88th Regiment of Foot - Connaught Rangers "Devil's Own" [EU]

[Jeff Mcbiggie]

The 88th was established in Connaught in 1793 and it bore on its colours and appointments a harp and a crown with the motto Quis Separabit – "Who shall divide us". It first saw service in 1794 in Flanders in the disastrous Walcheren campaign against Napoleon's troops and, despite their inexperience, the troops fought well, but hundreds perished in the British Army’s winter retreat that year. The regiment later fought in the West Indies, Egypt, India and South America before it joined Wellington’s army in the Peninsular in 1808. It was during the Peninsular campaign that the 88th distinguished itself as one of the finest regiments in what Wellington himself was later to describe as "that most astonishing infantry". Posterity has ensured that we have a first hand account of some of the most extraordinary actions that took place in the Peninsular of that time by the published diaries of Lieutenant William Grattan who served with the 88th in Spain from 1809 until 1813. The Connaught Rangers were "the most Irish of all Irish regiments" (Oman) and in Grattan's own words were "a parcel of lads that took the world aisy" and "without shoes they fancied themselves at home, without food they were nearly at home." The 88th served under General Picton in the 3rd Division or the "Fighting Division" as Grattan was proud to call them. Picton himself seemed to have had a love-hate relationship with the 88th. When he first addressed them he called them "The Connaught Footpads" in reference to their reputation for plundering, but he soon recognised their abilities when it came to a hard fight. It is evident that in moments of crisis he came to use the 88th as shock troops – heavy stormtroopers to be used at the critical point of a battle to break the spirit of their opponents by hand-to-hand fighting, and it was Picton who came to give them the infamous nick name of "The Devil’s Own". The many battles of the Peninsular War have filled many books but the major actions in which the Connaught Rangers made an inimitable contribution can be summarised below: For example, during the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, it was in order to confer a mark of distinction upon the Connaught Rangers that a junior officer or subaltern volunteer from the 88th was requested to lead the "Forlorn Hope", the first storming party through the main breach of the fortress walls. Almost certain death, but if he survived, the leading officer was normally assured a captaincy. A Lieutenant William Mackie volunteered and was granted the command, composed of 20 volunteers from the 88th. Before hurling the whole of the 3rd Division into the assault, General Picton gave this particular address to the 88th: The 88th Regiment of Foot is an European based line regiment, however, we do accept North-American players. We do multiple events per week, these include multiple regiment linebattles, 1v1's, group fighting and training. There are no restrictions on who can join the 88th, however we do ask that you have a reasonable level of maturity and that you are willing to obey commands as well as being as active as possible. In the 88th, we try to involve its members in every way possible, and we treat each and every single member with the same amount of respect no matter who they are or what rank they have. We aim to become one of the best and most respected regiments in NW one day, while at the same time being one of the most enjoyable regiments to be a part of. 88th_RANK_NAME Steam: Captain.Joker    TeamSpeak: vs30.tserverhq.com:7208 Commissioned Officers Captain.Joker Non-Commissioned Officers Colour Serjeant Redcoat Commissioned Officers:1 NCO's: 1 Enlsited:24 BootCamp:6 Total Strength:32 Enlisted Lance Corporal Giovanni Lance Corporal Barristan Kingsman Randy McBiggieNubs Private FreedJaguar Private Vanleeuwen Private Loras Private Rocky Private  McBiggie jr Private  Hagran Private  Cann0nball Private Captain Haystack Private Kyle Private  Skull Private  Skipper Private Tharan Private  Clueless Private  Turnip Private  MoonMaster Private   Jobius Private  The Legend  Karl Tanner Private Shrillix Private Aether Private Antony Private Oakenshield Boot camp Recruit NoClue Recruit Jersei Recruit Stefan Recruit Sponge Recruit Rick Recruit Ruffie

[Jeff Mcbiggie]

reserved

[AeroNinja]

Hell yeah. Best of luck m80s 

[Nick Lazanis]

Welcome back

[Skipper]

Feels good to be back

[CrumpetAwesome]

Ayyy good luck Yoker and the gang.

37th + 4e Gren + 88th memories 

[AeroNinja]

Hope you find Devald back. Was a good Danish friend of mine. rip. 

[Tharan]

Good luck

[Jeff Mcbiggie]

Hope you find Devald back. Was a good Danish friend of mine. rip. 

Spoiler

[close]

[AeroNinja]

Let the memes and that poster guide your path and you will sure find him.

[Syntax]

Best of luck slutties 

[Herishey]

Good luck.

[Shine]

Best conquest events ever.

[|Heinrich|]

Good luck.

[Henry Cadogan]

best of luck Yoker