Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)

The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), formerly the 3rd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army until 1961. It had a history dating back to 1572 and was one of the oldest regiments in the British Army being third in order of precedence (ranked as the 3rd Regiment of the line). It provided distinguished service over a period of almost four hundred years accumulating one hundred and sixteen battle honours. Following a series of amalgamations since 1961 its lineage is today continued by the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

History
The origins of the regiment lay in Thomas Morgan's Company of Foot, The London Trained Bands which was in existence from 1572 to 1648. In 1665 it was known as the 4th (The Holland Maritime) Regiment and by 1668 as the 4th (The Holland) Regiment. In 1688–1689 it was "4th The Lord High Admiral's Regiment" until 1751 it was named as other regiments after the Colonel Commanding being the 3rd (Howard's) Regiment of Foot from 1737–1743 at which point it became the 3rd Regiment of Foot, "Howard's Buffs".
 * 1751–1782 3rd (Kent) Regiment of Foot, "The Buffs"
 * 1782–1881 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot ("The Buffs")
 * 1881–1935 The Buffs, (East Kent Regiment)
 * 1935–1961 The Buffs, (Royal East Kent Regiment)

Origin of "The Buffs"
The 3rd Regiment's nickname of "The Buffs" is said to have originated in its use of protective buff coats—made of soft leather— during service in the Netherlands in the 17th century. Later they adopted buff-coloured facings and waistcoats as uniform distinctions and wore equipment of natural buff leather rather than pipe-clayed the customary white.

The name of "The Old Buffs" originated during the Battle of Dettingen in 1743, when the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot marched past King George II and onto the battlefield with great spirit. Mistaking them for the 3rd due to their similar buff facings, the sovereign called out, "Bravo, Buffs! Bravo!". When one of his aides, an officer of the 3rd regiment, corrected His Majesty, the non-plussed monarch then cheered "Bravo, Young Buffs! Bravo!" When the 31st subsequently adopted the nickname of "Young Buffs", the 3rd Regiment took to calling themselves the "Old Buffs" to distinguish themselves from the 31st.

The two Howards
The Buffs obtained the name of "The Buffs" officially in 1744 while on campaign in the Low Countries. The 3rd Regiment was then under the command of Lieutenant-General Thomas Howard. At the same time, the 19th Regiment of Foot were commanded by their colonel, the Honourable Sir Charles Howard. In order to avoid confusion (because regiments were then named after their colonels, which would have made them both Howard's Regiment of Foot), the regiments took the colours of their facings as part of their names – the 19th Foot became the Green Howards, while the 3rd Foot became Howard's Buffs, eventually being shortened to simply The Buffs.

Australian service
In between the campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars and India, "The Buffs" had a tour of service from 1821 until 1827 in the British colony of New South Wales. For the duration of their service, The Buffs were divided into four detachments. The first was based in Sydney from 1821. The second arrived in Hobart in 1822. The third, entitled "The Buffs' Headquarters", arrived in Sydney in 1823. The fourth arrived in Sydney in 1824, but variously saw service throughout the colonies, being stationed at Port Dalrymple, Parramatta, Liverpool, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and Bathurst. The regiment reunited and was transferred to Calcutta in 1827. During their service in New South Wales, The Buffs were commanded by Lieut. Colonel W. Stewart and Lieut Colonel C. Cameron.

"Steady, The Buffs!"
This famous cry has been rumoured by many to have been uttered on the field of battle, but it was actually born on a garrison parade ground. In 1858, the 2nd Battalion was stationed in Malta and quartered with the 21st Royal (North British) Fusiliers. Lieutenant John Cotter, Adjutant of the 2nd Buffs, had formerly served as a Sergeant Major. Lieutenant Cotter would not brook any disarray on the parade ground from his raw recruits, shouting "Steady, The Buffs! The Fusiliers are watching you!" This greatly amused the Fusiliers who took to calling out “Steady, The Buffs!” on the slightest provocation, first in Malta and later whenever the two regiments met from then on. The phrase caught on and was soon shouted whenever The Buffs marched by. It then passed into common usage, even appearing in Rudyard Kipling's novel Soldiers Three (1888) and his play Pity Poor Mama.

Among several characters in literature and television who have uttered the phrase are: Lord Peter Wimsey, Rab C. Nesbitt. Dennis and Margaret Thatcher in the film The Iron Lady are portrayed using the phrase.

Reorganisations and amalgamations

 * From 1595 to 1665, the four regiments of the English Brigade served under Dutch command. In 1665, with the coming of the Second Anglo-Dutch War the British and Scotch Brigades were ordered to swear loyalty to the Stadtholder. Those who obeyed would be allowed to continue in Dutch service and those who disobeyed would be cashiered. Using his own funds, Sir George Downing, the English ambassador to the Netherlands, raised the Holland Regiment from the starving remnants of those who refused to sign. It was designated as the 4th Regiment of Foot.


 * In 1688 the Glorious Revolution deposed James II Stuart and seated William Henry, Prince of Orange-Nassau and Stadtholder of the United Netherlands, on the throne of Great Britain as William III of England. To reduce confusion between the Regent's Dutch Blue Guards regiment and the Stuart-era "Holland Regiment", the latter was renumbered the 3rd Regiment and had its title changed to The Lord Admiral's Regiment. Since Prince George of Denmark was Lord Admiral (and thus was its Honorary Colonel), it was also known as Prince George of Denmark's Regiment until his death in 1708.


 * The 1st (Regular) Battalion existed continuously from 1572–1961.


 * The 2nd (Regular) Battalion was intermittently raised in 1678–1679, 1756–1758, 1803–1815, and 1857–1949.


 * In the Childers reforms of 1881 the East Kent Militia became the regiment's 3rd (Militia) Battalion (1881–1953) and its short-lived 4th (Militia) Battalion (1881–1888).


 * In 1881–1908 two Kent rifle volunteer corps were redesignated as the 1st Volunteer Battalion and 2nd (The Weald of Kent) Volunteer Battalion of the Buffs. With the creation of the Territorial Force (TF) in 1908 they became the regiment's 4th and 5th (TF) Battalions. In 1921 the TF was reformed as the Territorial Army (TA) and the two units were merged as the 4th/5th (TA) Battalion. The two battalions resumed separate existences on the doubling of the TA in 1939, but were again merged in 1947.

Second China War (1855–1860)
The following unit participated in the Taku Forts action during the Second China War:
 * 1st Battalion, 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot

Perak War (1875–1876)
The following unit participated in the Perak War:
 * 1st Battalion, 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot

Anglo-Zulu War (1879)
The following units participated in the Anglo-Zulu War:
 * 2nd Battalion, 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot

Anglo-Egyptian War (1882)
The following units participated in the Anglo-Egyptian War:
 * 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

Second Boer War (1899–1902)
The following units participated in the Second Boer War:
 * 2nd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
 * 3rd Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
 * 1st Volunteer (Militia) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
 * 2nd Volunteer (Weald of Kent) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

Captain Naunton Henry Vertue of the 2nd Battalion also served as Brigade Major to the 11th Infantry Brigade under Major General Edward Woodgate at the Battle of Spion Kop where he was mortally wounded.

First World War (1914–1918)
For service in World War I, nine battalions were raised:
 * 2/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion [1914–1917]
 * 3/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion [1915–1916]; 3/4th (Reserve) Battalion [1916–1919]
 * 2/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion [1914–1917]
 * 3/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion [1915–1916]
 * 6th (Service) Battalion [1914–1919]
 * 7th (Service) Battalion [1914–1919]
 * 8th (Service) Battalion [1914–1918]
 * 9th (Service) Battalion [1914–1915]; 9th (Reserve) Battalion [1915–1916]
 * 10th (Royal East Kent & West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion [1917–1918]

Corporal William Richard Cotter was awarded the VC whilst serving with the 6th Battalion.

Third Afghan War (1919)
The 4th Battalion fought during the brief Third Afghan War of 1919.

Second World War (1939–1945)
For service in World War II, ten battalions were raised :
 * 4th (Territorial Army) Battalion [1939–1947]
 * 5th (Territorial Army) Battalion [1939–1947]
 * 6th (Home Defence) Battalion [1939–1941]
 * 7th Battalion [1940–1945] This was converted to armour in 1941 as 141st Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (7th Battalion The Buffs). They continued to wear their Buffs cap badge on the black beret of the RAC.
 * 8th Battalion [1940–1942]
 * 9th Battalion [1940–1946]
 * 10th Battalion [1940–1943]
 * 11th Battalion [1940]
 * 30th Battalion [1941–1943]
 * 70th (Young Soldiers') Battalion [1940–1943]

Post-War amalgamations
In 1956 the 410th (Kent) Coast Regiment (Royal Artillery) was disbanded and converted into infantry. It was then combined with elements of the 4th (Territorial Army) Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent) Regiment to form the 5th (Territorial Army) Battalion of The Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment and was the last separate unit to bear the distinct honours of The Buffs. In 1966 it became the 5th Battalion, The Queen's Regiment. In 1967 it merged with the 4th Battalion to become the 4th/5th (East Kent TAVR) Battalion, The Queen's Regiment.

In 1961 the "The Buffs", Royal East Kent Regiment was amalgamated with The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment to form: The Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment.

In 1966, the The Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment was amalgamated with the other three regiments of the Home Counties Brigade to form The Queen's Regiment.

In 1992 the Queen's Regiment was amalgamted with the Royal Hampshire Regiment to form the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

Colonels-in-Chief

 * 1689–1708 Prince George of Denmark KG
 * 1906–1914 HM King Frederick VIII of Denmark
 * 1914–1947 HM King Christian X of Denmark, KG, GCB, GCVO
 * 1947–1961 HM King Frederick IX of Denmark, KG, GCB, GCVO

Colonels

 * 1665–1668 Col. Robert Sidney
 * 1668–1673 Maj-Gen. Sir Walter Vane
 * 1673–1682 Lt-Gen. John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham and 3rd Earl of Mulgrave, KG
 * 1682–1684 Col. Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield
 * 1684–1685 Lt-Gen. John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham and 3rd Earl of Mulgrave, KG
 * 1685–1688 Brig-Gen. Sir Theophilus Oglethorpe
 * 1688–1707 Gen. Charles Churchill
 * 1707–1711 F.M. John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, KG, KT (Earl of Islay, Lord Lorne)
 * 1711–1713 Col. John Selwyn
 * 1713–1715 Brig-Gen. Archibald Douglas, 2nd Earl of Forfar
 * 1716–1725 Gen. Sir Charles Wills, KB (also 1st Guards, 30th Foot)
 * 1726–1729 Col. Thomas Pitt, 1st Earl of Londonderry
 * 1729–1737 Lt-Gen. William Tatton
 * 1737–1749 Lt-Gen. Thomas Howard
 * 1749–1763 F.M. Sir George Howard, KB
 * 1763–1764 Col. John Craufurd
 * 1764–1768 Maj-Gen. Ralph Burton
 * 1768–1779 F.M. Sir Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst, KB
 * 1779–1786 Lt-Gen. William Style
 * 1786–1809 Gen. Thomas Hall (also 79th Foot)
 * 1809–1815 Gen. Charles Leigh
 * 1815–1829 Lt-Gen. Sir Henry Clinton, GCB, GCH
 * 1829–1832 Gen. Sir George Don, GCB, GCH
 * 1832–1845 Gen. Kenneth Alexander Howard, 1st Earl of Effingham, GCB
 * 1845–1854 Gen. Sir Henry King, CB, KCH, KC
 * 1854–1857 Lt-Gen. Sir Nathaniel Thorn, KCB, KH
 * 1857 Lt-Gen. Nicholas Wodehouse
 * 1857 Maj-Gen. Sir Henry Havelock, KCB [died at Lucknow]
 * 1857–1860 Lt-Gen. Berkeley Drummond
 * 1860–1863 Gen. The Hon. Charles Grey
 * 1863–1864 Lt-Gen. John Wharton Frith
 * 1864–1870 Lt-Gen. Day Hort Macdowall
 * 1870–1874 Lt-Gen. The Hon. Sir James Lindsay, KCMG
 * 1874–1882 Gen. William Craig Emilius Napier
 * 1882–1909 Gen. Sir Julius Augustus Robert Raines, GCB
 * 1909 Maj-Gen. Frederick Taylor Hobson
 * 1909–1914 Maj-Gen. Robert George Kekewich
 * 1914–1928 Gen. Sir Arthur Henry Fitzroy Paget, GCB, KCVO
 * 1928–1937 Maj-Gen. Sir Arthur Lynden Lynden-Bell, KCB, KCMG
 * 1937–1943 Maj-Gen. Sir John Kennedy, GBE, CB, CMG, DSO
 * 1943–1953 Maj-Gen. The Hon. Percy Gerald Scarlett, CB, MC
 * 1953–1961 Maj-Gen. Valentine Boucher, CB, CBE [later Dep. Col. Queen's Own Buffs]

Notable soldiers

 * During the Battle of Albuhera, the 3rd Regiment, serving as part of Colborne’s brigade, was caught in a heavy rainstorm. Then they were caught in the open by French cavalry, their muskets rendered useless by the downpour. Before they could form square, the cavalry had ripped through their ranks and began slaughtering them. Ensign Thomas, who had earlier rallied his company after his captain was wounded and captured, was carrying the Regimental Colour. He was later surrounded and was called upon to surrender. Crying “Only with my life,” he only gave up the Colour after being cut down and mortally wounded (though it was later recaptured by Sergeant Gough of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers). He was buried after the battle by a sergeant and a private of his company, the only two men out of an original complement of 63 to survive the battle.


 * Also during the Battle of Albuhera, a similar act of heroism was to unfold. Ensign Charles Walsh was carrying the King’s Colour. The pikestaff of the Colour had been broken by cannon shot, his escort had fallen and he was surrounded and badly wounded. Just before he was about to be taken prisoner, Lieutenant Latham rushed forward and seized the Colour from him with his left hand and defended it with heroic gallantry with his sword in the other, refusing to yield it to the enemy. Then a French Hussar seized the staff and struck Latham with a sabre blow that severed one side of his face and nose but he still continued to struggle. A second sabre stroke severed his left arm, but Latham seized the staff with his right hand and continued to resist until he was thrown down, trampled on and pierced several times with lance thrusts. At this moment a British Cavalry regiment, The 4th (Queen's Own) Dragoons, arrived and drove off the French troopers. Latham then exerted the little strength left to him to conceal the Colour in his jacket, where it was later found. Latham survived his grievous wounds and not only recuperated but stayed in the army until he retired in 1820. As a reward for his gallantry and his heroic defence of the Colour, Latham was given a special promotion to Captain and was later presented with a gold medal by his brother officers. A trophy depicting the scene made in sterling silver, called the "Latham Centerpiece", was designed for the 3rd Regiment's Officer's Mess; it is now in the Regimental museum along with Latham's gold medal. Latham is buried in Blingel churchyard in the Pas de Calais, France. His headstone commemorates his brave action and mentions the 'loss of his arm and half his face'.


 * Private John Moyse was captured during the march on the Taku Forts (which took place during the continuation of the Second Opium War). He was later executed by Chinese soldiers for refusing to kow-tow to a local mandarin. His act of defiance was later immortalised in The Private of the Buffs, a poem by Sir Francis Hastings Doyle.


 * Among the small garrison of 1879 Rorke's Drift (Zulu Land) was Sgt Frederick Milne (2260) 2nd Battalion, The Buffs. Said to have found and retrieved the watercart during the night. He survived the battle and soon left the service.


 * Among the soldiers in the 10th Battalion, one soldier showed bravery in the Battle of Épehy on the 18th September 1918. This was Private Percy James Fellows, a Lewis Gunner who was mortally wounded while facing the enemy. He was serving with the 230th Brigade of the 74th (Yeomanry) Division. He died of wounds suffered during the Final Advance in Artois on the 13th of October 1918. He has also fought at the Second Battle of Bapaume and the Advance in Flanders.


 * Captain William Douglas-Home served in the 7th battalion (also known as 141 RAC) in World War II and was imprisoned for refusing to obey orders. After the war he became a successful playwright.

Freedom of the City of London
The Buffs was one of five regiments enjoying the Freedom of the City of London. This gave them the right to march through the City with drums beating, bayonets fixed, and colours flying. This is due to a Royal Warrant written in 1672 allowing them to raise volunteers "by beat of drum" in the City of London. Since recruiting parties paraded in full array accompanied by company or regimental musicians and marched with a colour, this right was given to the regiment as a whole.

Battle honours
The honours in capital lettering were worn on the Colours. The regiment was awarded 116 battle honours.

War of the Spanish Succession, (Queen Anne's War)
 * BLENHEIM (1704) = 1st Battalion.
 * RAMILLES (1706) = 1st Battalion.
 * OUDENARDE (1708) = 1st Battalion.
 * MALPLAQUET (1709) = 1st Battalion.

War of the Austrian Succession, (King George's War)
 * DETTINGEN (1743) = 1st Battalion.

Seven Years' War, (French and Indian War)
 * GUADELOUPE 1759 = 1st Battalion.
 * Belleisle (1761) = 1st Battalion.

Napoleonic Wars
 * DOURO (1809) = 1st Battalion.
 * TALAVERA (1809) = 1st Battalion.
 * ALBUHERA (1811) = 1st Battalion.
 * VITTORIA (1813) = 1st Battalion.
 * PYRENEES (1813) = 1st Battalion.
 * NIVELLE (1813)= 1st Battalion.
 * NIVE (1813) = 1st Battalion.
 * ORTHES (1814) = 1st Battalion.
 * TOULOUSE (1814) = 1st Battalion.
 * PENINSULA (1808–13) = 1st Battalion.

"Pax Britannia"
 * PUNNIAR (1843) Gwalior Campaign = 1st Battalion.
 * SEVASTOPOL (1855) Crimean War = 1st Battalion.
 * TAKU FORTS (1860) Second Opium War = 1st Battalion.
 * SOUTH AFRICA 1879 Zulu War = 2nd Battalion.
 * CHITRAL (1895) North-West Frontier = 1st Battalion.
 * RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY (1900) Second Anglo-Boer War = 2nd Battalion.
 * PAARDEBERG (1900) Second Anglo-Boer War = 3rd Battalion.
 * SOUTH AFRICA 1900–02 Second Anglo-Boer War = 2nd & 3rd Battalions.

World War I (1914–1919)
 * Aisne (1914)= 1st Battalion.
 * ARMENTIERES 1914 = 1st Battalion.
 * YPRES 1915-17 = 2nd, 7th & 8th Battalions.
 * Gravenstafel 1915 = 2nd Battalion.
 * St. Julien 1915 = 2nd Battalion.
 * Frezenberg (1915) = 2nd Battalion.
 * Bellewaarde (1915) = 2nd Battalion.
 * Hooge 1915 = 1st Battalion.
 * LOOS (1915) = 2nd, 6th, & 8th Battalions.
 * Somme 1916-18 = 1st, 6th, 7th, & 8th Battalions
 * Albert 1916-18 = 6th & 7th Battalions.
 * Bazentin (1916) = 7th Battalion.
 * Delville Wood (1916) = 8th Battalion.
 * Poziers (1916) = 6th Battalion.
 * Flers-Courcelette (1916) = 1st Battalion.
 * Morval (1916) = 1st Battalion.
 * Thiepval (1916) = 7th Battalion.
 * Le Transloy (1916) = 6th Battalion.
 * Ancre Heights (1916) = 7th Battalion.
 * Ancre 1916-18 = 6th & 7th Battalions.
 * Arras 1917 = 6th & 7th Battalions.
 * Scarpe 1917 = 7th Battalion.
 * Messines 1917 = 8th Battalion.
 * Pilckem (1917) = 8th Battalion.
 * Passchendale (1917) = 7th Battalion.
 * Cambrai 1917-1918 = 1st & 6th Battalions.
 * St. Quentin (1918) = 1st & 6th Battalions.
 * Avre (1918) = 7th Battalion.
 * Amiens (1918) = 6th & 7th Battalions.
 * Bapaume (1918) = 7th & 10th Battalions.
 * HINDENBURG LINE (1918) = 1st, 6th, 7th, & 10th Battalions.
 * Épehy (1918)= 1st, 6th, 7th, & 10th Battalions.
 * St. Quentin Canal (1918) = 1st & 6th Battalions.
 * Selle (1918) = 1st & 7th Battalions.
 * Sambre (1918) = 7th Battalion.
 * France and Flanders 1914-18 = 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th & 10th Battalions.
 * STRUMA (1916–17) = 2nd Battalion.
 * Doiran (1918) = 2nd Battalion.
 * Macedonia 1915-18 = 2nd Battalion.
 * Gaza (1917) = 10th Battalion.
 * JERUSALEM (1917) = 10th Battalion.
 * Tel Asur (1918) = 10th Battalion.
 * Palestine 1917-18 = 10th Battalion.
 * Aden (1915–16) = 4th Battalion.
 * Tigris (1916) = 5th Battalion.
 * Kut al Amara 1917 = 5th Battalion.
 * BAGDAD (1917) = 5th Battalion.
 * Mesopotamia 1915-18 = 5th Battalion.

World War II (1939–1945)
 * Defence of Escaut (1940) = 2nd Battalion.
 * St. Omer-La Basse (1940) = 2nd Battalion.
 * Withdrawal to Seine (1940) = 4th Battalion.
 * NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1940 = 2nd, 4th, & 5th Battalions.
 * Sidi Suleiman (1941) = 1st Battalion.
 * ALEM HAMZA (1941)= 1st Battalion.
 * Alam El Halfa (1942)= 2nd Battalion.
 * EL ALAMEIN (1942)= 2nd Battalion.
 * El Agheila (1942) = 1st Battalion.
 * Advance on Tripoli (1942–43) = 1st Battalion.
 * Tebaga Gap (1943) = 1st Battalion.
 * El Hamma (1943)  = 1st Battalion.
 * Akarit (1943)= 1st Battalion.
 * Djebel Azzag (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * ROBAA VALLEY (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * Djebel Bech Chekaoui (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * Heidous (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * Medjez Plain (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * Long Stop Hill (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * North Africa 1941-1943 1st, 2nd, & 5th Battalions.
 * Centuripe (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * Monte Rivoglia (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * SICILY 1943 = 5th Battalion.
 * Termoli (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * TRIGNO (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * Sangro (1943) = 5th Battalion.
 * ANZIO (1944) = 1st Battalion.
 * Cassino I (1944) = 5th Battalion.
 * Liri Valley (1944) = 5th Battalion.
 * Aquino (1944) = 5th Battalion.
 * Rome (1944) = 1st Battalion.
 * Trasimene Line (1944) = 5th Battalion.
 * Coriano (1944) = 1st Battalion.
 * Monte Spaduro (1944) = 1st Battalion.
 * Senio (1945) 5th Battalion.
 * ARGENTA GAP (1945) = 1st & 5th Battalions.
 * Italy 1943-45 = 1st & 5th Battalions.
 * LEROS (1943) = 4th Battalion.
 * Middle East 1943= 2nd Battalion.
 * Malta 1940-42 = 4th Battalion.
 * SHWELI (1945) = 2nd Battalion.
 * Myitson (1945) = 2nd Battalion.
 * Burma 1945 = 2nd Battalion.

Victoria Cross
The following members of the Regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross:
 * Major (Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, later General) Frederick Francis Maude, Crimean War
 * Private (later Corporal) John Connors, Crimean War
 * Corporal (later Colour-Sergeant) James Smith, First Mohmand Campaign
 * Lance Corporal (acting Corporal) William Richard Cotter, World War I

Uniform and insignia
In 1667 the Holland Regiment is recorded as wearing "red jackets lined with yellow". Subsequently, Nathan Brook's Army List of 1684 referred to "Coated red, lined with a flesh colour". This marked the beginning of the historic association of the Regiment with buff facings (a dull-yellow colour). A notice in the London Gazette of 21 January 1685 describing the clothing of three deserters from what was still the Holland Regiment, referred for the first time to the colour buff:"a new Red Coat lin'd with a Buff colour'd lining, surtout Sleeves, cross Pockets with three scallops, large plain pewter Buttons, Breeches of ths same colour as the Coat lining".

An illustration of the Colonel's colour in 1707 shows a dragon on a buff background, following the award of this distinctive symbol to the regiment as "a reward for its gallant conduct on all occasions"; according to the Army historian Richard Cannon in a book published in 1839. The dragon was believed to have been adopted as it was one of the supporters of the royal arms of Elizabeth I, who issued the warrant for the raising of the regiment in 1572. Through the remainder of the 18th century both the dragon and the buff facings (worn on cuffs, lapels and coat linings) remained as particular distinctions of the regiment. A Royal Warrant of 1751 standardising all colours (flags), badges and uniforms listed the "3rd Regiment, or The Buffs". The Buffs were at this time the only infantry regiment to owe their official title to their facing colours. The green dragon was recorded in the same document as the "ancient badge" of the Buffs – displayed as a woven or painted device on the mitre cap of the Regiment's grenadiers, the colours and the drums.

In 1881 the reorganisation of most infantry regiments on a territorial basis under the Childers Reforms led to the newly renamed "The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)" losing its buff facings in favour of the white collars and cuffs intended to distinguish all non-Royal English and Welsh regiments. The dragon survived as part of the (now metal) headdress badge, although replaced on collars by the white horse of Kent. The horse had formed the insignia of the East Kent Militia with formed the 3rd battalion of the new regiment. Both changes were unpopular within the Regiment and in 1887 the Buffs were authorised to convert the white facings on their scarlet tunics to buff – at the Regiment's expense and using a pipeclay mixture developed by an officer of the 2nd Battalion. In 1890 buff was officially restored as the regimental colour on flags, tunics and mess jackets. On 23 May 1894 approval was given for the dragon to be resumed as the collar badge. For the remainder of its history both dragon and buff facings remained as primary distinctions of this "distinguished old Regiment". This was the case even on the simplified dark blue "No. 1 Dress" worn by most of the British Army as full dress after World War II, although the buff colour was here reduced to piping edging the shoulder straps.

Alliances

 * 🇨🇦 – The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (1914–1935), (1935–1961)

Regimental museum
The Buffs Regimental Museum is located at Canterbury, Kent, though ownership of the museum's objects was transferred to the National Army Museum in London in 2000. It closed for maintenance from November 2008 until 2012, with its collections being housed at NAM's London base during that period.