Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library

REGIMENTS SERVING IN JAMAICA 1702-1962

The following List is used as a reference by the Jamaica Defence Force, and is provided to this website by Colonel Allan Douglas of the JDF.

"Sources: A list of military units in Jamaica from 1781 to 1938 compiled from the Jamaica Almanacs and Handbooks of Jamaica by Miss Phyllis 0. B. Caws, Research Assistant at the West India Reference Library of the Institute of Jamaica, is on file in that Library. Information before 1781, including the extract on the formation of the 49th Foot, kindly supplied by Mr. D. W. King, Librarian at the War Office, is also on file there. Names of the British Regiments at Up Park Camp 1898-1962 were supplied by Miss Young from Alert, October 1971. In addition to the Regiments Miss Caws' list includes other units such as the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Hospital Staff, Army Pay Corps (from 1881) Army Service Corps (from 1889/90) and others.

1702-1714) Col. Handasyd's regiment afterwards the 22nd Foot

1714-1745) Independent Companies

1745) Formation of the 49th Foot (by order dated 1743.)

1764) The 49th and 74th regiments were relieved

1764-1766) 36th, 66th

1766-1772) 36th, 60th, 66th

1773) 36th, 50th, 60th, 66th

1774-1776) 50th, 60th

1777-1779) 60th

1780) 60th, 79th

1781) 60th, 79th, 85th, 88th, 92nd, 93rd, 94th, Royal Irish Corps.

1782) 60th, 79th, 85th, 88th, 92nd, 94th . Provincial Corps: Loyal American Rangers. Duke of Cumberland's or S. Carolina Rangers. Two Independent companies.

1783) 14th {Bedfordshire), 19th (1st Yorkshire North Riding), 30th (Cambridgeshire), 80th (Royal Am), 79th (Royal Liverpool Vols), 99th (Jamaica) Loyal Am. Rangers, Duke of Cumberland's or S. Caro. Rangers. Jamaica Rangers 3 Battalions.

1784) 3rd (E. Kent, Buffs), 14th (Beds), 19th (1st Yorks N.R.), 60th (Royal American)

1785) 3rd (E. Kent), 14th (Beds), l9th (1st Yorks N.Riding), 60th (Royal American)

1786) 3rd (E. Kent), 14th (Beds), l9th (1st Yorks R.), 60th (Royal American).

1787) 3rd (E. Kent), 10th (N. Lincs), 14th (Beds), 19th (1st Yorks N.R.)

1788) 3rd (E. Kent), 10th (N. Lincs), 14th (Beds), 19th (1st Yorks N. R.)

1789) 3rd (E. Kent), 10th, 14th (Beds), 19th (1st Yorks N. R.)

1790) 3rd, 10th, 14th, 19th

1791) 1st (or Royals, 1st Bn), 10th, 14th, 19th, 62nd (Wilts)

1793) 20th, (or Ja) Light Dragoons. 1st Foot (Royals, 1st Bn), 10th, 13th (Somersetshire) 16th, 20th (E. Devon), 49th, 62nd

1794) 20th (Ja) Lt Dragoons. 1st Foot (Royals, 1st Bn), 10th, 13th (Somersetshire) 16th, 20th (E. Devon), 49th, 62nd

1795) 20th (Ja) Lt Dragoons, 10th, 16th, 20th, 62nd

1796) 20th (Ja) Lt Dragoons, 16th, 62nd (Wilts), 83rd

1797) 20th (Ja) Lt Dragoons., 40th , 62nd, 83rd, 3rd Regt & 5th.Regt of Irish Brigade.

1798) 20th Lt Dragoons. 60th Regt (4th Bn), 63rd (W. Suffolk), 83rd. 6th W. I. Regt.

1799) 20th Lt. Dragoons, 60th Regt (4th Bn), 63rd, 68th(Berks), 67th (S. Hants), 83rd (York Hussars)

1800) 20th Lt Dragoons, 60th (lst, 4th Bn), 67th (Sth Hants), 83rd

1801) 20th (Ja) Lt Dragoons, 60th Foot (1st, 4th Bn), 67th (S. Hants), 69th (S. Linc), 83rd

1802) 20th (Ja) Lt Dragoons, 60th Foot (1st, 4th Bn), 69th (S. Linc), 83rd, 2nd West India Regiment

1803) 55th Foot, 60th Foot (lst, 4th, 6th Bn) 85 Foot, 2nd West India Regiment.

1804) 55th Foot, 60th Foot (lst, 4th, 6th Bns), 35th Foot, 2nd W. I.

1805) 55th, 60th (1st, 4th, 6th, Bn) 35th, 2nd W. I.

1806) 18th Royal Irish (1st Bn), 55th, 60th (1st, 6th Bn), 85th, 2nd W. I.

1807) 18th Royal Irish, 55th, 60th (1st, 6th Bn), 2nd W. I.

1808) 18th Royal Irish, 54th, 55th, 60th (1st, 6th Bn), 85th, 2nd W. I.

1809) 18th Royal Irish, 54th, 55th, 60th (1st, 6th Bn), 2nd W. I.

1810) 18th Royal Irish, 54th, 55th, 60th ( 6th Bn), 101st, 5th W. I.

1811) 18th Royal Irish, 54th, 55th, 60th ( 6th Bn), 101st, 5th W. I.

1812) 18th Royal Irish, 54th, 55th, 60th ( 6th Bn), 101st, York Light Infantry Volunteers, 5th W. I.

1813) 18th Royal Irish (1st Bn), 54th, 55th, 60th ( 6th Bn), 101st, York Light Infantry Volunteers, 5th W. I., 2nd W. I., 7th W. I.

1814) 18th Royal Irish (1st Bn), 60th ( 6th Bn), 101st, York Light Infantry Volunteers, 5th W. I., 2nd W. I., 7th W. I.

18l5) 18th Royal Irish (1st Bn), 60th ( 6th Bn), 101st, York Light Infantry Volunteers, 2nd W. I., 7th W. I.

1816) 18th Royal Irish, 60th ( 6th Bn), 101st, York Light Infantry Volunteers, 5th W. I., 2nd W. I., 7th W. I.

1817) 58th, 60th (6th Bn), 61st, York Chasseurs arr. Nov. 1816, 2nd W. I., 5th W. I.

1818) 58th, 61st, York Chasseurs, 2nd W. I., Black Garr Co 1st & 2nd

1819) 58th, 61st, York Ch., 2nd W. I., Black Garr Co.

1820) 50th, 58th, 61st, 92nd, 2nd W. I.

1821) 50th, 58th, 61st, 92nd, 2nd W. I..

1822) 33rd, 50th, 91st, 92nd, 2nd W. I.

1823) 33rd, 50th, 91st, 92nd, 2nd W. I.

1824) 33rd, 50th, 77th, 91st, 92nd, Detach of 2nd W. I.

1825) 33rd, 50th, 77th 91st, 92nd , 2nd W. I.

1826) 33rd, 50th, 77th, 91st, 92nd, 2nd W. I.

1827) 22nd, 33rd, 77th, 84th, 91st 2nd W. I.

1828) 22nd, 33rd, 77th, 84th, 91st 2nd W. I.

1829) 22nd, 33rd, 77th, 84th, 91st, 2nd W. I.

1831) 22nd, 33rd, 77th, 84th, 2nd W. I.

1832) 22nd 56th, 77th, 84th, 2nd W. I.

1833) 22nd, 37th, 56th, 77th, 84th, 2nd W. I.

1836) 8th, 22nd, 84th, 2nd W. I.

1838) 8th, 37th, 56th, 64th, 84th

1839) 8th, 56th, 64th, 68th,

1840) 64th, 68th, 82nd, 2nd W. I.

1841) 68th, 82nd, 2nd W. I., 3rd W. I.

1842) 60th, 82nd, 2nd W. I., 3rd W. I.

1843) 60th, 82nd, 2nd W. I.

1844) 60th, 77th, 2nd W. I.

1845) 48th, 77th, 1st W. I., 2nd W. 1.

1846) 38th, 48th, 1st W. I., 2nd W. I.

1847) 38th, 1st W. I., 2nd W. I.

1849) 97th, 1st W. I., 2nd W. I.

1850) 97th, 1st W. I., 2nd W. I., 3rd W. I.

1851) 97th (Reserve Bn), 1st W. I., 2nd W. I., 3rd W. I.

1855) 36th, 1st W. I., 3rd W. I.

1857) 36th, 1st W. I., 3rd W. I.

1859) 41st, 2nd W. I.

1860) 41st, 2nd W. I.

1861) 14th, 2nd W. I., 3rd W. I.

1862) 14th, 2nd W. I., 3rd W. I..

1864) 14th

1865) 6th Royal Regt (2nd Bn), 5th W. I.

1866) 6th Royal Regt (2nd Bn)

1867) 6th Royal Regt (2nd Bn)

1868) 84th

1869) 84th, 3rd W. I.

1870) 84th

1871) 29th, 1st W. I.

1872) 29th, 1st W. I.

1873) 29th, 1st W. I.

1874) 97th, 98 th

1875) 98th, 2nd W. I.

1876) 35th, 2nd W. I.

1877) 35th, 2nd W. I.

1878) 35th, 2nd W. I.

1879) 35th, 2nd W. I. .

1880) 4th (1st Bn)

1881) 4th (1st Bn), 2nd W. I.

1882) Royal Scots Lothian Regt, 2nd W. I.

1883) Royal Scots Lothian Regt, 1st W. I.

1884-5) Royal Scots Lothian Regt, 2nd W. I.

1885-6) North Staffordshire Regt., 1st W. I.

1886-7) North Staffordshire Regt., 2nd W. I.

1887-8) 1st Bn. E. Yorkshire Regt, 2nd W. I.

1888-9) 1st Bn. E. Yorkshire Regt, 2nd W. I.

1889-90) 2nd Bn York & Lancaster Regt., 1st Bn W. I.

1890-91) 2nd Bn York & Lancaster Regt., 1st Bn W. I.

1891-92) 2nd Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt., 1st Bn W. I.

1892) 2nd Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt., 2nd Bn W. I.

1893) 2nd Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt., 2nd Bn W. I.

1894) 1st Bn Leicestershire Regt., 2nd Bn W. I.

1895) 1st Bn Leicestershire Regt., 2nd Bn W. I.

1896) 1st Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regt., 1st Bn W.I.

1897) 1st Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regt., 1st Bn W.I.

1898) 1st Bn Royal Berkshire Regt

1899) 2nd Bn Royal Canadian (Leinster Regt 109th), 2nd Bn West India

1900) 2nd Bn Royal Canadian (Leinster Regt 109th), 2nd Bn West India

1901) Lancashire Fusiliers, 2nd Bn West India

1902) Lancashire Fusiliers, 2nd Bn West India

1903) Lancashire Fusiliers, 1st Bn West India

1904) 4th Bn Worcestershire Regt, 1st Bn West India

1905) 4th Bn Worcestershire Regt, 1st Bn West India

1906-1908) 2nd Bn West India

1909-1912) No information available

1913-1915) 2nd Bn West India

1916-1918) 1st Bn West India

1919) 2nd Bn Royal Sussex, 1st Bn West India

1920) 2nd Bn Royal Sussex, 1st Bn West India, 2nd Bn West India

1921) 2nd Bn Royal Sussex, West India Regt

1921-1923) lst Bn East Lancashire Regt, West India Regt.

1923-1925) lst Bn Royal Norfolk Regt., West India Regt

1925-1926) 2nd Bn The Green Howards, West India Regt

1927) 2nd Bn The Green Howards

1927-1929) 2nd Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

1929-1931) 1st Bn West Yorkshire Regt

1931-1934) lst Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

1934-1935) lst Bn Manchester Regt

1935-1939) 1st Bn The Sherwood Foresters

1939-1940) King's Shropshire Light Infantry Volunteers, Jamaica Infantry Volunteers

1940-1941) Winnipeg Grenadiers of Canada, Jamaica Infantry Volunteers

1941-1943) Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, Jamaica Infantry Volunteers

1943-1944) Irish Fusiliers of Canada, J. I. V.

1944-1946) Brockville Rifles, Jamaica Battalion.

1946-1949) Suffolk Regt, Jamaica Battalion

1947-1949) 2nd Bn Gloucestershire Regt, Jamaica Battalion

1949-1951) 1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Jamaica Battalion

1951-1954) 1st Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Jamaica Battalion

1954-1957) 1st Bn Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Jamaica Regt.

1957-1959) Worcestershire Regt, Jamaica Regt. to 1959. In Jan 1959 the West India Regt was reformed and the Ja. Regt became the nucleus of its 1st Batallion

1959-1962) Royal Hampshire Regt, 1st Bn. West India Regt

August, 1962. Independence Day

Jamaica Defence Force

Note on the West India Regiments

In 1778 during the War of American Independence a group called the South Carolina Rangers, which included many freed slaves was formed to fight on the British side. After the War the Rangers were sent to Fort Augusta in Jamaica and were disbanded in 1783, some of the men being sent to the Leeward Islands where they were reformed as Black Corps of Dragoons, Pioneers and Artificers. They took part in the British attack on Martinique in 1793.

In 1795 Captain Malcolm of the 41st Grenadiers raised a corps known as Malcolm's Corps, Malcolm's Rangers or the Royal Rangers, with a company in Martinique and one in St. Lucia. In the same year in St. Vincent the St. Vincent Rangers, a corps of free blacks and slaves purchased from the planters had also been formed. From these groups the 1st and 2nd West India Regiments were formed in 1795.

Up to 12 West India Regiments eventually existed, some of which served in Jamaica, as shown in the above list. By 1888 there were once again only two, which in that year were amalgamated to form one West India Regiment of two battalions. After World War I the two battalions were themselves amalgamated and became simply the West India Regiment, which in 1926 was disbanded for reasons of economy.

The name was revived in 1959 by the Federation of the West Indies and the nucleus of the new unit was the Jamaica Regiment (which itself had grown out of the Kingston Infantry Volunteers of the early years of the century, becoming the Jamaica Infantry Volunteers in 1939, later the Jamaica Battalion and finally the Jamaica Regiment). When the Federation collapsed, this latest in the series of West India Regiments was disbanded. The Jamaicans in the 1st Battalion and also others from other islands except Trinidad then became the nucleus of the Jamaica Defence Force."


For a list of Regiments and their locations, compiled from the Almanacs, Registers, Gazettes and Daily Gleaner, please go to:

Location of Regiments

Location of Regiments (2)


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