39th Regiment of Foot

I thank Mr Snow for his contribution (The Sunday Times, July 16) in which he alleges that I was incorrect in stating that the 39th Regiment of Foot was not the East Middlesex at the time of the Vittoriosa powder stores explosion in 1806.

Although I agree that the 39th Foot are better known as the Dorsetshire Regiment, one must keep in mind the time frame in reference. Also, I would never say that someone was incorrect by what is written in just one book.

I have been studying British and Colonial Army Regiments for the last thirty years, and have seen many omissions and mistakes in publications. As a contributing member in various British military historical societies, co-author of a number of books on British army uniform buttons and the author of countless articles on British military collectibles and historical events, I take pride in sharing what I know and have learnt.

Before going any further, I must add that my article was not meant to give a chronology of British regiments that served in Malta and their appropriate titles, but the actual explosion and events that followed. Also, the footnotes and references that I had submitted with the article, were omitted somewhere along the line and were not featured with the article.

I could quote the appropriate volume in Sir John Fortescue's History of the British Army, but wish to choose a very reliable Internet site that everyone can access, titled: "Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth" (http://regiments.org/regiments), which is also a very accurate site. I am listing the chronology of the 39th Foot as shown on this site:

39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot March 8, 1689 - Viscount Lisburne's Regiment of Foot.

February 1,1692 - Richard Coote's Regiment of Foot.

1697 - Disbanded in England.

August 29, 1702 - Richard Coote's Regiment of Foot.

Reformed in Ireland without lineal connection to previous regiment; also known until 1751 by the names of ten other colonels.

July 1, 1751 - 39th Regiment of Foot.

August 31, 1782 - 39th (the East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot.

1795 - Absorbed 104th Regiment of Foot (Royal Manchester Volunteers).

October 29, 1807 - 39th (the Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot.

"Dorsetshire" title belonged 1782-1807 to 35th Foot, "East Middlesex" title passed to the 77th Foot.

July 1, 1881 - Caldwell Reforms: United with the 54th (West Norfolk) Regiment of Foot to form The Dorsetshire Regiment:

1st Battalion - 39th (Dorsetshire of Foot and

2nd Battalion - 54th (West Norfolk) Regiment of Foot.

As can be seen from this list, the 39th Foot did not become the Dorsetshire until October of the year following the Vittoriosa explosion.

I thank Mr Snow for his constructive criticism and consider the matter closed.