Historical Record of the Third, Or the King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons

From this period the value of light horsemen was more appreciated in England than formerly; the general utility of this arm, on home and foreign service, had been fully proved; and at the commencement of hostilities with France, in 1755, King George II. resolved to possess the advantage of a body of Light Cavalry in the approaching contest. His Majesty accordingly commanded a troop of Light Dragoons to be added to the First, Second, and Third Regiments of Dragoon Guards, and First, Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Tenth, and Eleventh Regiments of Dragoons. The First, Second, Third, and Fourth Irish Horse (now Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Dragoon Guards), and the Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Dragoons, being on the Irish establishment, did not receive the same addition.

These troops of Light Dragoons were mounted, armed, equipped, and trained, according to specific instructions, calculated to render them available for the services for which they were designed. Several of them were reviewed in Hyde Park by His Majesty; and their neat appearance, celerity of movement, and the spirited and exact manner in which they performed their evolutions, were much admired.

Nine of these troops were formed into a brigade in 1758, under the command of one of the King's aides-de-camp, Colonel George Augustus Eliott, of the Horse Grenadier Guards; and they were employed in the expeditions to the coast of France under Charles Duke of Marlborough and Lieut. – General Bligh. They landed in France twice; skirmished with the French Cavalry; and throughout these enterprises they evinced activity, spirit, and general usefulness. After their return to England, they were augmented to 125 men per troop.

At this period, the war on the Continent had involved most of the European states; and the extended and active operations which were taking place in Germany rendered it necessary for a British force to join the Allied Army under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. This gave rise to a further augmentation of the Army; and the increased estimation in which Light Cavalry was held induced the King to give directions for the raising of entire Regiments of Light Dragoons, in addition to the five Regiments of Horse, three of Dragoon Guards, and fourteen of Dragoons, already on the British and Irish establishments. The following corps were accordingly embodied: —

Light DragoonsIncorporated in 1759

Fifteenth, in England, by Colonel George A. Eliott; – now the Fifteenth, or the King's Hussars.

Sixteenth, in England, by Lieut. – Colonel John Burgoyne; – now the Sixteenth, or the Queen's Lancers.

Seventeenth, in Scotland, by Captain Lord Aberdour; – disbanded in 1763.

Eighteenth, in England, by Lieut. – Colonel John Hale; – now the Seventeenth Lancers.

Nineteenth, in Ireland, by Lieut. – Colonel Lord Drogheda; – numbered the Eighteenth in 1763; constituted Hussars in 1807; and after performing much valuable service at home and abroad, it was disbanded at Newbridge, in Ireland, in 1821.

Incorporated in 1760

Twentieth, in Ireland, by Captain Sir James Caldwell; – disbanded in 1763.

Twenty-first, or Royal Foresters, in England by Lieut. – General the Marquis of Granby, and Colonel Lord Robert Sutton; – disbanded in 1763.

After the peace of Fontainebleau, three of these corps were disbanded, and the other four continued in the service. The light troops attached to the heavy regiments were also disbanded, but a few men of each troop were afterwards equipped as Light Dragoons.

A more perfect knowledge of the efficiency and capabilities of Light Cavalry, acquired during the campaigns in Germany and Portugal, had advanced the estimation in which that arm was held; and, in 1768, the Twelfth Dragoons (one of the heavy regiments raised by King George I. in 1715), underwent a change of equipment and clothing, and was constituted a corps of Light Dragoons, by General Carpenter, in Ireland.

This alteration served as a precedent for subsequent changes; and further experience, during the American war, from 1775 to 1783, con[Pg xxviii]firming the value of Light Cavalry, the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Regiments of Dragoons were changed from heavy to light. The Light Dragoons attached to the heavy regiments were incorporated into newly-raised corps, and the following regiments of

Light DragoonsWere embodied in 1779

Nineteenth, – by Major-General Russell Manners; – disbanded in 1783.

Twentieth, – by Major-General Richard Burton Phillipson; – disbanded in 1783.

Twenty-first, – by Major-General John Douglas; – disbanded in 1783.

Twenty-second, – by Lieut. – Colonel John Lord Sheffield; – disbanded in 1783.

Embodied in 1781

Twenty-third, – by Lieut. – General Sir John Burgoyne, Baronet, for service in India, and was numbered the Nineteenth after the peace in 1783. This regiment signalized itself on numerous occasions in India, and was rewarded with the honour of bearing on its guidons and appointments the Elephant, with the words Assaye and Seringapatam. The word Niagara was also added in commemoration of the gallantry of two troops, in the year 1813, in North America. In 1817 it was constituted a corps of Lancers. It was disbanded in Ireland in 1821.

Thus a few years had produced a great change in the British Army. Twenty-five years previously to the termination of the American war there was not a single Light Dragoon Regiment in the Service, and in 1783 there were seventeen; four of them were disbanded at that period, and thirteen retained in the Service.

Soon after the termination of the American war, the French monarch having, by aiding the rebellious British provincials, taught his own subjects a lesson of insubordination, was deprived of the reins of government; and the violent conduct of the French revolutionists in the West Indies occasioned the Twentieth or Jamaica Regiment of Light Dragoons to be raised in 1791 by Colonel Henry F. Gardner, for service in that island. Besides its services in Jamaica, detachments of this regiment served at Malta; Sicily; at the taking of the Cape of Good Hope, in 1806; at the capture of Alexandria, in 1807; at the attack on Monte Video; in Portugal; at Genoa; and on the eastern coast of Spain; and acquired the honour of bearing the word Peninsula on its guidons and appointments. It was disbanded in Ireland in 1818.

War with France commenced in 1793, and was followed by augmentations to the Army. It was not found necessary to add a single Heavy Cavalry Regiment; but the following Regiments of

Light DragoonsWere incorporated in 1794

Twenty-first, – by Lieut. – Colonel Thomas R. Beaumont. This regiment served at the Cape of Good Hope and in India thirteen years; a detachment was sent to do duty at St. Helena, when Napoleon Buonaparte was removed thither. This regiment was disbanded at Chatham in 1820.

Twenty-second, – by Major-General William Viscount Fielding; – served in Great Britain and Ireland; – disbanded in 1802.

Twenty-third, – by Colonel William Fullerton; – served in Great Britain and Ireland; – disbanded in 1802.

Twenty-fourth, – by Colonel William Loftus; – served in Great Britain and Ireland; – disbanded in 1802.

Twenty-fifth, – by Major-General Francis Edward Gwyn. This regiment was numbered the Twenty-second after the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. It served with reputation in India; was employed at the reduction of Java; signalized itself on several occasions; and was rewarded with the royal authority to bear the word Seringapatam on its guidons and appointments. It was disbanded in England in 1820.

Raised in 1795

Twenty-sixth, – by Lieut. – General R. Manners; – numbered the Twenty-third in 1803. This regiment served in Egypt, Portugal, Spain, Flanders, and France; and its distinguished conduct was rewarded with the honour of bearing on its guidons and appointments, the Sphinx, with the words Egypt, Peninsula, and Waterloo. In 1816 it was constituted a corps of Lancers. It was disbanded in England in 1817.

Twenty-seventh, – by Major-General Wynter Blathwayte; – numbered the Twenty-fourth in 1804. This regiment served in India, distinguished itself at the battles of Ghur and Delhi, and was permitted to bear the Elephant, with the word Hindoostan, on its guidons and appointments. It was disbanded in England, on its arrival from Bengal, in 1819.

Twenty-eighth, – by Major-General Robert Lawrie; – served in Great Britain, Ireland, and at the Cape of Good Hope; – disbanded in Ireland in 1802.

Twenty-ninth, – by Major-General Francis Augustus Lord Heathfield; – numbered the Twenty-fifth in 1804. This regiment served in India, and was at the reduction of the Isle of France. It was disbanded at Chatham, on its arrival from India, in 1819.

Raised in 1794.

Thirtieth, – by Lieut. – Colonel J. C. Carden; – disbanded in 1796.

Thirty-first, – by Lieut. – Colonel William St. Ledger; – disbanded in 1796.

Thirty-second, – by Lieut. – Colonel H. J. Blake; – disbanded in 1796.

Thirty-third, – by Lieut. – Colonel J. Blackwood; – disbanded in 1796.

Soon after the re-commencement of hostilities with France in 1803, the Seventh, Tenth, Fifteenth, and Eighteenth Light Dragoons were equipped as Hussars. Since the termination of the war in 1815, the Third and Fourth Dragoons have been changed from heavy to light; the Ninth, Twelfth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Light Dragoons have been constituted Lancers; and the Eighth and Eleventh Light Dragoons have also been equipped as Hussars.

At this period (1847), the Cavalry of the British Army consists of twenty-six regiments – thirteen Heavy and thirteen Light; and is composed of three regiments of Cuirassiers, ten of Heavy Dragoons, four of Light Dragoons, five of Hussars, and four of Lancers.

THE THIRD,ORTHE KING'S OWN REGIMENTOFLIGHT DRAGOONS,BEARS ON ITS APPOINTMENTSTHE WHITE HORSE,ON A RED FIELD WITHIN THE GARTER,WITH THE MOTTO"NEC ASPERA TERRENT:"ALSO THE WORDS,"SALAMANCA" – "VITTORIA" – "TOULOUSE" – "PENINSULA,"To commemorate its Gallant Conduct in Spain and France from 1811 to 1814;AND THE WORD"CABOOL, 1842,"For its distinguished Services in Affghanistan in 1842

HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE THIRD, OR THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF LIGHT DRAGOONS

1685

James the Second ascended the throne of England on the 6th of February, 1685, and four months only had elapsed, when his nephew, James Duke of Monmouth, erected the standard of rebellion on the western coast, and, having been joined by upwards of three thousand men, proclaimed himself king. To oppose Monmouth and his rash adherents, the King obtained from Parliament a grant of four hundred thousand pounds, and augmented the strength of his army. Among the loyal yeomen and artisans who arrayed themselves under the banners of their sovereign, a number of young men from Berkshire, Middlesex, Herts, and Essex, were formed into five independent troops of Dragoons under Captains Richard Leveson, John Williams, Thomas Hussey, Edward Lea, and Francis Russel. These five troops, with an old independent troop of Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Strather, were attached to the Royal Dragoons under John Lord Churchill, (afterwards the great Duke of Marlborough,) whose regiment was thus augmented to nine hundred men, and from these additional troops the corps which now bears the distinguished title of the "Third, or King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons," derives its origin.

Captain Russel's troop rendezvoused at Chelsea and Knightsbridge, and having been speedily mounted and equipped, it was attached to the three Scots regiments of foot which had arrived from Holland, and ordered to join the army; but the insurgent bands having been overthrown at Sedgemoor on the 6th of July, it halted at Bagshot; and proceeding to London on the 13th, was present at the execution of the Duke of Monmouth on the 15th of that month.

Although the insurrection was thus speedily suppressed, and the executions which followed were sufficiently numerous to intimidate the disaffected, and prevent a second appeal to arms of a similar character, yet the King resolved to retain a considerable number of the newly-raised forces in his service. On the 17th of July several troops of Dragoons were formed into a regiment, (now the fourth light dragoons,) under the command of Colonel John Berkeley; and in the beginning of August, four of the additional troops attached to the royal dragoons, with one troop from Berkeley's regiment, were incorporated; at the same time another troop was ordered to be raised, and the six were constituted a regiment of which His Grace the Duke of Somerset was appointed Colonel, and Alexander Cannon, from a regiment of foot in the Dutch service, Lieutenant-Colonel, by commission dated the 2nd of August, 1685. The regiment thus formed is the subject of this memoir; its Colonel being Lord-Lieutenant of Somersetshire, had commanded the militia of that county during the rebellion, and his regiment was honoured with the title of the "Queen Consort's Regiment of Dragoons;" and being composed of troops raised previously to those of Berkeley's regiment, it obtained precedence of the last-mentioned corps10.

1686

The establishment was fixed by warrant under the sign manual, bearing date the 1st of January, 1686, from which the following is an extract.

THE QUEEN CONSORT'S REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS.

NAMES of the OFFICERS of HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN CONSORT'S REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS.

1687

During the summer the regiment was encamped on Hounslow Heath, where it was reviewed by the King; it was also encamped on the same ground in the summer of 1687; and took part in several mock-engagements, which were exhibited by an army of upwards of ten thousand men, in presence of their Majesties, and a numerous concourse of people.

1688

The King, having openly declared himself a Roman Catholic, resolved to give public audience to a nuncio from the Pope, Ferdinand d'Adda, who had been consecrated Archbishop of Amasia in the King's Chapel at St. James's, and the Duke of Somerset, who was Lord of the Bedchamber in waiting, was directed to attend the legate into His Majesty's presence. This command his Grace refused to obey, with a laudable firmness which astonished the King, alleging the laws of England made such attendance treason; he was consequently deprived of his regiment and of his post at court. The King conferred the Colonelcy on the Lieutenant-Colonel, Alexander Cannon, under whom it was again encamped on Hounslow Heath.

While pursuing a course of tyrannical and ill-advised measures against the laws and religion of the country, the King learnt with astonishment and indignation, that the Prince of Orange was embarking an army for England to aid the noblemen and gentlemen who were opposed to papacy and arbitrary government; the Queen's Dragoons, with several other corps, were ordered to Ipswich, under the command of Major-General Sir John Lanier, to endeavour to preserve Landguard fort, and to oppose the Prince if he should attempt to land there. His Highness, however, landed at Torbay on the 5th of November, 1688, when the regiment was ordered to Salisbury, and from thence to Warminster, where the advance-post of the King's army was established.

While the regiment was stationed at Warminster, the Lieutenant-Colonel, Richard Leveson, Captain St. George, with several other officers and a number of men, being stanch Protestants and zealous advocates for their religion, and for the welfare of their country, quitted their post and joined the Prince of Orange. The remainder of the regiment continued with King James' army and retreated towards London. His Majesty having quitted England and retired to France, the regiment was re-united at Dunstable, and the Prince of Orange conferred the colonelcy on Lieutenant-Colonel Leveson, in succession to Colonel Cannon, who adhered to the interest, and followed the fortunes of King James.

1689

On the accession of King William III. and Queen Mary, the Regiment did not lose its title of "The Queen's," but that designation was not used, and numerical titles not having been then introduced, it was usually styled Leveson's regiment; it was, however, again called "The Queen's," after its return from Ireland in 1692.

Under its new sovereign the regiment was quickly employed in active service. King James proceeded from France to Ireland, and finding an army, levied by Earl Tyrconnel, ready to support the Roman Catholic interest, he soon reduced the greater part of that country to submission to his authority. King William sent the veteran Duke Schomberg with an army to Ireland, to rescue that country from the power of papacy; and Leveson's dragoons embarked at Highlake on the 21st of August, for the same destination. Having landed near Carrickfergus, they joined Duke Schomberg's camp a mile beyond Belfast, on the 30th of August, and were reviewed on the following day.

The army quitted Belfast on the 2nd of September, and advancing towards Newry on the 3rd, found the town in flames, and the enemy fled; Leveson's troopers and some Inniskilling horse, rode forward in pursuit, but were unable to overtake the rear of the fugitive army.

A camp was afterwards formed at Dundalk, and, on the 13th of September, as a party of the regiment was cutting forage in the fields, a detachment of the enemy appeared; the dragoons instantly threw down their forage and advanced to meet their opponents, who, though superior in numbers, faced about and retired. On the 21st of September the enemy appeared in force, displaying their royal standard, but retired without venturing to attack the camp; when a party of Leveson's Dragoons galloped forward in pursuit, and overtaking the enemy's rear, killed five men. On the 17th of October, as a detachment of the regiment and some Inniskilling horse, were reconnoitring, they advanced with great audacity to the immediate vicinity of King James' camp, and a party of Irish horse gained a pass in their rear to cut off their retreat; but the gallant dragoons, by a determined charge forced their way through the defile, killed four opponents, and brought off six prisoners.

These instances of bravery gave Duke Schomberg a high opinion of the regiment, and about midnight on the 27th of October, he sent out two hundred of Leveson's troopers with some Inniskilling horse and French protestants, who dashed across the country to the neighbourhood of Ardee, routed the enemy's out-guards, and captured a drove of oxen and some horses, with which they returned in triumph to the camp at Dundalk.

In November the army went into winter quarters in the north of Ireland, and a party of Leveson's troopers was stationed at a frontier post at Tandrogee. On the 26th of November, sixty men of the regiment accompanied Colonel Cambron, while making a reconnoisance of the enemy's post at Charlemont; when they discovered a party from the garrison posted in the hedges near the place. The Dragoons, with their characteristic intrepidity, dismounted, drove the enemy from the hedges in gallant style, killed seven men upon the spot, and captured two Irish musketeers, twenty horses, and a number of cattle, with the loss of one man who was killed by a shot from the town, and eight men, whose ardour led them too forward in the pursuit, and who were surrounded and made prisoners.

1690

In February, one squadron of the regiment formed part of a reconnoitring party under Major-General Sir John Lanier; and on arriving in the vicinity of Dundalk, Leveson's dragoons dismounted, – stormed Bedloe's Castle, – killed ten of the garrison, – took the remainder prisoners, – and burnt the building. The same party captured about fifteen hundred head of cattle, and afterwards returned to Newry, – having lost one lieutenant, three dragoons, and four horses, killed, in this expedition.

Although no general engagement had occurred, Leveson's dragoons, by their spirited conduct on all occasions, had become celebrated in the army; Colonel Leveson was foremost on every occasion of danger, the men were proud of their commander, and the character of the corps was already established, when King William III. arrived in Ireland to command the Army in person. His Majesty landed at Carrickfergus on the 14th of June, and proceeded from thence to Belfast, where he was met by the principal officers of the army. Leveson's troopers were, at this time, at Newry, with a division of the army commanded by Major-General Kirke; and on Sunday, the 22nd of June, a squadron of the regiment, under the orders of Captain Crow, and a company of Kirke's (now second) foot, commanded by Captain Farlow, were ordered forward to reconnoitre the enemy's camp at Dundalk.

1690

This party was on the march at an early hour, and having advanced through a pass, to the grounds where the enemy had erected a fort in the preceding campaign, but had afterwards abandoned it, they were suddenly saluted by a volley from some infantry who had concealed themselves in the fort; at the same time five hundred of the enemy's horse were seen through the misty dawn advancing to charge them. Never were men in greater danger than that to which this little band was exposed; Leveson's troopers, being in advance, stood their ground boldly, but were driven back by the superior numbers of their antagonists. The enemy's horsemen being checked by the fire of Farlow's musketeers, the dragoons returned to the charge and used their broad swords with good effect; the pikemen joined in the charge and the Irish were driven back; but not knowing the numbers of their opponents, the dragoons and pikemen retired through the pass in good order. The loss on this occasion was twenty-two men killed and several wounded, and Captain Farlow, who commanded the foot, was taken prisoner. The enemy's loss was greater, and their Commanding Officer was killed by one of Leveson's troopers. Another party of the regiment was sent forward on the following morning, and ascertained that the enemy had left the camp at Dundalk, and were retreating towards Ardee.

King William advanced through Dundalk to Ardee, which town he entered as the enemy's rear-guard abandoned the place. On the 30th of June he arrived at the river Boyne, and Captain Pownell, of Leveson's dragoons, was sent with a squadron to take post near Slane-bridge. King James' army was strongly posted on the opposite bank of the river, with his right near Drogheda and his left extending towards the village of Slane.

On the 1st of July the river was crossed at three places, and a general engagement was fought. After a severe struggle the enemy retreated to the village of Donore, where they made such a determined stand that the Dutch and Danish horse, though headed by the King in person, gave way; when a squadron of Leveson's dragoons, commanded by Captain Brewerton, and a party of Sir Albert Cunningham's dragoons (the sixth Inniskilling) dismounted, and, lining the hedges, and an old house, 'did such execution upon the pursuers as soon checked their ardour.' At the same time Colonel Leveson, with the remainder of his regiment, galloped forward, and, with admirable bravery, interposed between the enemy's horse, and the village of Duleck. King William's horse having rallied and returned to the charge, the enemy retreated, when they were attacked in the rear by Colonel Leveson with his dragoons, who made great slaughter. The Irish abandoned the field with precipitation; but their French and Swiss auxiliaries retreated in good order.

King James returned to France, yet the war was continued in Ireland. On the 22nd of July, Leveson's dragoons proceeded, with other forces, to Waterford, and invested the town. The garrison surrendered on the 25th, and was conducted to Youghal by a troop of the regiment under Captain Pownell. Having delivered up his charge, the captain, representing to the governor the ruin he would bring upon himself if he held out, induced him to deliver up the place; and it was taken possession of the same night by the dragoons, who found fourteen pieces of cannon, 350 barrels of oats, and some provisions, in the town. This troop remained in garrison at Youghal, with a company of foot; and the commanding officer, having heard that bands of armed Roman Catholic peasantry, called Rapparees, were committing ravages on the Protestants, marched out with thirty-six dragoons and fifty foot. The dragoons were in advance, and when they arrived near Castle Martir, they encountered three hundred rapparees. Notwithstanding the disparity of numbers, the gallant dragoons dashed forward sword in hand, – broke in upon the enemy, – sabred sixty upon the spot, and took seventeen prisoners. The foot having come up, the castle was summoned, and the troops in the garrison delivered it up on condition of being allowed to march unmolested to Cork, without horses and arms. The captain gave the arms to the Protestant inhabitants, and took the horses with him to Youghal.