70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot

70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot
Colours of the 70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot
Active	10 December 1756–1 July 1881
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain (1756–1800)  United Kingdom (1801–1881)
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Size	One battalion
Garrison/HQ	The Barracks, Kingston upon Thames
Colors	Facings: Light grey
Engagements	American Revolutionary War Napoleonic Wars War of 1812 Indian Rebellion Second Anglo-Afghan War

The 70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot was a regiment of the British Army, raised in 1756 and amalgamated with the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot in 1881 to form the East Surrey Regiment.

The formation of the regiment was prompted by the expansion of the army as a result of the commencement of the Seven Years' War. On 25 August 1756 it was ordered that a number of existing regiments should raise a second battalion; among those chosen was the 31st Regiment of Foot. The 2nd Battalion of the 31st Regiment of Foot was formed on 10 December 1756 and renumbered as the 70th (Glasgow Lowland) Regiment of Foot on 21 April 1758. The regiment was sent to Ireland in 1763 and on to the West Indies in 1764 where it suffered serious losses due to illness before returning home in 1774. It embarked for North America in 1775 for service in the American Revolutionary War. It was involved in the Battle of Sullivan's Island in June 1776 and the attack on Fort Lafayette in June 1779. The regiment acquired a county designation as the 70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot in 1782 before returning home in 1784.

The regiment embarked for the West Indies again in 1793 for service in the French Revolutionary Wars. It took part in the Battle of Martinique in February 1794 and the Invasion of Guadeloupe in April 1794. The regiment then returned to Europe landing at Gibraltar in May 1795. It embarked for the West Indies again in February 1800 and based itself in Trinidad before arriving back in Jersey in May 1801. It embarked for the West Indies yet again in autumn 1803 and based itself in Antigua before moving to Saint Kitts in June 1806 and to Saint Thomas in December 1807. It then saw action during the Invasion of Guadeloupe in January 1810. The regiment embarked for home in June 1810 and, after moving into Ayr Barracks, reverted to the old title of 70th (Glasgow Lowland) Regiment of Foot in October 1812.