HISTORICAL RECORDS
of the
40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot,
Now the First Battalion
THE PRINCE OF WALES’S VOLUNTEERS,
(SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT).
CHAPTER I. 1717-51.
Formation of the Regiment.—The State of Affairs in Nova Scotia.—Early Services in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.—Colonel Mascarene.—Numerical Title.—Royal Clothing Warrant of 1751.
1717.
Formation of the Regiment.
FEW regiments have had a more varied career in all parts of the world than the Old Fortieth Foot—the “Fighting Fortieth”—familiarly known as “The Excellers” (XL-ers).
The Regiment dates its origin from the year 1717—the third year of the reign of King George the First.
At this period there were four independent companies of Foot serving at Annapolis Royal—then the name of the new settlement of Nova Scotia,—and four independent companies at Placentia, in the island of Newfoundland.
From these eight companies the Fortieth Regiment was formed on 25th August, 1717, under the command of Colonel Richard
