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GR017 - Edition 1,500
The Royal Berkshire Regiment
In 1881 the 66th (Berkshire) regiment of foot
amalgamated with the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales) Regiment.
Princess Charlotte had begged that the 49th might become her regiment
after they returned from war in 1815 taking over the duties of guarding
members of the Royal Family. The dragon on the badge originates back to
the Chinese opium war 1840-43, British merchants were dealing in vast
quantities of the drug but the Manderins of Canton destroyed some and
the 49th with others carried out reprisals, as a result the regiment was
permitted to adopt a China dragon as its crest and to place the word
"China" its colours and accoutrements.
