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

On the above day the King's Own moved towards the north of Portugal, and rejoined the brigade at Braganza, on the 21st of May. On the 24th the brigade was at Tabara, and on the 26th it crossed the Esla at Pozuela. The enemy made no resistance at the passage of the river, and was compelled to abandon the line of the Douro, by Lord Wellington's advance along their rear. The column to which Ponsonby's brigade was attached, was directed on Valencia, and passing through that town, advanced on Burgos. On the 12th of June, the brigade overtook the enemy's rear-guard on the heights of Estepar, when the King's Own were detached to cut off part of the enemy's force, in which the regiment completely succeeded, making its way to the high road from Madrid, throwing the enemy into confusion on Burgos; a squadron of the fourteenth, with a detachment of the King's Own, charging the enemy's rear, captured a gun: the regiment had captain Sitwell and one private wounded, and five horses killed and three wounded.

During the night of the 12th, the French blew up the castle of Burgos and retired behind the Ebro, which river the brigade, after marching through a wild and difficult region of deep narrow valleys and rugged defiles, crossed at Puente de Arenas on the 15th. Both armies were concentrated, the British on the river Bayas, and the French on the undulating grounds in the valley of Vittoria, where, on the 21st of June, they were attacked by the allied army. The result of this attack was a most decisive victory, the French only carrying from the field two guns; the whole of their immense equipment fell into the hands of the British. Owing to the nature of the field of battle the cavalry could scarcely act,37 and that arme was principally employed in supporting the infantry, and in the pursuit, which was continued until the enemy had passed Pampeluna. The gallant bearing of the King's Own was rewarded in 1821, with the royal permission to bear the word "Vittoria" on their guidons.

At this period, General Clausel with fifteen thousand men was at Logroño, and of course, was not engaged in the battle; nor was he aware that an engagement had taken place, till he arrived near Vittoria, and found the town in the possession of the British: he then returned to Logroño, and marched upon Tudela, hoping to reach Pampeluna before the British. On the 27th his scheme was discovered, and the Marquis of Wellington detached the cavalry with two divisions of infantry to intercept him. This detached force arrived on the same night at Tafalla and Olieta, and on the next morning advanced upon Tudela, when it was discovered that Clausel, upon receiving intelligence of the force sent against him, had retreated to Saragossa, whence he returned to France by the pass of Jaca, his artillery falling into the hands of the Spanish troops.

On the 30th of June the infantry returned to Pampeluna, and Major-General Ponsonby's brigade remained at Tafalla for eleven days, when forage becoming scarce, it moved to Laraga, and halted there a fortnight.

The cavalry received an order to move to the north on the 27th of July, in consequence of the troops having been forced from the passes of Roncesvalles and Maya in the Pyrenees. The army took up a position at Huarte and Villarba, and the town of Pampeluna was illuminated at the prospect of relief. On the 28th, Soult attacked the British position, but was repulsed with loss; Count D'Erlon's division was compelled to fall back upon Maya, and the British recovered their lost ground. On the 8th of August, the King's Own fell back upon Allo and Dicastello, and on the 27th of December, removed for the convenience of forage to the neighbourhood of Vittoria, occupying the villages of Alegria, Aranjuez, and Troconiz, and remained there until the 24th of February following.

1814

An advance took place, Ponsonby's brigade marched through the Pyrenean mountains by Salinas Bergara, Villa Franca and Tolosa, to St. Jean de Luz in France, halted there two days, and then advanced through Bidart to the Adour, crossing the river on a bridge of boats, and continued to follow the route of the French, who were retreating on Bayonne. The advance was continued through Peyrehorade to Castlenau, and on the 19th of March, 1814, Marshal Soult was discovered in position, with his left at Tarbes, and his right at Rabastens. This right flank was ordered to be turned by a division of infantry, and Ponsonby's brigade of cavalry, and being thus threatened, Soult retired through a strong country by St. Gaudens, upon Toulouse. The British, being obliged to wait for stores, did not advance rapidly, and on the 25th, the King's Own lay at Fontenelle. On the next day the regiment advanced to La Mosquiere, and there came up with a regiment of French Chasseurs à cheval, which it charged and drove beyond Cuneva, taking several prisoners and horses, and seizing a large quantity of bread prepared by the French for their own use. Lieut. Burns' horse was killed, Lieut. Jebb's wounded, and two troop horses killed, but the regiment sustained no further loss.

The army arrived before Toulouse on the 27th of March, and on the 31st, a pontoon bridge being laid at St. Roques, the brigade crossed the Garonne, and seized the bridge on the Arriege, at Cintagabelle. The roads were found so bad in this direction that no further attempt was made, and the troops being recalled, the pontoon bridge was removed to Grenade, a town below Bayonne, and there laid down on the 4th of April. On this day Ponsonby's, with two other brigades of cavalry, and three divisions of infantry, crossed the river, the brigade being quartered at Grissolles, and having a strong piquet on the road to Montauban. In the course of the night the river rose so considerably, that the bridge was obliged to be removed, and the communication was cut off; Soult, however, made no attack, but employed himself in strengthening his position, which covered Toulouse.

On the 8th of April the current subsided, and the pontoons were again laid down. On the 9th the troops were passing the river, and on Easter Sunday (the 10th), Soult was attacked in his position. In this attack the brigade, then commanded by Colonel Lord Charles Manners, was at different periods employed in supporting the Spanish forces, the hussar brigade, and General Clinton's division. It was not a cavalry action, and the only casualties were – Captain Burn, one trumpeter, four privates, wounded: two horses killed. The enemy abandoned his entrenchments before dusk, and took post behind the canal. The King's Own were rewarded for their conduct on this occasion with the royal permission, dated 20th September, 1821, to bear the word "Toulouse" on their guidons.

Marshal Soult retired down the canal on the 12th towards Carcasonne, and on the 13th, hostilities were terminated by the arrival of the news of the abdication of Napoleon, and of the accession of Louis XVIII. to the throne of France; Marshals Soult and Suchet, after a short delay, gave their assent to the new order of affairs, and a line of demarcation between the armies was agreed upon. The King's Own went into quarters at Lanta and Caraman, and remained there until the end of May.

On the 10th of June, the brigade, having embarked its dismounted men at Bourdeaux, commenced its march to the north by the following route: —

June 1, Toulouse,

" 2, Grissoles,

" 3, Montauban,

" 4, Caussade,

" 5, Cahors,

" 7, Frechisse,

" 8, Souillac,

" 9, Brives,

" 11, Uzorches,

" 12, Pierre Buffiere,

" 13, Limoges,

" 15, Bessines,

" 16, St. Burnot,

" 17, Argenton,

" 18, Chateauroux,

" 20, Vatan,

" 21, Vierzon,

" 22, Salbris,

" 23, Lafecte,

" 24, Orleans,

" 26, Artenay,

" 27, Angerville,

" 28, Etampes,

" 30, St. Aumal,

July 1, Montfort,

" 2, Mantes,

" 4, Gisors,

" 5, Gournay,

" 6, Neufchatel,

" 7, Blangy,

" 8, Abbeville,

" 10, Rue,

" 11, Montreuil,

" 12, Boulogne.

At Boulogne Major-General Sir Henry Fane inspected the three regiments, and expressed his satisfaction at the efficiency of the brigade after so long a march. He congratulated the commanding officers on the excellent condition of their horses, and selected a number, of which the King's Own furnished fifteen, to be given up to the French government for the purpose of mounting the royal guard. On the 19th of July, the brigade, having received the highest praise from Major-General the Hon. W. Ponsonby,38 embarked at Boulogne and arrived at Dover on the following day, the King's Own having been absent three years, from the time of their embarkation on the 25th of the same month, 1811.

From Dover the King's Own marched through Maidstone to Brentford, and, on the 28th of July, were reviewed on Hounslow Heath by His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, immediately afterwards commencing their march to Northampton and joining the depôt (which had marched thither from Canterbury) on the 3rd of August. On the 13th two troops were reduced, and on the 16th, the regiment marched for Newcastle-on-Tyne, arriving there on the 1st of September; two troops were detached to Carlisle, and one to Durham.

On the 26th of September, the head-quarters marched into York barracks,39 troops being left at Newcastle, Morpeth, Carlisle, and Workington. In these quarters the Regiment was reviewed by Lieutenant-General Wynyard in the summer of 1815, and afterwards marched for St. Albans.

1815

In the meantime Napoleon Bonaparte had returned to France; a British army had assembled in Belgium under the command of the Duke of Wellington; the battle of Waterloo had been won, and the King's Own were ordered to form ten troops, four of which marched to Coventry, and the remaining six, consisting of thirty-two officers, thirty-four serjeants, six trumpeters, three hundred and seventy-one rank and file, and three hundred and eighty-two horses, proceeded to Dover and Ramsgate, where they immediately embarked for Ostend to reinforce the British army in France.

The King's Own disembarked at Ostend on the 24th of July, and moving up the country into France, were, on their arrival in the vicinity of Paris, placed in cantonments at Chaton, near Malmaison. On the 2nd of September, the Emperor of Russia reviewed the first and eighth brigades of cavalry, consisting of the first and second life guards, royal horse guards, first, second, and third dragoon guards, and Third dragoons. On the 22nd of the same month, the allied army was reviewed by the Duke of Wellington on the plain of St. Denis, and on the 11th of October, the whole of the British, Hanoverian, Danish, and Saxon contingents, were reviewed between Paris and St. Denis, by the Duke of Wellington, the Emperor of Russia, and the King of Prussia; after the review the King's Own marched to Nantes, where they remained several months.

1816

On the 25th of January, 1816, the King's Own forming part of the Army of Occupation left in France after the restoration of Louis XVIII. left Nantes, and after successively making short halts at Bonnieres, Ligny, and Bailleul, took up quarters at Steenvoorde, on the 1st of June. Here the regiment remained till the 1st of August, and then marched to Theronenne, where it was twice reviewed; on the 12th of October by the Duke of Wellington, and on the 22nd by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, and the Duke of Wellington. At this last review the whole of the British army was assembled on the plains of Denain. After the review the regiment marched to Audricq, and remained there all the following year; occasionally, however, moving to different towns, as Bouberg, Louches, and the vicinity of St. Omer, for the purpose of reviews and inspections, or to make room for troops marching to the coast for embarkation.

1818

In the year 1818 the reviews went on in the same way and on the same ground, until October 18th, on which day the King's Own, being ordered to return to England, embarked at Calais for Dover, landed there on the following day, and marched to Canterbury. On the 24th, a considerable reduction took place in the regiment, two troops being disbanded, and the remaining eight ordered to consist of one serjeant-major, two serjeants, three corporals, one trumpeter, one farrier, forty-two privates, and thirty-four horses each.

In October, 1818, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, was pleased to direct, that the Third and Fourth Regiments of Dragoons should be mounted, clothed, and equipped as Light Dragoon Regiments; the alteration of title, &c., to take effect from the 25th December, 1818.

1819

On the 26th October, two squadrons, under the command of Major Davenport, marched to Salt Hill, to attend the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Charlotte, and on the 7th of December, the remaining troops marched for Bristol, on their route to Ireland, disembarked at Waterford, and detaching one squadron to Tullamore, marched into Newbridge barracks on the 7th of February, 1819. In these stations the regiment was reviewed by Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Paget, who was pleased to express his approbation of its appearance and discipline.

1820

In January, 1820, in consequence of the disturbed state of the province of Connaught, two squadrons of the regiment were hastily ordered to march thither; one troop was quartered at Ballinasloe, one at Tuam, and the other two at Ballinrobe. In March, Generals Sir Edward Paget and Sir John Elley arrived with all the disposable force, and from their exertions the country assumed some appearance of tranquillity.

The King's Own returned to Newbridge, and was there, on the 22nd of May, inspected by Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, who was pleased to give them the highest praise.

On the 18th of June, the King's Own marched to Dublin, and on the next day was reviewed, for the first time, as a "Light Regiment;" other reviews took place on the 21st and 30th, before Lieut. – General Sir David Baird, and the regiment returned to Newbridge.

On the 16th of August, the King's Own marched into Dublin, relieving the royal dragoons, who sailed for England, and in October, the regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, who issued the following order: —

'October 14th, 1820.

'The half-yearly inspection of the King's Own Light Dragoons affords Major-General Sir C. Grant an opportunity of again expressing his approbation of that corps. The interior arrangements, field movements, attention of the officers, and steadiness of the men, all enable him to make the most satisfactory report to the Commander of the Forces.'

1821

The regiment remained in Dublin during the winter, and in January, 1821, the colonelcy was conferred on Lieut. – General Stapleton Cotton, Viscount Combermere, K.C.B., G.C.H., in succession to General Cartwright, who was removed to the first dragoon guards.

On the 17th of August the regiment had the honour of forming the personal escort of His Majesty King George the Fourth, on his public entry into Dublin. On the 18th, His Majesty reviewed the garrison, then consisting of the Third and sixth dragoons, seventh hussars, twelfth and nineteenth lancers, of the twenty-third, thirty-third, forty-third, fifty-second, and seventy-eighth regiments of infantry. The King remained in Dublin until the 2nd of September, on which day, having been escorted to Powerscourt by a detachment of His Own regiment of dragoons, His Majesty embarked at Dunleary, the remainder of the regiment forming a guard of honour at the harbour.

On the 4th and 5th of September, the King's Own marched out of Dublin, and took up quarters in the counties of Waterford and Wexford, at Cahir, New Ross, and Fethard.40 Here, however, they remained only a short time, being ordered to Newcastle and Limerick, in consequence of the disturbances which agitated that part of Ireland, particularly the county of Limerick.

1822

In these quarters the regiment was inspected on the 22nd of October, by Major General Sir John Elley, and in January, 1822, the head-quarters marched to Limerick, troops and detachments being stationed at nine different places in the south of Ireland. The regiment was, in June, again inspected by Sir John Elley, and being ordered to embark for England, had the honour of receiving an order from Major-General Sir John Lambert, commanding the district, in which the major-general was pleased to state that 'he could not allow the regiment to leave the district without expressing his entire satisfaction at the manner in which most harassing duties had been performed by the head-quarters and detachments in the disturbed part of the country.'

1823

On the 19th and 22nd of June, the regiment embarked at Waterford, and landing at Bristol, proceeded to Brighton, and on the 28th of October, having marched to Chichester, was reviewed by Major-General Lord Edward Somerset, one troop being detached to Hastings. On the 7th of November, the regiment marched to Romford, where it remained till June, 1828, and hence proceeded to Hampton Court and its vicinity. Here, on the 15th of July, a grand cavalry review took place. The brigades were a cuirassier brigade, first and second life guards, and royal horse guards, commanded by Colonel Sir Robert Hill; a light brigade, King's Own light dragoons, seventh and fifteenth hussars, commanded by Colonel Lord Charles Manners; and a brigade of horse artillery, commanded by Colonel Sir Augustus Frazer. These troops, being commanded by Major-General Lord E. Somerset, were reviewed by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, and on the 22nd, an order was issued highly flattering to the whole of the regiments present.

1824

The King's Own remained at Hounslow for some months, in the course of which, on leaving the station of Hampton Court, the troops received a most honourable testimonial of their character and conduct from His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence.41

On the 7th of July, 1824, the same brigades under the same officers, were again reviewed by His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, and on the 12th the head-quarters of the King's Own marched for Coventry, troops being detached to Birmingham, Hinckley, and Abergavenny.

1825

In May, 1825, the regiment having been inspected by Major-General Lord Edward Somerset, the head-quarters moved to Newcastle-on-Tyne, a squadron being detached to Carlisle. On the 22nd of July, a party was detached to Sunderland, in consequence of the riots there, in which the associated keelmen had gained such power as to prevent any vessels putting to sea. On the 3rd of August, these disturbances grew to such a height that it became necessary for the military, under the direction of the magistrates, to make use of their arms, when seven lives were unfortunately lost; but of so good effect was this salutary severity, that from that time order was restored, and the troops returned to Newcastle, receiving from Major-General Harris, commanding the district, from the Horse-guards, and from the magistrates and inhabitants of Sunderland, the highest praise for their coolness and forbearance, under very trying circumstances.42

On the 27th of May, 1825, Colonel Lord Charles S. Manners was promoted to the rank of Major-General, and was succeeded in the Lieutenant-colonelcy of the Third, King's Own, Light Dragoons by Colonel Lord Robert Manners, from the half-pay of the Tenth Royal Hussars.

1826

1827

On the 3rd of March, 1826, the King's Own commenced their march for Portpatrick, embarked there for Ireland, and took up their quarters at Dundalk, Belturbet, and Longford, the squadron from which latter place afterwards marched to Belfast. On the 23rd of September, the regiment assembled at Dundalk, and was there inspected by Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, the detached squadrons immediately returning to their former quarters, and the whole marching into Dublin, in June 1827, and occupying Portobello barracks. The regiment remained at Dublin nine months, and then marched into Connaught, receiving the highest praise from Lieutenant-General Sir George Murray. It was then quartered as follows: one troop and head-quarters at Ballinrobe, two troops at Athlone, two troops at Gort, and one at Loughrea.

1828

1829

The five detached troops received orders on the 30th of June to proceed to Ennis, to assist in preserving the peace during the Clare election. Two troops were quartered in a ruined distillery, two in the yards of the infirmary, and one at Clare Castle, where Major-General Sir Charles Doyle, who had arrived from Limerick, established his head-quarters. The troops remained at Ennis ten days, and then returned to their former stations, the regiment being stationed in Connaught for fifteen months, and receiving on three several occasions the highest character from Major-General Taylor, and Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, K.C.B., the inspecting general officers; the latter of whom was pleased to express 'his regret at losing from his district a regiment which had done itself such credit by its excellent conduct, while under his command.' This order is dated 30th April, 1829; and in the beginning of the next month, the regiment embarked at Dublin for England, being ordered to proceed to Exeter; but on landing at Liverpool, it was detained in the north, in consequence of some disturbances there, and ordered to march on the evening of debarkation to Prescot, one squadron being directed upon Manchester, and troops to Bury, Bolton, Blackburn, and Haslingden. On the 15th of June, the head-quarters moved to Sheffield, the troops from Bolton occupying Rochdale; and on the 5th of July, in consequence of riots in the town of Barnsley, a troop was sent thither, and remained there till the following spring.

In September General Viscount Combermere was removed to the first life guards; and the colonelcy of the King's Own was conferred on Lieut. – General Lord George Thomas Beresford, G.C.H.

In the course of this year a squadron was detached to Doncaster, in consequence of riots at the races there; and the regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir H. Vivian, when Colonel Lord Robert Manners received the directions of the Major-General to express his approbation of the state of the regiment, and in addition to the flattering terms in which the General expressed his opinion of the officers and men on the parade, he directed the commanding officer to issue an order, entirely approving of all he had seen, which order he desired might not only be entered in the regimental order book, but likewise inserted in the regimental records.

1830

On the 6th of April, 1830, the King's Own marched into York, detaching one troop to Newcastle-on-Tyne: and on the 21st of May, they were reviewed by Major-General Sir H. Bouverie, commanding the northern district.43 On the 25th of November, the regiment left York en route to Nottingham, being ordered there to replace troops employed in quelling disturbances in the south of England. On the 6th of December, one troop was detached to Loughborough, in consequence of riots there, and returned on the 17th, receiving a vote of thanks from the magistrates of Leicestershire for their readiness and promptitude. On the 22nd, the regiment was ordered to complete its establishment to the full numbers, and accordingly detached parties to Loughborough and Derby; and on the 29th, the first division, immediately followed by the others, left Nottingham and returned to York. At York an increase in the number of horses took place, the number per troop being fixed at forty-five.

1831

In consequence of a sudden order received on the night of the 2nd of March, 1831, for the regiment to march on the following morning, one squadron moved to Leeds, and the second to Burnley; but on the 4th of April, the latter squadron returned to Leeds to succeed the first, which had marched to Newcastle. On the 25th of the same month, a troop marched to Chester-le-Street, near Durham; and on the 5th and 6th of May, the remaining part of the regiment left Leeds for Newcastle. In this quarter the regiment was employed in the suppression of riots among the colliers, and was inspected by Major-General Dalbiac.

1832

On the 23rd of September, the King's Own marched in three divisions to Edinburgh, where they remained for eight months; and in April, 1832, proceeded to Glasgow and Hamilton.

1833

1834

1835

Returning to England in the spring of 1833, the regiment was stationed at Ipswich and Norwich; in the summer of 1834 it was removed to Hounslow and took the King's duty; and in the summer of 1835 it embarked for Ireland, and occupied quarters at Cork, Ballincollig, and Limerick.