MONTIS INSIGNIA CALPE
The badge consists of a King's Crown above a circular band with the motto, 'Montis Insignia Calpe', (The badge of the Rock of Gibraltar). Within the voided centre, the banner, 'GIBRALTAR' above the Castle of Gibraltar and Key. All this surrounded by an oak leaf wreath. Below is the title banner scroll.
They were raised in 1685 as the Duke of Norfolk's Regiment of Foot, but in 1686 became the Earl of Lichfield's. In 1751 they were numbered the 12th of Foot and in 1782, 12th (East Suffolk) Foot. In 1881, they became the Suffolk Regiment.
They served in conflicts throughout the world, most notably in the Battle of Dettingen, Battle of Minden, (still commemorated by the wearing of a 'Minden Rose' in the cap badge on the anniversary of the battle), the Siege of Gibraltar (hence the castle on the badge), India, the Maori Wars, the Second Afghan War and the Boer War.
They were awarded 73 battle honours in WW1 and 12 in WW2. One of the great episodes of the Regiment had nothing to do with war, when in 1852, 55 men and 1 officer of the 12th were on board HMS Birkenhead, with some 360 young soldiers and soldiers families, all of which were bound for South Africa. In the middle of the night the ship struck a rock and foundered. Only 3 life boats could be launched and the men of the 12th stood fast while the women and children boarded them. Few of the soldiers could swim, but none broke the ranks to enter the overcrowded boats. There were few survivors and in Bury St. Edmunds church, Suffolk, there is a memorial to the 12th's Birkenhead Heroes.
The regimental march was 'Speed the Plough'. They were amalgamated with the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1959, to form the 1st East Anglian Regiment (Royal Norfolk and Suffolk). In 1964, they became the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment.