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[[Image:Wiltshir.gif|thumb|250px|right|Cap Badge]]
Also known as '''The Wiltshire Regiment'''.
*'''1758''' became the 62nd Regiment of Foot
*'''1782''' became the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment
*'''1881''' amalgamated with the [[99th Regiment of Foot|99th Duke of Edinburgh's (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot ]] to become the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire) Regiment
*'''1921''' became The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh’s).
*'''1959''' amalgamated into The Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire)
In December, 1844 the 62nd were relieved by the 39th Foot, and started their march to the [[Punjab]]. In February 1845 they reached [[Delhi]], and they arrived at [[Ferozepore]], in March. The 62nd's barracks were still in the process of building, as a British Regiment was not normally stationed there; the aggressive attitude of the Sikhs beyond the River Sutlej determining the change in policy. For two months the Regiment camped out, and when they moved into ten barrack blocks in May, there were still no doors to the buildings and no officers' quarters. By now the hot weather had come, and once again cholera struck the Regiment. They always seem fated to be in a part of India rife with the disease, and there was much of it in the Punjab during that month of June. In this Asiatic variety the victims turned black and suffered cramp in the limbs, but stood every chance of recovery if they survived the first forty-eight hours. The Regimental hospital was not ready till July, and the sick had to be accommodated in one belonging to the Native Infantry. In September there were 170 men in hospital, and, by the outbreak of the [[1st Sikh War]] in December, 126 men had died from cholera and apoplexy. Ferozepore was just South-East of the River Sutlej, which formed the boundary between that part of the Punjab ruled by the Sikhs and the territory governed by the British. The 62nd's barracks lay in a great sandy plain without a tree or a blade of grass. A mile away was the old city, with the Frontier Treasury and Military Headquarters.
The Sikh religion had much in common with that of the Hindus, but with no caste system. The Sikhs never cut their black hair or beards, wore a comb in their hair, a short sword or dagger, a steel bracelet and a pair of short drawers. Tall and strong, they had an intensive military enthusiasm, and called themselves the Khalsa, the chosen brotherhood of the elect. For the past six years the "Sikh" Punjab had seen a ceaseless struggle for power between the Army and the Government with much intrigue and strife. All Sikhs were, however, united in the expectation of a British attack. Late in 1845 they moved to invade British India from a variety of motives; forestalment and self-preservation were two of them, but the thirst of the soldiers for power, natural pugnacity, and a desire on the part of the Government to involve their own Army in something other than internal strife, were greater influences. On 21st November the Sikh Army, in great numbers and with a large train of artillery, left their capital of [[Lahore]] and marched South-East towards the Sutlej, fifty miles away. Their progress was marked by the firing of guns at each daily halt. Foreseeing trouble, the British Governor-General in India, Sir Henry Hardinge, had taken certain steps. At Ferozepore, Major-General Littler now commanded a Division, though it was only 6,000 strong. Farther East, 11,000 more troops had been assembled at Ludhiana and Ambala under the [[Commander-in-Chief in India]], [[Hugh Gough|General Sir Hugh Gough]], and the Governor-General himself. From now on, Light Cavalry Patrols were very active from Ferozepore, and, in early December, the 62nd started sleeping fully dressed with laced boots, and muskets by their cots. On 11th December the Sikhs commenced crossing the Sutlej about fourteen miles above Ferozepore to the North-east, and had some 12,000 men on the near bank by the next day. At midday on 12th December, the 62nd was ordered to occupy a position on the left bank facing North-east covering the cantonment and the city. Next day the Sikhs moved nearer with more and more men crossing the river, constant artillery salutes marking the arrival of each contingent. The 27th Native Infantry occupied the city, and the 63rd Native Infantry guarded the families and the sick in entrenchments in the cantonment.
On 12th December, the Governor-General and the Commander-in Chief set out from Ludhiana with 11,000 to 12,000 men. On the 14th the Sikh's main camp was at Attaree only seven miles from Ferozepore, with outposts close up to it. This portion of the Sikh Army was commanded by Sirdar Tej Singh, and made frequent demonstrations for the next three days. The 62nd made night sorties, but the Sikhs always retreated towards their heavy guns whereupon the British withdrew, being under orders not to stage a main attack. During this period Rajah Lal Singh, with 14,000 Regular Cavalry and masses of Irregulars, joined Tej Singh to the accompaniment of an eighty-gun salute. The combined Force numbered 60,000 men. The two Sikh Commanders by no means saw eye to eye. On the evening of the 16th, Lal Singh sent a message to Captain Peter Nicolson of the 28th Native Infantry, who was the British Political Agent in Ferozepore, saying that he was a friend of the British, and wished to prevent an attack to prove it. Nicolson replied that he should withdraw with his cavalry towards [[Moodkee]], to show his sincerity, knowing that the Commander-in-Chief's Forces were approaching that place. Lal Singh did so, but attacked the British at Moodkee on 18th December. On 17th and 18th, Tej Singh's troops did little except loot villages and fire salutes from Zamburaks, light guns discharged from the backs of camels. On the 17th Littler received news of General Gough's approach. The following evening the weather was cold, and Ashburnham was sitting with Nicolson in his tent, smoking a cheroot and sipping a night-cap of grog. A wounded Sikh was brought in by a vidette of the 3rd Light Dragoons, and a threat of hanging brought the first news of Lal Singh's repulse by the British that day at Moodkee.
