46th ( South Devonshire ) Regiment of Foot The 46th ( South Devonshire ) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army , created in 1741 and amalgamated into the Duke of Cornwall ' s Light Infantry in 1881 . History . The regiment was raised at Newcastle in 1741 as the 57th Regiment of Foot , ranked as the 46th Regiment of Foot in 1751 , and took a county title as the 46th ( South Devonshire ) Regiment of Foot in 1782 . A red ' ball tuft ' distinction was worn on the Shako ( cap ) by the Light company of the 46th from 1833 , later by the whole regiment , until 1878 . From this the 46th took their nickname ' The Red Feathers ' , which upheld a tradition allegedly dating from the Light company ' s role at Paoli ' s Tavern during the American War of Independence . In 1749 the Regiment was stationed in Ireland , where they remained for eight years . Whilst they were in Ireland , the Seven Years ' War broke out , and the 46th were relocated to Nova Scotia . During their time in Canada , the 46th were involved in several battles , including : In 1762 they fought in the Caribbean , taking part in the following actions : In the American War of Independence the 46th Regiment of Foot fought at Capture of Long Island , August 28 , 1776 ; Capture of New York , 1776 ; Capture and Reduction of Fort Washington , 1776 ; Battle of Brandywine Creek , September 11 , 1777 ; Action of Paoli ' s Tavern , September 20 , 1777 ; Capture of Philadelphia , 1777 ; Battle of Germantown , October 4 , 1777 ; Action of Monmouth Court - House , June 28 , 1778 ; Assault and Capture of Bedford , September 5 , 1778 Assault and Capture of Martha ' s Vineyard , September , 1778 ; Invasion and Capture of St . Lucia , December 30 , 1778 ; Defence of La Vigie , December 18 , 1778 ; and the Capture of St . Eustatius , 1781 . On 24 May 1806 , men from the regiment stationed at Dominica augmented the packet boat " Duke of Montrose " and set out in pursuit of the French privateers " Napoleon " and " Imperial " and their prize , a schooner they had cut out from Roseau . They captured " Imperial " while another small detachment , in boats , captured the prize . captured " Napoleon " . The 46th Regiment arrived in the British colony of New South Wales to replace the 73rd Regiment of Foot ( 1st Battalion Highlanders ) in February 1814 , and were relieved by the 48th ( Northamptonshire ) Regiment of Foot in 1817 . Whilst in New South Wales , the Regiment saw service in Sydney , Newcastle , Parramatta and Van Diemens Land before leaving for Madras in 1817 . During their service in New South Wales , the 46th were commanded by Lieut . Colonel G . Molle . In 1820 apparently a detachment traveled on HMS " Coromandel " as escorts for convicts bound for Van Diemen ' s Land and New South Wales . During the Crimean War , ( 1854 - 1856 ) the 46th were involved at the Battle of the Alma , September 20 , 1854 ; the Battle of Balaklava , October 25 , 1854 ; the Battle of Inkermann , November 5 , 1854 ; the Siege of Sebastopol , September 25 , 1854 to September 8 , 1855 ; the Trench Warfare ; the Assault on the Quarries , June 7 , 1855 ; the First Assault on the Redan , June 18 , 1855 and the Final Assault on the Redan , September 18 , 1855 . The 46th ( South Devonshires ) Regiment of Foot united with 32nd ( Cornwall ) Regiment of Foot to form The Duke of Cornwall ' s Light Infantry on January 7 , 1881 .