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Minden Day is a regimental anniversary celebrated on 1 August by certain units of theBritish Army. It commemorates the participation of the forerunners of the regiments in theBattle of Minden during theSeven Years' War on that date in 1759. In the battle, an Anglo-German army under the overall command of Prussian Field MarshalFerdinand of Brunswick defeated a French army. TheAnnus Mirabilis of 1759 (Latin 'wonderful year') was a string of notable British and allied victories over their French-led opponents
The celebration of the day involves the wearing of "Minden Roses" on the regimental head dress, and in the case of the infantry regiments, the decoration of theregimental colours with garlands of roses. This recalls that the regiments wore wild roses at the battle that they had plucked from the hedgerows as they advanced to engage the enemy.
Minden Day is celebrated by:
The colours of roses varies: red and yellow roses are worn by most of the units (including the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the Royal Anglians - both of whom continue to mark Minden as one of their most important regimental days), the PWRR wear a single red rose, whilst a white rose is favoured by the Light Infantry. In some cases this reflects parts of the regimental recruiting areas: the PWRR have strong links with Hampshire (whose badge is a red rose) and the Light Infantry is associated with part of Yorkshire (represented by a white rose).
In 1975, 1 August was adopted asYorkshire Day, partly to reflect the presence of Yorkshire soldiers at the battle.
Minden Day is commemorated in the folk song "Lowlands of Holland", which dates to the time of the Seven Years' War. Like many folk songs, it has numerous variants. One version, which is prevalent inSuffolk, home of 12th Regiment of Foot (1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment), contains the verse:
"My love across the oceanWears a scarlet coat so fair,With a musket at his shoulderAnd roses in his hair".
Officers who have not previously attended The Royal Regiment of FusiliersOfficers' Mess Minden Day dinner are presented with a rose to be eaten. The names of those who have done so are then recorded in the Mess Records.