Battle of Minden - Minden in Regimental Tradition

Minden in Regimental Tradition

The British regiments which fought at Minden were:

• Royal Artillery
• 12th of Foot (Suffolk Regiment)
• 20th Foot (Lancashire Fusiliers)
• 23rd of Foot (Royal Welch Fusiliers)
• 25th of Foot (King's Own Scottish Borderers)
• 37th of Foot (Royal Hampshire Regiment)
• 51st Foot (King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry)

The descendents of these are still known as "the Minden Regiments."

When the British infantry and artillery were first advancing to battle they passed through some German gardens and the soldiers plucked roses and stuck them in their coats. In memory of this, each of the Minden regiments marks 1 August as Minden Day. On that day the men of all ranks wear roses in their caps. The light infantry wear Yorkshire white roses. From this tradition, and to mark the heroism of the Yorkshiremen who fought, 1 August has been adopted as Yorkshire Day. This British victory is also recalled in the British Army's Queen's Division maintaining the "Minden Band".

2 Batteries from the Royal Regiment of Artillery carry the Minden battle honour. Soldiers from both 12(Minden) Battery and 32(Minden) Battery traditionally wear a red rose in their headress on 1 August every year, both batteries celebrate Minden Day every year without fail. A proud tradition exists: 'Once a Minden Man, always a Minden Man.'

Every year since 1967, six red roses have been anonymously delivered to the British Consulate General in Chicago on 1 August. Only in 2001 and 2002 were no roses sent. A note that comes with the roses lists the six regiments and says, "They advanced through rose gardens to the battleground and decorated their tricorne hats and grenadier caps with the emblem of England. These regiments celebrate Minden Day still, and all wear roses in their caps on this anniversary in memory of their ancestors." The consulate asks for the name of the sender so that they may thank the individual in person, but the identity of the donor remains a mystery.