Inniskillings embark for Gravesend and Northern Germany

The 2nd Battalion 27th Regiment of Foot (Inniskillings) had been recruiting in Scotland in 1805 and had been joined by detachments from the 'army of reserve', the Irish Militia, the Scotch Militia and some 60 recruits from Belfast. The 2/27th was in Edinburgh Castle on 21 October 1805, when it was ordered to proceed on active service. With a full complement of officers and 612 rank and file they embarked for Gravesend, which was the rendezvous point for the troops selected for an expedition to Northern Germany. Napoleon had abandoned his plan to invade England and his army was marching across Europe to Austerlitz and Vienna. The British idea was to attack his left flank as he advanced through Germany, having first secured the cooperation of Russia, Sweden, Denmark and, hopefully, Prussia. The base for operations was to be Cuxhaven on the mouth of the River Elbe.

It was not until the middle of October that the first brigades embarked but, unfortunately, without medical support and reserves of ammunition. The first transports did not arrive in Cuxhaven until 17 November. Before embarking at Cuxhaven on 7 December, the 2/27th had received reinforcements when quartered at Colchester.

This was one of the unsuccessful attempts at operating against Napoleon and his allies on the mainland of Europe. When diplomatic overtures to Prussia failed following Napoleon's victory at Austerlitz, Britain withdrew the expedition. It would appear that the Inniskillings did eventually arrive in Germany as a return from the expedition listed some 13 officers and 368 rank and file from the Regiment. There is also some evidence that men of the newly formed 3rd or 'Young' Inniskillings took part. These men would go on to join Wellington in the glorious victories of the Peninsular War where the Young Inniskillings would win many Battle Honours for the Regiment.