51st Regiment of Foot

Known as The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI)

Chronology

• 1755 raised in Leeds as the 53rd Regiment of Foot
• 1757 renumbered 51st Regiment of Foot
• 1782 became the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding) Regiment of Foot
• 1809 became the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding) Regiment of Light Infantry
• 1821 became the 51st (2nd Yorkshire, West Riding, The King's Own Light Infantry) Regiment
• 1881 became the 1st Battalion, The King's Own Light Infantry (South Yorkshire Regiment)
• 1897 became The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)
• 1921 became The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
• 1968 became the 2nd Battalion of The Light Infantry (2LI)
• 2007 merged with the Royal Green Jackets to form The Rifles becoming '5 RIFLES'

A researcher has advised: The 51st Light Infantry arrived at Calcutta from England in December of 1857. The Regiment remained stationed near the seat of government in Calcutta and although the odd man or two might have been on detachment with other regiments and thus have seen action, as a regiment the 51st saw no fighting during the Mutiny and did not qualify for the Indian Mutiny medal.

External Links

• King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Wikipedia
• The Light Infantry Wikipedia
• KOYLIs on Lightinfantry.org