A MILITARY reorganisation could see Lancashire lose its own regiment and more than 300 years of history linked to the county ended. In the first of a series of articles exploring Lancashire soldiers' battle campaigns DANNY BRIERLEY looks at British battles against the French in Canada and the American War of Independence. . .

PLANS to amalgamate Britain's army battalions into seven multi-unit regional based regiments could wipe out more than 300 years of military history in Lancashire.

Queen's Lancashire Regiment and its predecessors stretch back to the late 1600s, when records show the county's men fought for William of Orange against the French.

But it was in the Seven Year War of 1756-1763 where Lancastrian soldiers first made a name for themselves.

The war was known in North America as the French and Indian War. It involved several countries, with France and Britain on opposing sides, and North America was one of its many theatres of operations. It was ended by the 1763 Treaty of Paris, by which the French ceded territory to Britain in North America and elsewhere.

The 47th Regiment of Foot, recruited mainly from within Lancashire's borders, won their first battle honours for capturing the French fortress of Louisburg during Britain's campaign against the French in Canada and the regiment was given the nickname Wolfe's Own after its leader, General James Wolfe.

In September 1759 the 47th earned great distinction in the battle of Quebec.

The battle is commemorated annually by the regiment who wear black in memory of General Wolfe's death at the moment of victory.

Queen's Lancashire Regiment regimental secretary, Lieutenant John Downham, said: "Quebec was important as we were involved right the way through to the capture of Montreal, which signalled the end of French-Canada."

James Wolfe's and the 47th's victory at Quebec helped secure Canada for the British Crown and 13 British colonies further south seemed safe from any threat posed by the French and their Native American allies.

Later many of the soldiers who fought in Canada were dispatched to America, where a war of independence had already begun.

The long and complicated war is often over simplified and important historical details, like the part native Loyalists played in hostilities, is often overlooked.

What cannot be ignored, though, is the part played by soldiers from Lancashire.

That is why at the regiment's headquarters in Fulwood regimental historians safeguard mementoes from several key battles. The 47th was stationed in the colonies at the outbreak of hostilities and took part in the first skirmishes at Lexington and Concord and the the bloody battle of Bunkers Hill.

In 1777 they were present at the battles of Princeton and Brandywine and the capture of Philadelphia and distinguished themselves by saving the 40th Regiment of Foot, led by Col Thomas Musgrave, at the battle of Germantown.

But an ill-judged British attempt to invade from Canada, driving down the Hudson Valley towards New York and cutting off the defiant New England, went badly wrong.

Lieutenant General John Burgoyne was forced to capitulate with his army at Saratoga in October and many of the 47th spent the remainder of the war as prisoners.

Ironically perhaps, because the company had been overseas for such generations, some soldiers and officers had been born and raised in the country they were fighting.

Eventually the British were defeated and the 47th left New York with the last of the British garrison in 1783.