Seven Years' War The formation of the regiment was prompted by the expansion of the army as a result of the commencement of the
Seven Years' War. On 25 August 1756 it was ordered that a number of existing regiments should raise a second
battalion; among those chosen was the
12th Regiment of Foot. The 2nd Battalion of the 12th Regiment of Foot was formed on 10 December 1756 and renumbered as the 65th Regiment of Foot on 21 April 1758. After this regiment was sent to Canada in 1784 and to
Nova Scotia in 1791. It then went back to Canada to help suppress the
rebellions of 1837 and 1838 before returning home in 1841. The regiment saw action in the
First Taranaki War of 1860 to 1861 and in the
Waikato campaign of 1863 to 1864, during which Colour-sergeant
Edward McKenna and Lance Corporal
John Ryan won their
Victoria Crosses at
Camerontown. The regiment returned home in October 1865 The regiment moved to
Lucknow in January 1874, to
Danapore in November 1877 and to
Morar in October 1880. On 1 July 1881 the
Childers Reforms came into effect and the regiment amalgamated with the 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment of Foot to form the
York and Lancaster Regiment. The 65th Foot became the 1st Battalion while the 84th Foot became the
2nd Battalion. ==Battle honours and distinctions==