Web Site of the Jamaica Defence Force

Camps and Bases

Monuments and Regimental Badges

Monuments

Apart from the Royal Scots Monument which has already been dealt with in the history, there are the following graves and monuments. There are graves of two soldiers buried near Woodcutter’s Gap. These soldiers died of fever in the early years of the century. It is not known exactly why they were buried there, but contamination is thought to be the reason the graves can only be seen by bumps in the ground now. There are various soldiers’ graves in a small cemetery at Clifton Mount. This was used during the 1867 epidemic, and Clifton Mount was the hospital there. It is not known exactly how many soldiers were buried there, because the full records have been lost.

The grave in the garden of Race Course, is of a dog buried by its owner, a Lieutenant Dent of the Royal Artillery in 1907. The grave outside the stables is of a mule buried in 1936. There are also the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hicks, buried just below the lower single Officers’ hut below the Officers’ Mess. Although only a large mound can now be seen. As can be noted from the history Mr. & Mrs. Charles Hicks were the owners of Newcastle plantation just before the army purchased the land.

Regimental Badges

The practice of putting Regimental Badges on the wall by the square began with the 64^th Regiment in 1885. This was followed by the Royal Artillery later that century, (the date of 1655 on their badge is the first date of British Control in Jamaica). Then in 1929 the West Yorkshire Regiment started the pattern properly, from then no break until the present day. In 1959, an Old Sapper Badge was moved from elsewhere and placed on top of all the badges, and 1841 inscribed on each side of the badge. Also about that time, the Royal Sussex Badge was put up with the dates, 1919 – 21, this gives the false impression that there is a gap between 1921 – 29. The Royal Army Service Corps, Queen Alexander’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, and the Womens’ Royal Corps Badge were placed in 1938 and in 1962 respectively. These Corps never served here as a unit in any period of the history. However, these badges help to complete a unique display of British Army Badges.

The following is a list of Regiments that have served in Newcastle:

60^th Rifle Kings Royal Rifle Corp. – 28 Mar 1844	1841 – 1844
97^th Reserve Regiment later the Earl of Ulsters Regiments	1848 – 1851
36^th Regiment of Foot later The Worcestershire Regiment.	1854 – 1856
14^th Regiment of Foot The Buckingham Regiment, – 14 April 1864	1860 – 1864
6^th Royal Regiment later The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, – 11 April 1867	1864 – 1867
84^th Regiment of Foot lathe The York & Lancaster Regiment, – 02 Jan 1870	1867 -1870
The 29^th Regiment of Foot later The Worcestershire Regiment	1870 – 1873
The Earl of Ulsters Regiment (97^th) now the Royal West of Kent Regiment	1873 – 1874
30 Jan 1879 4^th of Foot The Kings own Royal Regiment	1879 – 1881
The Royal Scots 1^st of Foot	1882 – 1884
The 64^th Regiment of Foot The North Staffordshire Regiment, – 14 Dec 86	1884 – 1886
The East Yorkshire Regiment 11 Oct 88	1886 – 1888
The York & Lancaster Regiment 9 May 1891	1888 – 1891
The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment	1891 – 1893
The Royal Leicester Regiment	1893 – 1894
The Kings’ Regiment	1895 – 1897
The Leinster Regiment (109^th Regiment)	1898 – 1900 ?
The Lancashire Fusiliers	1901 – 1903
Newcastle maintained by RA. RE. RAMC, etc No Infantry Battalion stationed at that time	1903 – 1919
The Royal Sussex Regiment	1919 – 1921
XIV West Yorkshire	1920, 1930 – 1931
Fifth Fusilier	1931 – 1934
The Manchester Regiment	1934 – 1935
Sherwood Foresters Notts & Derby	1935 – 1939
VI GR	1938
KSLI	1939 – 1940
Winnipeg Grenadiers	1940 – 1941
Argyll and Sutherland Canada	1941 – 1943
1st Battalion Irish Fusiliers Ivan Regiment	1943 – 1944
The Brockville Rifles	1944 – 1946
28th & 61st Egypt Gloucestershire	1947 – 1949
QARANC (Canada)	1948 – 1962
27 1st Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers	1949 – 1957
Women Royal Army Corp	1949 – 1962
1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers	1951 – 1954
1st Battalion the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry	1954 – 1957
The Worcestershire Regiment	1957 – 1960
XXXVII & VII Royal Hampshire	1960 – 1962