12th Regiment of Foot

4th Mysore War

The 12th Regiment of Foot first embarked for the East Indies in June 1796 onboard the East Indiamen "Rockingham". "Hawkesbury", "Airlie Castle" and "Melville Castle". They were convoyed by the frigate "Fox". Lists of the officers and men of the regiment that boarded these ships have been transcribed from the ships logs held at the British Library and put online on the fibis search website. Wives that accompanied the men are also listed.

The regiment arrived in Madras in January 1797 and remained in India until 1809. During it's time in India the regiment saw action in the 4th Mysore War taking part in the storming of Seringapatam on the 4th May 1799.

Afghan War

The regiment embarked again for India from Ireland in July 1864 aboard the "Alnwick Castle", "Trafalgar", Calcutta" and "Alquis". The First Battalion saw action in the Second Afghan War 1879-1881.

From 1864 to 1907 the Suffolk Regiment always had at least one battalion serving in India. In St Marys Church, Bury St Edmunds, there is a brass plaque commemorating the 266 officers and men of the Second Battalion who died in India from 1864 to 1878.

World War II

The Suffolk Regiment were also in India during World War II.

Suffolk Regiment Archive

The Suffolk Regiment Archives are held at the Suffolk Record Office in Bury St Edmunds.