Formation of Second Battalion
The British Army had been shown to be overstretched by the Crimean War, while the mutiny in India had led to the responsibility for providing a garrison in the subcontinent from the Honourable East India Company to the Crown forces. Accordingly there was a need for an expansion and reorganisation of the existing regiments. Rather than raising new infantry regiments, the senior regiments of foot were each ordered to raise a second battalion, with the existing regiment being redesignated as the 1st Battalion. The 2nd Battalion of the 13th Light Infantry was raised at Winchester in January 1858. The two battalions, while sharing a depot, operated as separate units.
| 1st Battalion | 2nd Battalion |
|---|---|
| India 1858–1864 | England 1858–1859, South Africa 1859–1863 |
| England 1864–1866 | Mauritius 1863–1867 |
| Ireland 1866–1867 | |
| Gibraltar 1867–1872 | England 1867–1871 |
| Malta 1872–1874 | Ireland 1871–1875 |
| South Africa 1874–1879 | Scotland 1875–1876, England 1876–1877 |
| England 1879–1881 | Malta 1877–1877, South Africa 1878–1881 |
The 1st Battalion saw active service in South Africa, fighting in the Ninth Xhosa War of 1878 and Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.
Read more about this topic: Somerset Light Infantry, 13th (1st Somersetshire) (Prince Albert's Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot
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