[Coquet]

Originally Posted by janwhin

Not in my tree, but a cousin, veteran of the American Wars:

George Kirk, porter at Alnwick Castle for 36 years, died there in 1814, sergeant major in the 5th Regiment of Foot and severely wounded at Bunker's Hill. Born in Sheffield, allegedly enlisted at the age of 12. Awarded a silver military medal for 21 years service in 1769 (now in Fusilier Museum at the castle) presented by Earl Percy, colonel of the 5th.

Here's a brief history of that period in America and up to the start of the 19th century, taken from Walter Wood's book on the Northumberland Fusiliers.


"CHAPTER IV
THE WINNING OF THE PLUME
WHILE in Ireland the Fifth were frequently engaged in the Revenue service, and from time to time were called upon to suppress bands of armed peasants known by such titles as Whiteboys, Hearts of Steel, and Hearts of Oak.
When in 1774 the deplorable events between Great Britain and her North American colonies necessitated the sending of additional troops across the Atlantic, the Fifth were chosen to proceed on that service. The regiment was part of the force which caused the first blood to be shed in this memorable war. This was at Lexington, not far from Boston, on April 18, 1775. This skirmish was followed by an extraordinary march of about thirty-five miles, on a hot day, to Charlestown, from which place the troops were ferried across the river to Boston under cover of the fire of the men-of-war. The whole province being now in arms, an immense number of men invested Boston on the land side, and on the morning of June 17 it was found that they had constructed works on high ground beyond the river, known as Bunker's Hill.
The Fifth formed part of a force which was ordered to attack the heights, and the force managed to land without opposition and form up on some high ground near the shore. It was clear that the enemy was determined to defend his post, and under cover of the fire of the ships of war the troops went bravely to the assault. It required high courage, too, to face a defence like that on such a day, for the heat was great and the hill that was stormed was steep. The men were encumbered with three days' provisions ; they had their knapsacks on their backs, and altogether carried a weight of 125 lbs. They had to force their way through grass which reached to their knees, and was intersected with walls and fences of various enclosures. Further, they were met by a fierce and well-directed fire, so that the conquest of Bunker's Hill became an unusually severe task. Twice the British troops were stopped in their assault, and twice they returned to the charge. Nothing but sheer pluck and physical power could have ensured success, and it speaks well for the quality of the Fifth in those days that they gained their goal despite almost overwhelming obstacles. They made a last grand rush with fixed bayonets, and having actually come face to face with the foe, they drove him out of the works and remained masters of the situation. Well might General Burgoyne say of Bunker's Hill that " the Fifth has behaved the best and suffered the most," for in the assault the regiment had a loss of officers and men which proved a very serious drain on its resources.
This success was great, but the army remained at Boston in a state of blockade, and so hard pressed for fresh provisions and other necessaries were the troops, that live cattle and vegetables, and even fuel, were dispatched from England. Many of the ships containing these supplies, however, were either wrecked or fell into the hands of the Americans, and the consequence was that sickness and death made havoc amongst the imprisoned soldiers. Side by side with this scarcity of food was the renewed activity of the enemy, who suffered from no such lack of needful things. Evacuation became inevitable, and in March 1776 the army embarked from Boston and went to Halifax ; but most of the troops had to remain on board ship, as the town had neither accommodation nor food enough for them.
For several months the Fifth were engaged in minor operations in various districts, at all times mindful of their reputation, and enduring privations and lean living with a fortitude that earned for them unstinted admiration. Between the fight at Bunker's Hill and another severe action in which the Fifth greatly distinguished themselves, they were concerned in the attack on Long Island (August 27, 1776), the capture of White Plains (October 28) and Fort Washington (November 16). In 1777 they were quartered in the Island of New Jersey, and on October 4 took part in the defence of Germantown, where they fought bravely and suffered severely. The next year, 1778, was an eventful one, for during it the Fifth earned the right to the plume which for so long a period has been peculiar to the regiment. In September 300 men of the regiment and New Jersey Volunteers embarked in transports on an expedition to Little Egg Harbour, in New Jersey, a place which in those days was noted for its connection with privateers. On reaching the harbour the detachment went on board small vessels, which, with several row-galleys, proceeded twenty miles up the river to Chestnut Neck, where, under the cover of the galley's fire, the troops landed. Of that little expedition the Fifth made a thoroughly good bit of work, for having routed the enemy's forces which opposed the descent, they chased it into the woods, and then returned and destroyed the village, as well as several store¬houses and armed vessels. Subsequently a night excursion was made ten miles farther up the river, the result being that the troops surprised some companies of the enemy in their quarters, put many to death at the point of the bayonet, and destroyed the enemy's shelter. This was accomplished with the loss of only two killed and two wounded of the Fifth.
As soon as this detachment had returned, the regiment was ordered to form part of an expedition against the French West Indies, and sailed from Sandy Hook on November 3, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards Sir William) Medows, its chief. The expedition reached St. Lucie on December 13, and immediately the Fifth, by another exhibition of valour, secured a distinction as unique as that of the third colour. This work began with the capture of the town of Morne Fortuné on December 14. The Fifth, having seized the town, the governor's house, and the hospital and barracks, occupied an important post named La Vigie, situated on a tongue of land commanding the north side of the Carenage Harbour, and separated by that harbour from the rest of the
army. Meanwhile the French fleet had arrived off the harbour and had disembarked 9000 men, and on the 18th this force attacked the handful of soldiers of the Fifth under Medows. The enemy, in three columns, made three fierce attacks, and were beaten off each time. They lost about 400 killed and 1100 wounded, while the British killed numbered only 10, and the wounded 130.
Once more the English had overpowered the French, and the conduct of the Fifth was signalised by the granting to them of the right to wear a white plume in the cap instead of the red and white tuft worn by other regiments of the line, the Fifth having taken from the bodies of slain French Grenadiers enough white feathers to decorate every man in the regiment. Those were the days in which colours were essentially a rallying-point, and Medows, who was in command, at one great crisis of the battle, finding that his ammunition was nearly done, drew up his gallant band in front of them, and waving his sword, exclaimed, " Soldiers, as long as you have a bayonet to point against
an enemy's breast, defend these colours ! " Besides uttering these inspiring words he set a glorious personal example, for he refused to quit his post, though wounded severely in the right arm, and continued to ride from point to point until the attack was over and the victory assured. In a letter from Morne Fortuné, dated December 19, General Grant said : " I cannot express how much I feel obliged to you, and the troops under your command, for repulsing, with so much spirit and bravery, so great a body of the enemy, and own it was just what I expected from you and them."
From this time until the end of the century the Fifth served on both sides of the Atlantic, renewing their associations with Ireland. In 1784 they received the denomination of the Northumberland Regiment, in compliment to Earl Percy, who for sixteen years had held the command, and was then promoted to the colonelcy of the second troop of Horse Grena¬dier Guards.
The colours of the Fifth, which time and battle had reduced to shreds, were in 1785 replaced by a new set. This was on St. George's Day, on the evening of which " the men dined sumptuously in the barrack-yard by companies, at the expense of their lately promoted colonel, Earl Percy."
Just before the century ended, the Fifth were once more in Holland, the country in which so many of their fighting years had been passed, and where they did good service in spite of hardships which the Duke of York in General Orders described as " insupportable." The Fifth were amongst the last of the British troops to leave Holland in 1799. The regiment had been divided into two battalions of 800 each this year, and these battalions, after a short stay in England, were ordered to Gibraltar in 1800.