Major General Charles Howard CB was Colonel of the Regiment from 1738 to 1748. It is from him that the Regiment got the nickname “Green Howards” which has stuck for over 200 years.
During the time of the Austrian Succession, the tradition was that regiments were named after their Commander Officer, in this case Charles Howard. However, during this conflict another regiment under a Thomas Howard was serving in the same area. To avoid confusion Charles’ regiment were called the Green Howards after the cuffs and facings on their uniform and Thomas’ was called The Buffs. This name stuck with the regiment through the years until they were officially renamed as The Green Howards in 1920.
Despite being a Colonel of an infantry regiment, Sir Charles is pictured here in front of a detachment of Light Dragoons.
The Swiss artist David Morier painted the portraits of several important figures including King George I, King George II and the Duke of Cumberland, his patron.
The museum received the painting from the Marquess of Normanby in 1982 when it was presented in memory of Lieutenant Colonel W. E. Bush, DSO, OBE, MC.
More about the painting here
More about the artist here