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

4

This appears to be the first introduction of bayonets into the English Army.

5

State Paper Office.

6

The first issue of carbines to the regular Horse appears to have taken place in 1684; the Life Guards, however, carried carbines from their formation in 1660. —Vide the 'Historical Record of the Life Guards.'

7

Histoire de la Milice Françoise, par le Père Daniel.

8

National Records.

9

The equipment of Hussars at this period is described by D'Auvergne, in his History of the Campaign of 1694, pp. 22, 23.

10

The Third, ranked as Second Dragoons; the Fourth as Third; and the Second as Fourth; until the peace of Utrecht, when the claim of the Greys to precedence was submitted to a board of general officers and admitted. —See the Historical Record of the Scots Greys.

11

Major Wood rose to the rank of lieut. – general. See a memoir of this distinguished officer in the record of the third dragoon guards.

12

The account of the services of the regiment in Ireland has been taken from the Official Records – London Gazettes – Accounts published by authority in 1690, and 1691 – State of Europe – Story's History of the War in Ireland – Harris' Life of King William III. – and Boyer's Life of King William III.

13

D'Auvergne's History of the Campaign in Flanders.

14

Colonel Lloyd being sick at Brussels and the Lieutenant-Colonel on leave of absence.

15

The original embarkation return, signed by the Colonel of the regiment, is among the Harleian manuscripts in the British Museum, No. 7025.

16

Annals of Queen Anne, page 93.

17

Bibl. Harl. 7025.

18

In Lodge's Peerage of Ireland it is stated that Brigadier-General Carpenter gave 1800 guineas for the colonelcy of the Queen's dragoons.

19

Annals of Queen Anne.

20

Two engravings were published of this brave man; one representing him in the act of preserving the standard, and the other a half figure. He recovered from his wounds in about six weeks, and as a reward for his gallantry he was promoted to the post of a private gentleman in the life guards; an appointment which, at that time, was usually obtained by purchase.

21

Major Honeywood received five wounds; he was thought dead, and stripped, and in that state lay six hours on the field of battle. He was, with Captain Brown, and Lieutenant Robinson, reported dead; but all three recovered. We learn from a private letter from General Bland, published in the Gentleman's Magazine, that all his officers were wounded except two, but they gallantly refused to be reported so, and remained with the regiment.

22

The loss of the Third Dragoons was equal to that of the whole of the other cavalry regiments, excepting Ligonier's horse, now seventh dragoon guards.

23

It is said that when the King reviewed his army, previous to leaving them in 1743, he noticed the deficiency in the ranks of the Third, by sharply asking whose regiment it was, and what had become of the remainder of it. 'Please your Majesty,' was the reply of General Bland, 'it is my regiment, and I believe the remainder of it is at Dettingen.'

24

The sword of Lieutenant-Colonel Honeywood, of the King's Own dragoons, who led the attack at the affair of Clifton Moor, (December 19, 1746,) was, on that officer's being cut down, taken possession of by the chief of the Macphersons, which clan formed part of the rear-guard of the rebel army. It is still in existence.

25

'Lord George Murray, who always commanded the rear-guard of the rebels, took possession of a village called Clifton, two miles short of Penrith, and ordered Colonels John Stuart and Clunie Macpherson, with their regiments, supported by the Macdonalds of Keppock, to take post at the bottom of the moor, where they were covered by the hedges and ditches. There were also some hussars in the village, who had just come from Lowther Hall.

'About an hour after sunset the King's troops appeared upon the moor, and three hundred of Colonel Honeywood's dragoons dismounted and marched forward to attack the rebels, who fired from behind the hedges. After a few volleys the dragoons were ordered to retire a few paces, when the highlanders, mistaking this for a flight, rushed forward with sword and pistol; but were well received by the dragoons, who had drawn their swords. Now the shouts began, the clashing of swords is heard, the pistols are fired, and the event seems doubtful. Some of the rebel's swords broke upon the steel caps of the dragoons, whereupon they draw their daggers and fight with great obstinacy.

'Thus they continued for about an hour, when the rebels, observing the resolution of the dragoons, retired across the ditch with precipitation, and carried consternation to Penrith. Such was the skirmish at Clifton, in which twelve of the dragoons were slain and twenty-four wounded. On the side of the rebels were slain twenty, and seventy taken prisoners.' —History of the Rebellion.

26

In April, 1760, Lieut. – Colonel Dalrymple, of the King's Own Dragoons, published an essay dedicated to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (afterwards George III.) on the raising, arming, clothing, and disciplining of the British cavalry and infantry, in which the re-introduction of cuirassiers and lancers was recommended.

27

The regiment was originally mounted on long-tailed horses; the fashion of the short dock was introduced a few years after the Revolution in 1688, but the practice did not become general until about 1709.

28

On his appointment his Lady presented to the regiment a silver collar engraved with military devices to be worn by the kettle drummer. This ornament is still preserved.

29

'To the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Barrington His

Majesty's Secretary at War, &c. &c. &c.

'The memorial of Lieut. – General Charles

Fitzroy, Colonel of the Third, King's Own,

Regiment of Dragoons.

'Represents

'That the sixth trumpeter, being a kettle drummer, is a great inconveniency, one troop always remaining without a trumpeter: the kettle drums being a mark of distinction allowed by royal favour, as it is reported, for having taken them from the enemy at the battle of Aghrim; your memorialist humbly prays that you will represent it to His Majesty, that an additional trumpeter may be allowed, as in the Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoons, and other regiments having kettle drums.'

N.B. Notwithstanding this document, there is every reason for believing that the kettle drums were taken at Dettingen, and not at Aghrim. Every endeavour has been made to discover positive information on the subject, without success. It appears from official documents that four pair of kettle drums were captured at Dettingen: but there is no mention of any kettle drums at Aghrim taken.

30

This officer entered the service July 26th, 1768.

31

Lieut. – Colonel (now General) Godfrey Basil Mundy, who had been promoted in 1795, to a lieutenancy in the Third Dragoons, was advanced to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the regiment on the 2nd July, 1803, and continued in the command of it until the 2nd July, 1812, when ill-health obliged him to relinquish the cavalry service, and to exchange to the infantry. In the year 1804 a collection of standing orders for the Third King's Own Dragoons was compiled and issued by Lieutenant Colonel Mundy, in which the duties of every rank of officer, and non-commissioned officer, as well as private soldier, in all situations of service, whether at home or abroad, are ably and minutely defined, and in which the officers and soldiers are urgently recommended to devote their hours of leisure to the study of the duties of their profession. This code of discipline was uniformly acted upon until the departure of the regiment for India in the year 1837, and is probably maintained in this gallant corps at the present time.

32

This is the first instance in which the King's Own took horses of any colour, but black or brown; even the brown horses had been transferred.

33

The attack was made under the direction of Marshal Soult in person, who himself endeavoured to gain information from the prisoners.

34

Lieut. – Colonel G. B. Mundy was removed to the Second Regiment of Foot on the 7th July, 1812, and was succeeded in the Third Dragoons by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Charles Manners from the Twenty-third Light Dragoons: Lieut. – Colonel Lord Charles Manners immediately assumed the command of the Regiment in Spain.

35

Colonel Napier's History of the Peninsular War.

36

'The cavalry, under Sir Stapleton Cotton, made a most gallant and successful charge upon a body of French infantry, which they overthrew and cut to pieces. In this charge Major-General Le Marchant was unfortunately killed at the head of his brigade, and I have to regret the loss of a most able officer.' —Lord Wellington's Despatch.

37

The loss of the King's Own was small; 1 horse killed, 1 private and 2 horses wounded.

38

Extract of a brigade order issued by General Ponsonby.

'Boulogne, July 19th, 1814.

'Major-General Ponsonby takes this opportunity of expressing to the brigade the high sense he entertains of their uniformly excellent conduct, both in quarters and in the field. It is a circumstance as gratifying to him, as it is creditable to themselves, that, during the whole period of their service, they have, in no one instance, collectively or individually, incurred animadversion in general orders, and that no individual of the brigade has been brought to a general court-martial. With equal truth the major-general can assert, that upon every occasion which has presented itself of acting against the enemy, either regimentally, or in brigade, they have nobly sustained the superiority of the British cavalry, and fully justified the high opinion repeatedly expressed of them by His Grace the Duke of Wellington. The three regiments52 will ever have to congratulate themselves on its having fallen to their lot to be in the brigade employed on the 22nd of July, 1812 (battle of Salamanca), in that glorious and effectual charge which contributed in so eminent a degree to decide the fate of the day, and to secure the signal and complete defeat of the French army.'

'The major-general concludes by stating, that he has applied to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent for permission for the three regiments to bear the word "SALAMANCA" on their standards and appointments, and to be styled "Salamanca Regiments."'

39

At York the regiment received the distinction before alluded to in the following letter: —

'Horse Guards, Nov. 16th, 1814.

'My Lord, – I have the honour to acquaint you, that His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name, and on the behalf of His Majesty, has been pleased to approve of the Third, or King's Own Dragoons being permitted to bear on their standards and appointments (in addition to any other badges or devices which have heretofore been permitted to be borne by that regiment) the word "SALAMANCA," in commemoration of the distinguished gallantry displayed by that regiment in the battle fought on the plains of Salamanca on the 22nd of July, 1812. I have the honour to be, &c.

'Henry Calvert, Adjt. – General.

'To Lieut. – Col. Lord Charles Manners, }

Commanding the Third (King's Own) Dragoons.' }

40

In this year, the regiment received the following letter: —

'Sir,

Horse Guards, 20th September, 1821.

'I have the honour to acquaint you, by direction of the Commander-in-Chief, that His Majesty has been pleased to approve of the Third (or King's Own) regiment of Light Dragoons, bearing on its standards and appointments, in addition to any badges or devices which may have heretofore been granted to the regiment, the words "Vittoria" and "Toulouse," in commemoration of the conduct of the regiment at the battle of Vittoria, on the 21st of June, 1813, and in the attack of the position, covering Toulouse, on the 10th of April, 1814.

'I have the honour, &c.

'John Macdonald, D.A.G.

'Officer Commanding the }

3rd King's Own Light Dragoons.' }

41

March 31, 1824.

'The 3rd Light Dragoons, being about to leave their present quarters at Hampton Court, His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence takes this opportunity of expressing to Major Stisted his approbation of the uniform and steady good conduct of the regiment, since it has been in these quarters, and of assuring the King's Own, that they will ever possess His Royal Highness's best and sincerest wishes for their honour and welfare.'

42

Extract of a letter, dated

'My Lord,

'Pontefract, Aug. 14, 1825.

'I am directed by Major-General the Honourable W. G. Harris to announce to your Lordship, that H. R. H. the Commander-in-Chief, and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, have expressed their approbation of the conduct of Lieutenant Jebb, and the men composing the party under his command, when employed in aid of the civil power at Sunderland, on the 3rd instant.

'I have the honour, &c.

'P. Hay, A.D.C.

'Colonel Lord R. Manners.'

Extract from a letter dated

'Sunderland, Aug. 26, 1825.

'I beg to have the honour of expressing my unqualified approbation and thanks to the officers and men of the party, for their essential services in the late riotous and melancholy events, and I derive great consolation from having received the perfect concurrence of Government, in the conduct of the military and magistrates, and particularly on the 3rd of August, when it became necessary to fire on the mob, by which some lives were lost.

'I have the honour, &c.

'T. Robertson, J. P.'

A most handsome letter was likewise received from the Shipowner's Society, which, after particularizing the cool and steady conduct of the embarked party, proceeds to state that "they are confident that every other individual of the regiment would have acted in a similar manner." The thanks of the town are also offered to the non-commissioned officers and privates for their exemplary conduct during the time of their stay.

43

Extract of an order, dated York, May 21st, 1830: —

'Major-General Sir H. Bouverie desires Major Stisted will express to the officers his unqualified approbation of the regiment in every respect. The appearance of the men, the high condition of the horses, and the field movements, performed with so much precision and celerity, reflect the highest credit on every individual. The regiment having scarcely had an opportunity of assembling for the last three years, and never having had any good drill-ground, the Major-General desires Major Stisted to say, that the regiment performed the manœuvres this day as steady, as correct, and as near perfection as cavalry can be brought, notwithstanding all the disadvantages it has laboured under for such a length of time.'

44

On the "Army of the Indus" being assembled in 1838, for the purpose of reinstating Shah Shooja-ool-Moolk in the sovereignty of Cabool, Colonel Thackwell, K.H. (Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third light dragoons), was selected to command the cavalry division, with the local rank of Major-General, and Cornet Edmund Roche, of that regiment, was appointed his aide-de-camp. Both served the arduous Affghanistan campaign, and were present at the capture of the strong and important fortress of Ghuznee, on the 23rd July, 1839.

45

Major-General Pollock's Despatch.

46

Major-General Pollock's Despatch.

47

Lt. – Colonel Richmond's Despatch.

48

Despatch of Major-General McCaskill.

49

In narrating the services of the regiments which composed the Army of the Sutlej in the years 1845 and 1846, it may be desirable that a brief account be given of the country of the Punjaub, particularly of the Sikhs, the most powerful of the population. The important results of the sanguinary and eventful conflicts in the Punjaub in 1846, following so rapidly on each other, excited the warmest interest throughout a great part of the world; and the heroic deeds of the several regiments employed, added another page to the records of the glorious achievements of the British Army.

The Punjaub, (Punj, five; aub, water,) deriving its name from the five rivers which intersect it, is an extensive country to the northwest of India. The chief of these rivers are the Indus and the Sutlej, by which and by the lofty Himalayas, the whole of this fine territory is bounded. At the period of the invasion of India by Alexander the Great, the Punjaub is stated to have been a wealthy and populous country, governed by numerous princes, whose subjects were characterised as brave and warlike. The Sikhs, originally a religious sect, were founded by Nanac, or Nanaïc, Shah, about four centuries ago; but, in after years, in order probably to defend their doctrines, they were induced by Govind, one of their high priests, to unite the warrior with the priestly character, thus forming a military as well as religious association, not dissimilar to the Templar Knights of the times of the Crusades. They, however, for a time almost disappeared; but profiting by the calamities of the Mogul empire during the last century, the Sikhs threw off the yoke of Mussulman despotism, their Sirdars or Chieftains spreading themselves over the country, ruling by might rather than right, and each acting independently of the other, until the death of Maha Singh in 1792. His son and successor Runjeet Singh contrived, however, to make several of the Sirdars acknowledge him as their leader, and by skilful management, in the course of a short period, obtained possession of Lahore, the principal city of the Punjaub, and eventually of Cashmere, Mooltan, and Peshawur. In the end all the chiefs submitted to him; thus bringing the whole country, from the Indus to the Sutlej, under his rule. He was greatly aided in his views of aggrandisement by the assistance of a few Italian and French officers, who trained his army upon the European model, and by their instructions it attained a high degree of discipline, proving one of the strongest enemies the British had ever contended with in India. Since the death of Runjeet in 1839, anarchy and confusion have prevailed; hatred of the English, which his influence checked, manifested itself, finally inducing the Sikh forces to invade the British territories, by crossing the Sutlej in great numbers in December, 1845, actuated as much by the hope of plunder, as by the desire of conquest.

50

Lieutenant Francis, of the ninth lancers, acted as aide-de-camp to Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, commanding the cavalry division, in succession to Lieutenant Roche, of the Third light dragoons, who was appointed to act as Assistant Quarter-Master-General: Lieutenants Francis and Roche had their horses wounded at the battle of Sobraon.

51

In the active movements performed in these severely contested battles, it was found that the men of the Third Light Dragoons afforded an additional proof of their usefulness and bravery, by bringing up, and assisting in working, the Field-Artillery, in positions where the guns could be effectively used against the enemy; thus evincing, that the instruction they had previously received under the system introduced at the Cavalry Depôt at Maidstone, by Major-General Brotherton, in 1832, may be successfully applied on field service.

52

The brigade consisted of the Fifth Dragoon Guards, the Third, and Fourth Dragoons.