The 73rd Fusiliers famously wore the GIBRALTAR cuff title, but could they really trace their origins to the Great Siege of 1779-83?
73rd Fusilier Regiment “Prince Albrecht of Prussia” (Hanoverian)
The Füsilier-Regiment Feldmarschall Prinz Albrecht von Preußen (Hannoversches) Nr.73 was formed as the Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 73 of the Prussian Army on 27 September 1866. The following year it was renamed Hannoversches Füsilier-Regiment Nr. 73 and took the title Feldmarschall Prinz Albrecht von Preußen in 1889. During the Franco-Prussian War they saw action at the Battle of Gravelotte-St. Privat.
In 1899 it was decided to acknowledge the memory of the former Hanoverian army by associating the 73rd Fusiliers with the Hannoverschen Garde-Infanterie-Regiment and Hannoverschen 7. Infanterie-Regiment, setting the official formation date of the 73rd Fusiliers to 19 December 1803. These regiments had fought against Napoleon as part of the Kings German Legion on the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns (for which the 73rd inherited the battle honours Peninsular and Waterloo). During the Austro-Prussian War they fought against Prussia at the Battle of Langensalza. In 1901 it was further decided to acknowledge the battle honour for Hanoverian troops at the Siege of Gibraltar 1779-83 in the American War of Independence.
Yes, that’s right. The regiment was formed in 1866 but officially back-dated to 1803 and now they had a battle honour that pre-dated even that formation date.
In 1914 the 73rd were garrisoned at Hanover as part of the X Army Corps. During the First World War they served on the Western Front, fighting in Flanders and at the Battle of the Somme. The author Ernst Jünger, served in the 73rd Fusiliers during the First World War and wrote of his experiences in ‘The Storm of Steel’ which became a best seller.
Helmet Plate: Yellow metal Prussian Line Eagle with the battle honours PENINSULAR and WATERLOO on a scroll either side of the eagle’s neck from 1899
State Cockade: Prussian (black/white/black)
Parade Plume: None
Tunic Buttons: Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps: White with a red number 73
Collar: Red piped along the upper edge in dark blue
Cuffs: Brandenburg style in red with blue piping around the vertical panel
Other Distinctions: From 1901 a blue cuff title was added on the lower right sleeve with the battle honour GIBRALTAR in yellow lettering. This distinction as also worn by the 79th Infantry Regiment and the 10th Jager Battalion.
* Pickelhaube photo from Royal Army Museum, Brussels. Cuff title photo from Bavarian Army Museum, Ingolstadt.
*Text from ‘Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments’ available worldwide on Amazon.