Régiment de Perche


The Régiment de Perche was a short-lived line infantry regiment of the French Ancien Régime Royal Army which served during the later XVIIIth century until it was disbanded to form the 30th Infantry Regiment, which itself continued to serve until 1989 when it was finally disbanded.

Early Service

Following the 1775 expansion of the army after order of King Louis XV, many of the four battalion regiments were split into new provincial regiments. As a result of this reform, the 2nd and 4th battalions of the Régiment de Dauphine were separated to form the 1st and 2nd battalions of the Régiment de Perche along with the Dépot/Garrison battalion. The regimental colours were in quarters with three bands parallel to the flagpole and a black band between two yellow bands. Under the regulations of 21 May 1776, the regiment was granted 31st in precedence and given the uniform as such; grey facings, royal blue lapels, white buttons, grey cuffs, and white cuff flaps.
In July 1775, the regiment left Valenciennes, where it was formed, and moved to Bergues, in October 1776 it moved to Libourne and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, then to Auch and Bayonne in April 1777, and then to Toulon in November 1778. During their stay in Toulon, the regiment provided many detachments to the Mediterrean Fleet Flotte du Levant during the course of the Anglo-French War.
Under the uniform regulations of 21 February 1779, the regiment uniform altered to become; soft orange facings, white lapels, white buttons, soft orange cuffs, and white cuff flaps. In May 1783, the regiment left Toulon to go to Saint-Hippolyte but moved to Landau in November. The regiment then passed on to Strasbourg in October 1785, Wissembourg in September 1787, and the Île de Ré in May 1788.

Revolution

The regiment moved to Brest in May 1791. That year, as a result of the French Revolution the regiment was renamed as the 30éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne , and its uniform and colours changed. By the provisional regulations of 1 April 1791, the regimental uniform became more 'republican', transforming it into; republican blue facings, republican blue lapels, white buttons, republican blue cuffs, and republican blue flaps.
In March 1792, the regiment received orders to move to Longwy, but on their way through Chalons, the regiment was re-directed to the Rhine. On 28 April, the regiment arrived in the area of Hochfelden and when the Prussians invaded, the 1st battalion joined the Army of the Centre and placed at Frascati near Metz, and the 2nd battalion entered Fort Louis du Rhin as the Battle of Valmy started. During the battle, the 1st battalion was involved as part of the Army of the Ardennes, while the 2nd battalion moved to Cherbourg then went to Martinique.
The 1st battalion then took part in the Meuse Campaign of 1793, but on 17 May 1794 was absorbed into the 59éme Demi-Brigade. In 1794, the 2nd battalion returned from Martinique and join the Army of the Coasts of Cherbourg until 29 June 1795. On that day, the 2nd battalion was absorbed into the 60éme Demi-Brigade and joined the Army of the Alps Armée des Alps. Thus ending the lineage of the regiment. When Napoleon took power one of his first acts was to re-create the regiments which disappeared 10 years before, as part of this act the 30éme Régiment de Infanterie d'Ligne was reformed, and the lineage and traditions of the Perche regiment transferred.

Commanding Officers

Commanding officers of the regiment included: