Wales where it acted as Guards for the Convicts. Between 1837 and 1841 the Regiment was based at Windsor, New South Wales, with detachments deployed throughout the colony.
Late in 1837 the Acting Governor of the Colony, Colonel Kenneth Snodgrass ordered Major James Nunn to lead a detachment against the Kamilaroi tribe. In late Jan 1838 Major Nunn, leading an Ensign, three sergeants and nineteen troopers down the Gwydir River, came across a great many Aborigines. After a Corporal attempted to arrest an aboriginal native, in response to which he was speared in the calf, a chain of events occurred which became known as 'The Slaughterhouse Creek Massacre'. This was the last Military action undertaken by British Troops against the Aboriginal population.
During 1839 Major Thomas Bunbury was forced to suppress a mutiny within his own men whilst Commander of Norfolk Island.
In 1841 Major Thomas Bunbury led a detachment to New Zealand where they were instrumental in gaining New Zealand for Queen Victoria. The stone barracks built during this time can still be seen in Auckland.
On 11 June 1844 the regiment was sent to India. The bulk of the Regiment arrived safely, but three companies were stranded in The Andaman Islands for fifty days after being ship-wrecked.
During Britain's rule of India there were many wars and campaigns. During the First Sikh War the 80th were to gain a further three battle honours. The Sikh army, with European trained Soldiers, became increasingly dominant in state affairs. An invading army crossed into British Territory on Dec 11 1845.
At Moodkee on Dec 18 1845 a force of between 15-25,000 Sikhs were met by 12,000 British under the command of General Sir Hugh Gough. The British Regiments eventually drove the Sikhs from the field of battle. Of the 824 soldiers of the 80th only 24 were killed or wounded.
Following this victory the British Forces moved to confront the main Sikh forces and the Battle of Ferozeshah commenced on Dec 21 1845. The Sikh encampment was eventually cleared with their leader Tej Singh withdrawing . 817 soldiers of the 80th took part, with 120 killed or wounded.
The final battle took part at Sobroan on Feb 10 1846 when a British Force of 20,000 faced 35,000 Sikhs. The Sikh fortifications were finally breached and they were driven across the Sutlej River. 816 soldiers of the 80th took part with 91 killed or wounded.
The Regiment's penultimate Battle Honour 'Central India' was won during the Indian Mutiny. After arriving in Calcutta in Feb 1858 they took part in the closing stages of the mutiny, making endless marches in minor punitive expeditions lasting some twelve months. Their services in South Africa during 1878 and 79 won the Regiment its final battle honour. They took part in various operations against Sekukuni of the Basuto tribe during 1878, till this action was suspended due to the impending Zulu War.
The
Zulu War started on Jan11 1879 when British Forces invaded Zululand. The
first major battle took place at Inyezance when the No1 column was
attacked by the Zulus. Thias attack was repulsed. The Zulus later
attacked and took the British Camp at Isandhlwana on Jan22 1879 when
over 1000 British and Colonial soldiers were slaughtered. British Honour
was restored later that day when the hospital and stores at Rorke's
Drift were successfully held by only a few men. A further two reverses
were to take place, one on March 12 when a company of the 80th were
attacked and many killed at Myer's Drift in the Intimbi River. The
second occured at Hlobane Mountain on March 28. However, serious damage
was done to the Zulu forces on March 29 at Kambula, when a Zulu force of
20,000 was chased off the battle field. During the invasion of Zululand
on April 2 the British Forces were attacked by 12,000 Zulus who were
driven off.
The Final battle against the Zulus was on July 4 at Ulundi when a force of 20,000 Zulus were defeated and Ulundi and other Kraals in the area were burnt. On Aug 15 the principle Chiefs of the Zulus surrendered and on Aug 28 the Zulu King Cetshwayo was captured, bringing the war to an end.
At the conclusion of the Zulu War the Regiment continued their task of defeating Sekukuni. Following a number of small confrontations the Sekukuni town stronghold was captured on Nov 28 1879.
During 1881 the 80th Regiment of Foot (Staffordshire Volunteers) were amalgamated with the 38th Regiment of Foot to form the South Staffordshire Regiment.
Right - Private Samuel Wassall who won the VC on Jan 22 1879 when , after the defeat at Islandlwhana, at the risk of his own life he saved a drowning comrade from the Buffalo River whilst under heavy fire.
Service Dates
1793-1794 Chatham
1794 Guernsey
1794-1795 Campaign in the Low Countries
1795 Isle Dieu Expedition
1796-1797 Cape Town
1797-1801 Trincomalee Ceylon
1801-1802 Egypt, Det. Malabar Coast, S. India
1802-1803 Madras. Det. Poonamalee
1803-1804 Operations in Southern Mahratta Country
1804-1807 Cannanore, S. India
1805 Operations against Nairs of Wynaud
1807-1809 Seringapatam, S. India
1813-1817 Quilon, S. India
1817-1818 Chatham
1818 Colchester. Dets.
1818-1819 Hull. Dets.
1819 Glasgow. Dets.
1819-1820 Aberdeen. Dets
1820 Edinburgh
1821 Gibraltar
1822-1828 Malta
1828-1830 Corfu, Ionian Islands
1830-1831 Cephalonia, Ionian Islands. Det. Ithaca
1831-1832 Lancashire and Cheshire
1832 Dublin
1832-1833 Belfast. Dets.
1833-1834 Naas, Co. Kildare. Dets.
1834 Lancashire and Cheshire
1834-1835 Salford
1835 Liverpool. Dets.
1835-1836 Chatham
1836-1837 Sydney, N.S.W. Convict escort duty to Australia
1837-1841 Windsor, N.S.W. Dets. including Norfolk Island
1840-1844 Det. in New Zealand
1841-1845 Parramatta, N.S.W. Dets.
1845 Agra, U.P. India
1845-1846 1st Sikh War
1846-1847 Lahore, Punjab
1847-1852 Dinapore, Bihar
1847 Meerut, U.P.
1852-1853 2nd Burmese War
1854-1855 Fort George, Scotland
1855 Portsmouth
1855-1856 Aldershot
1856-1857 Fort Beaufort. Cape Colony. Dets.
1858-1859 Indian Mutiny
1859 Cawnpore. U.P.
1860-1861 Saugor, Central Provinces
1862-1864 Jhansi, U.P. Dets. Gwalior and Seepree, Central India
1864-1865 Dum Dum, Bengal
1865 Bhutan Field Force
1866-1867 Devonport
1867 Portland. Det. Weymouth
1867-1868 Aldershot
1868-1869 Fleetwood. Dets. Leeds and Liverpool
1869-1870 Birr, Co. Tipperary. Dets.
1870-1872 Belfast.Dets.
1872 Singapore. Dets. Penang and Malacca
1872-1876 Hong Kong
1875-1876 Det. Perak Operations
1876-1877 Singapore
1877 Kingwilliamstown, Cape Colony
1877-1878 Pietermaritzburg, Natal. Det. Newcastle
1878-1879 Zulu War
1880-1881 Dublin
