Regiments.May 24, 1783.Jan. 27, 1784.Officers.Men.Officers.Men.British:42nd and details2824516119Bombay Artillery41539Bombay Fusiliers655419Officers of Sepoy Corps32-23-Natives:Bombay Artillery41333838th Grenadiers and details631,26153490
This honour is now borne by the following regiments:
19th Hussars.Worcester.West Riding.Oxford Light Infantry.Middlesex.Highland Light Infantry.Seaforth Highlanders.Gordon Highlanders.Royal Dublin Fusiliers.26th Light Cavalry.27th Light Cavalry.28th Light Cavalry.2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.61st P.W.O. Pioneers.62nd Punjabis.63rd Light Infantry.64th Pioneers.66th Punjabis.67th Punjabis.68th Punjabis.73rd Carnatic Infantry.74th Punjabis.75th Carnatic Infantry.76th Punjabis.79th Carnatic Infantry.80th Carnatic Infantry.81st Pioneers.82nd Punjabis.101st Grenadiers.103rd Light Infantry.104th Rifles.105th Light Infantry.107th Pioneers.108th Infantry.109th Infantry.
The aggressive action of Tippoo Sultan, who had been recognized as ruler of Mysore on the death of Hyder Ali, and the cruelties perpetrated on the English prisonersin Seringapatam, rendered fresh hostilities with Mysore inevitable. The Home Government therefore agreed to raise four more regiments, to be paid by, and held at the disposal of the East India Company. These were numbered 74th and 75th Highlanders, and 76th and 77th of the line. All four arrived in India in the course of the year 1788. It was known that Tippoo Sultan had sent emissaries to France in the hope of securing French aid in his efforts to drive us out of India, and in 1789 he threw down the glove by invading the territory of our ally, the Maharajah of Travancore. The Commander-in-Chief at Madras, General Meadows, was a most gallant officer, who had distinguished himself in the West Indies, but who was new to the East, and, brave man that he was, was quite prepared to recognize that as yet he had not sufficient experience of Eastern life to warrant his assuming command of a large army operating under entirely novel conditions. Lord Cornwallis, the Governor-General in India, therefore determined to come down from Calcutta and take command of the army destined for the subjugation of Tippoo Sultan. The task was no easy one. Circumstances arose which delayed the Governor-General, and the year 1790 was wasted in an abortive campaign under Meadows.
The year 1791 opened more auspiciously. The Commander-in-Chief at Bombay, General Robert Abercromby, who was to co-operate with the Governor-General, had by a well-executed movement seized Cannanore, and made himself master of the province of Malabar.
Tippoo was now threatened from both sea-coasts, and seems to have been utterly unprepared for the daring stroke so brilliantly carried out by Cornwallis, who, leaving Madras early in February, and passing through the famous Colar Goldfields, arrived before Bangalore on March 5, and two days later had carried the fortifications of that city by assault, and so secured a base of operations for his projected advance on Seringapatam.
In May, after an unsuccessful attempt to carry that fortress by storm, Cornwallis was compelled to fall back on Bangalore, where he passed the hot weather.
Casualties at the Capture of Bangalore, March, 1791.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.19th Hussars-13736th Worcester1495452nd Oxfd. L.I.1241271st Highl. L.I.-161472nd Seaforths--51874th Highl. L.I.-21776th W. Riding Regiment-18452nd Q.O. Sappers-32425
Note.—The Indian regiments present at the capture of Bangalore were the 61st Pioneers, 62nd Punjabis, 63rd Palamcottah L.I., 64th Pioneers, and 80th Carnatic Infantry; their total losses were 62 killed and 123 wounded.
Note.—The Indian regiments present at the capture of Bangalore were the 61st Pioneers, 62nd Punjabis, 63rd Palamcottah L.I., 64th Pioneers, and 80th Carnatic Infantry; their total losses were 62 killed and 123 wounded.
This honour is borne by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers alone, and records the capture of what was considered by the Mysoreans an impregnable stronghold by the force under Cornwallis prior to the capture of Seringapatam in 1792. Nundy Droog lies some thirty miles north of Bangalore, and threatened the communications between Cornwallis's army and that of our ally, the Nizam of Hyderabad. It became necessary then to possess it. It bore a great reputation, and for three years had defied the whole strength of Hyder Ali's army, and then only fell into his hands through starvation. Early in September, 1791, Cornwallis detached Major Gowdie, with the 1st Madras European Regiment (now the Dublin Fusiliers) and six battalions of sepoys, to effect its reduction. The fort is on the summit of a granite mountain, its walls being three miles in circumference, the hill itself being inaccessible except on one side. With much difficultyheavy guns were dragged up the cliffs, and the siege begun in due form. Cornwallis, chafing at the delay, moved out from Bangalore with his whole army, thinking to overawe the defenders; but on the night of October 18 he determined to carry the place by assault. This was performed in the most dashing manner, and with but slight loss, by the flank companies of the 36th (Worcester) and 71st (Highland Light Infantry), with the 1st Madras European (Dublins) in support.
Abercromby was now approaching from the Malabar coast, and Lord Cornwallis was preparing for the final advance on Tippoo Sultan's famed stronghold.
In January, 1792, Cornwallis, apprised that Abercromby, with the Bombay division, was within striking distance, commenced his advance on Seringapatam. His force consisted of the 19th Light Dragoons, two regiments of Madras cavalry, and the Governor-General's Bodyguard, which he had brought down from Calcutta, the 36th (Worcester), 52nd (Oxford Light Infantry), 72nd (Seaforths), 74th (Highland Light Infantry), 76th (West Riding), 1st Madras Europeans (Royal Dublin Fusiliers), and sixteen battalions of sepoys, with forty-six field and forty siege guns.
Abercromby's force comprised the 73rd (Royal Highlanders), 75th (Gordons), 77th (Middlesex), 1st Bombay Europeans (2nd Battalion of the Dublins), and eight battalions of sepoys, with twenty field and sixteen siege guns, giving a total of about 9,000 British and 22,000 native troops.
On February 7 Seringapatam was carried by assault, our casualties numbering about 535 of all ranks, and our trophies amounting to eighty guns. On March 19 Tippoo Sultan signed a definitive treaty of peace, ceding to England Malabar and Coorg on the west, Baramahal and Dindigul on the Carnatic frontier, besides restoring to the Nizam the territories wrested from Hyderabad by Hyder Ali.
The distribution of prize-money afforded Lord Cornwallisand General Meadows, the second in command, an opportunity of giving an example of noble generosity, these two commanders placing their shares, amounting to £47,000 and £15,000, into the common fund. The following were the shares for each rank: Colonels, £1,160; Lieutenant-Colonels, £958; Majors, £734; Captains, £308; Lieutenants, £205; Ensigns, £159; sergeants, £29; and privates, £14 10s. In the native army Subadars received 275 rupees; Jemidars, 132 rupees; havildars, 110 rupees; and sepoys, 51 rupees.
Casualties at the Siege and Capture of Seringapatam, 1792.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.19th Hussars----Royal Artillery1992036th Worcesters2363352nd Oxfd. L.I.1592571st Highl. L.I.21255472nd Seaforth Highlanders14154373rd R. Highlanders---374th Highl. L.I.-221875th Gordon Highlanders--31276th W. Riding Regiment1418Royal Dublin Fusiliers-123261st P.W.O. Pioneers0151862nd Punjabis--1366th Punjabis-191476th Punjabis--31279th Carnatic I.-25980th Carnatic I.12625
This distinction is borne only by the Royal Munster Fusiliers.
The campaign was necessitated owing to a serious rising in the independent State of Rampur, and Lord Cornwallis, the Governor-General, deemed the occasion so grave that he took the field in person. The troops employed were the 2nd Regiment of Bengal Europeans (now the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers), with ten regiments of sepoys, none of which are now borneon the Army List. The force was divided into three brigades of infantry, commanded respectively by Colonel Ware, who afterwards lost his life at the Battle of Laswarree, Colonel MacGowan, and Colonel Burrington. One brigade of two regiments of native light cavalry and four batteries of artillery made up the army. The only action of importance was that of Betourah, which took place some nine miles north of Bareilly. The enemy fought with great gallantry, and charged home on our native cavalry, who do not appear to have been well led—indeed, they fell back in disorder, breaking through the ranks of the 13th Bengal Infantry. This regiment suffered very heavily, all its officers being either killed or wounded, and the Brigadier of the Third Brigade, Colonel Burrington, was cut down in endeavouring to rally the cavalry. The officer commanding that arm disappeared in the course of the action, and so escaped court-martial. It was reported that he entered the service of the French, and was given a commission by Napoleon.
Our casualties were heavy, fourteen officers falling on the field. A monument was erected by Lord Cornwallis to mark the site of their interment, and may yet be seen by the roadside near the village of Betourah. The action, though costly, was decisive as to its results. The recalcitrant leaders of the insurrection made their submission to the Governor-General, and the army was immediately demobilized.
Casualties at Betourah.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Staff3---Artillery2---Munster Fuslrs.2---13th Bengal I.54--18th Bengal I.2---
Here again it would appear that no record of the losses of the men has been kept.
This distinction is borne on the colours of the
103rd Mahratta L.I.105th Mahratta L.I.107th Pioneers.
It commemorates a brilliant engagement with the army of Tippoo Sultan, in which these three regiments of Bombay sepoys held at bay for eight long hours some 18,000 of the flower of the Mysorean army.
As in 1792, so now in 1799, the armies of all three presidencies were employed in a last endeavour to crush the power of the Mysorean usurper. The Bombay column, under the command of Major-General James Stuart, moving from the coast at Cannanore, consisted of three brigades. The Centre Brigade, under Colonel Dunlop, comprised the 75th (Gordon Highlanders), 77th (Middlesex), and the 1st Bombay Europeans (now the 2nd Dublin Fusiliers); the Right Brigade, under Colonel Montresor, was made up of the 1st Battalions of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Bombay Infantry (now the 103rd, 105th, and 107th Regiments of the Indian army); the Third or Left Brigade, under Colonel Wiseman, comprised the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd, 2nd Battalion of the 3rd, and 1st Battalion of the 5th Regiment of Bombay Infantry. For convenience of supplies, and also owing to the bad state of the roads, the army was marching in three columns, the Right Brigade, under Colonel Montresor, leading.
On March 5 the Right Brigade had reached Seedaseer, on the frontiers of Coorg, the British Brigade being about eight miles in its rear, and the Left Brigade some four miles farther off. Tippoo Sultan was well informed of all our movements, and he endeavoured to put into effect one of the great Napoleon's maxims—namely, to beat your enemy in detail. With the bulk of his army, amounting to some 20,000 men, he cut in between Montresor's brigade and the British General, never doubting of an easy victory over the three sepoy battalions. Montresor, however, had been warned of hisapproach, and at once commenced to strengthen his position. Stuart, too, had learnt of the near approach of the Mysoreans, and he sent forward the 1st Battalion of the 5th Bombay N.I. to support Montresor, and later in the day hurried up with the flank companies of the 75th (Gordon Highlanders) and the whole of the 77th (Middlesex). In the meantime Montresor had fought out the battle unaided. The 1st Battalion of the 5th N.I. had never been able to reach him, and the British troops only arrived in time to relieve the pressure and to follow up the defeated enemy. The result of the fight augured well for the future, and showed the Bombay sepoy that he was more than a match even for Tippoo Sultan's men.
The casualty returns prove that the name of Seedaseer was worthily earned by the three regiments which have been allowed to place that battle honour on their colours; but it may reasonably be asked why the same honour has not been conferred on the 109th Infantry, which in those days was the 1st Battalion of the 5th Bombay Regiment, and which contributed in some measure to the success of the day. The Gordon Highlanders and the Middlesex content themselves with the battle honours "Mysore" and "Seringapatam."
Casualties at the Action of Seedaseer.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Royal Artillery-161875th Gordon Highlanders--3977th Middlesex--26103rd Mahratta L.I. (British)13--Do. (Natives)-21125105th Mahratta L.I. (British)-1--105th Mahratta L.I. (Natives)--433107th Pioneers (British)----Do. (Natives)--348109th Infantry (British)-1--Do. (Natives)--126
The regiments authorized to bear this battle honour are the
Suffolks.West Riding.Royal Highlanders.Middlesex.Highland Light Infantry.Gordon Highlanders.Connaught Rangers.Royal Dublin Fusiliers.26th Light Cavalry.27th Light Cavalry.28th Light Cavalry.2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.61st Pioneers.66th Punjabis.73rd Carnatic Infantry.76th Punjabis.79th Carnatic Infantry.80th Carnatic Infantry.81st Pioneers.82nd Punjabis.83rd Light Infantry.84th Punjabis.103rd Light Infantry.104th Wellesley's Rifles.105th Light Infantry.107th Pioneers.109th Infantry.
The troops destined for the final capture of Seringapatam were placed under the command of General Harris, the Commander-in-Chief at Madras. All three Presidencies were represented.
The cavalry division was under Major-General Floyd (an officer well versed in Indian warfare), who had commanded the 19th Hussars in the previous capture of the fortress in 1792. It consisted of the 19th and 25th Light Dragoons and four regiments of Madras cavalry, organized in two brigades, each consisting of one British and two native regiments.
The Madras Column was distributed in three brigades, one composed entirely of British regiments—the 12th (Suffolks), 74th (Highland Light Infantry), and the Scots Brigade (now 2nd Connaught Rangers). Major-General David Baird was in command of this brigade. The six regiments of Madras sepoys were formed in two brigades, under Colonels Gowdie and Roberts, of the Company's service, the Madras Division being under Major-General Bridges, an officer of the Company's service.
The Bengal Column was commanded by Major-General Popham, a Company's officer, and consisted of threebrigades. The First, under Colonel Sherbrooke, comprised the 73rd (Royal Highlanders) and a regiment of Swiss mercenaries (de Meurons); the Second Brigade was made up of three battalions of Bengal sepoys, under Colonel Gardiner; and the Third Brigade was composed of three battalions of Madras sepoys, under Colonel Scott, of the Scots Brigade.
The Bombay Column was commanded by General J. Stuart, and consisted of the 75th (Gordon Highlanders), the 77th (Middlesex), and the 1st Bombay Europeans (now the Royal Dublin Fusiliers), under Colonel Dunlop, with six battalions of Bombay sepoys in two brigades, under Colonels Montresor and Wiseman. A fourth column was under the command of Colonel Arthur Wellesley, and comprised two regiments of Bengal and four of Madras infantry, with his own regiment, the 33rd Foot (West Riding Regiment), to stiffen the whole. Wellesley also was given the supervision of the Nizam's troops, numbering some 6,000 irregular cavalry and 3,000 infantry, trained and organized by French officers. In round numbers, the force at General Harris's disposal numbered 7,000 British and 27,000 native troops, with a well-equipped siege-train of forty-seven pieces of heavy ordnance.
Early in February the Commander-in-Chief received his final orders to advance from Madras, and on April 14 he joined hands with Stuart's column in the immediate vicinity of Seringapatam. Three days afterwards the siege commenced, and on May 3 the breach was declared practicable. Baird claimed the privilege of leading the stormers (a privilege his by right). He had been a prisoner in the fortress for over four years as a young Captain, and he had been present in command of a brigade of Madras sepoys at Cornwallis's capture of the fortress seven years before. Taking into consideration the strength of the work and the immense numerical superiority of the enemy, the fortress was carried with marvellously slight loss, the killed numbering 69 Englishand but 12 sepoys, the wounded 248 and 32 respectively, that of the Mysoreans being estimated at 1,000 killed alone. The total casualties during the siege, however, testified to the stubborn stand made prior to the assault, as the following figures show:
Casualties at the Siege and Capture of Seringapatam in May, 1799.
British Troops.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.19th Light Dragoons26174922nd Light Dragoons----Royal Artillery22358512th Foot (Suffolks)--174933rd W. Riding Regiment--62873rd Royal Highlanders14219974th Highland L.I.4-4511175th Gordon Highlanders13166477th Middlesex12105194th Connaught Rangers--14861st Royal Dublin Fusiliers-15172nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers-1925
Native Troops.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.25th Light Cavalry----27th Light Cavalry----28th Light Cavalry----61st Pioneers1-31466th Punjabis--51373rd Carnatic I.12124776th Punjabis--113379th Carnatic I.--41680th Carnatic I.--41081st Pioneers--31182nd Punjabis--1484th Punjabis--4783rd L.I.13846103rd L.I.11410104th Wellesley's Rifles-2210105th L.I.-1621107th Pioneers--314109th Infantry-12252nd Q.O. Sappers and Miners--226
Note.—The prize-money at the second capture of Seringapatam was unusually satisfactory, the share of the Commander-in-Chief being upwards of £100,000. General officers received in round figures £10,000, other ranks having as their share:Colonels£4,320Lieutenant-Colonels£2,590Majors£1,720Captains£864Lieutenants£432Warrant Officers£108Sergeants£14Privates£7
Note.—The prize-money at the second capture of Seringapatam was unusually satisfactory, the share of the Commander-in-Chief being upwards of £100,000. General officers received in round figures £10,000, other ranks having as their share:
Colonels£4,320Lieutenant-Colonels£2,590Majors£1,720Captains£864Lieutenants£432Warrant Officers£108Sergeants£14Privates£7
BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN FLANDERS, 1793-1799
Lincelles—Nieuport—Villers-en-Couches—Beaumont—Willems—Tournay—Egmont-op-Zee.
These seven names record engagements between the allied forces of Prussia, Austria, and Great Britain, with the French at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in 1793 and 1794. Our army, which was composed of British, Hanoverians, and Hessians, was under the command of the Duke of York. His Royal Highness, who was but eight-and-twenty, had studied his profession in Berlin, and was a thorough partisan of the red-tape and pipe-clay system of the Prussian army. He possessed undeniable courage, with but little experience; and as all his movements were controlled, on the one hand, by the Cabinet at home, and on the other by the Austrian Commander-in-Chief, it is a matter for small wonder that the results of the campaign were something less than negative. At the opening of the operations the British troops at the disposal of the Duke consisted of three cavalry brigades, composed of the Blues; the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th Dragoon Guards; the Royal Scots Greys and Inniskilling Dragoons, with the 7th, 11th, 15th, and 16th Light Dragoons. His infantry was made up of three battalions of the Guards, the 14th (West Yorks), 37th (Hampshire), and 53rd (Shropshire) Regiments—the three latter brigaded under Sir Ralph Abercromby, an officer of very considerable experience.
In 1794 it became necessary to strengthen the army very largely, and by the month of July of that year the Duke of York had under his command some 26,000 British troops, distributed as under:
First Cavalry Brigade: 2nd and 6th Dragoon Guards, the Scots Greys, and the Inniskilling Dragoons.Second Cavalry Brigade: The Blues, 3rd and 5th Dragoon Guards, and the Royal Dragoons.Third Cavalry Brigade: 7th, 11th, 15th, and 16th Light Dragoons.Fourth Cavalry Brigade: 1st Dragoon Guards, the 8th and 14th Light Dragoons.Brigade of Guards: 1st Battalion of the Grenadiers, the Coldstream and the Scots Guards.First Infantry Brigade: The Buffs, 63rd (Manchesters), and 88th (Connaught Rangers).Second Infantry Brigade: 8th (King's Liverpool Regiment), 33rd (West Riding Regiment), and 44th (Essex).Third Infantry Brigade: 12th (Suffolks), 36th (Worcesters), and 55th (Border Regiment).Fourth Infantry Brigade: 14th (West Yorkshire), 37th (Hampshire), and 53rd (Shropshire).Fifth Infantry Brigade: 19th (Yorkshire), 42nd (Black Watch), and 54th (Dorsetshire).Sixth Infantry Brigade: 27th (Inniskilling Fusiliers—two battalions).Seventh Infantry Brigade: 40th (South Lancashire), 57th (Middlesex), 67th (Hampshire), and 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers).
First Cavalry Brigade: 2nd and 6th Dragoon Guards, the Scots Greys, and the Inniskilling Dragoons.
Second Cavalry Brigade: The Blues, 3rd and 5th Dragoon Guards, and the Royal Dragoons.
Third Cavalry Brigade: 7th, 11th, 15th, and 16th Light Dragoons.
Fourth Cavalry Brigade: 1st Dragoon Guards, the 8th and 14th Light Dragoons.
Brigade of Guards: 1st Battalion of the Grenadiers, the Coldstream and the Scots Guards.
First Infantry Brigade: The Buffs, 63rd (Manchesters), and 88th (Connaught Rangers).
Second Infantry Brigade: 8th (King's Liverpool Regiment), 33rd (West Riding Regiment), and 44th (Essex).
Third Infantry Brigade: 12th (Suffolks), 36th (Worcesters), and 55th (Border Regiment).
Fourth Infantry Brigade: 14th (West Yorkshire), 37th (Hampshire), and 53rd (Shropshire).
Fifth Infantry Brigade: 19th (Yorkshire), 42nd (Black Watch), and 54th (Dorsetshire).
Sixth Infantry Brigade: 27th (Inniskilling Fusiliers—two battalions).
Seventh Infantry Brigade: 40th (South Lancashire), 57th (Middlesex), 67th (Hampshire), and 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers).
There is ample evidence to show that all these regiments were actually under fire during the campaign in Flanders, yet of the twenty-two infantry regiments employed, only ten bear on their colours any record of the share they took in the operations undertaken against revolutionary France. All regiments that served under Wellington in Spain and Portugal bear the word "Peninsula" on their colours and appointments; all which served under Cornwallis in India, the honour "Mysore"; all which landed in the Crimea bear the honour "Sevastopol"; whilst the distinction "South Africa" was conferred on every battalion of Volunteers which sent a company to guard Boer prisoners. Surely, then, the regiments which fought and bled under the Duke of York have a claim to some recognition of their services.
This battle honour is peculiar to the three senior regiments of the Brigade of Guards—
Grenadier Guards.Coldstream Guards.Scots Guards.
—and commemorates one of the many actions fought in Flanders at the outset of the Revolutionary War with France. The Brigade, under Lord Lake, had just arrived at Menin,en routeto the Siege of Dunkirk. When the sound of firing was heard, and information reached the Duke of York that the Prince of Orange had met with a sharp rebuff at the hands of the French, he immediately ordered the Brigade of Guards to march to the assistance of the Prince. Although the men had but just arrived from a long, hot, and tiring march, Lake at once marched to the sound of the guns, covering the six miles in a little over the hour; but on reaching Lincelles, which was supposed to be in possession of the Duke of Orange, he was met with a "whiff of grape-shot." The Guards, with their usual dash, at once stormed the French redoubts, which they carried at the point of the bayonet, capturing twelve guns, one stand of colours, and close on 100 prisoners. The action was one of those isolated affairs which had no bearing on the campaign, but merely serve to show the superior stamina and discipline of the Brigade of Guards. Taking into consideration the strength of the force engaged, the casualties were undoubtedly heavy.
Present at Lincelles.
Grenadier Guards378of all ranks.Coldstream Guards346"Scots Guards398"
Casualties at Lincelles, August 18, 1793.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Grenadier Gds.-52144Coldstream Gds.12847Scots Guards-2845Royal Artillery1-13
This battle honour is borne by the Shropshire Light Infantry, and commemorates the gallant defence of this town by the old 53rd Foot, when besieged for ten days by a force of 12,000 French troops, under Vandamme, who later became one of Napoleon's most famous Marshals. With the 53rd were associated some artillery, a half-company of the Black Watch, and two Hessian battalions—all told, some 1,300 men; but the honours of the defence rested with a regiment which throughout its career has ever borne the highest reputation for steady gallantry.
Casualties.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.42nd Black Watch---353rd Shropshire L.I.111232
This is one of the four honours which the 15th Hussars has alone the privilege of wearing. It records the gallantry of the regiment practically under the eyes of the Austrian Emperor, when two squadrons of the 15th charged side by side with the Austrian Leopold Hussars, overthrowing a vastly superior body of the French, taking three guns, and sabring, it is claimed, some 1,200 of the enemy. The eight officers of the regiment were awarded the coveted distinction of the Maria Theresa Order.
Casualties at Villers-en-Couches.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.3rd Drag. Gds.--3821st R. Dragoons--1211th Hussars--1-15th Hussars-11712
This honour, which was not conferred until the year 1909, is borne by the
Royal Horse Guards.1st Royal Dragoons.1st King's Dragoon Guards.7th Hussars.3rd Dragoon Guards.11th Hussars.5th Dragoon Guards.16th Lancers.
There had been rumours after the fight at Villers-en-Couches that General Mansel's brigade of cavalry, consisting of the Blues, Royals, and 3rd Dragoon Guards, had not supported the 15th with sufficient promptitude in the affair on April 22.[9]It was Minden and Warburg over again. So when, on April 25, at Beaumont, General Otto, the Austrian officer in command of the allied cavalry, led his division against 20,000 unbroken French infantry, British Dragoons and Austrian Hussars cheerfully essayed what seemed a mad undertaking. The total loss of the allied cavalry amounted to 15 officers and 284 men killed and wounded, amongst the former being General Mansel, who commanded the British heavies, two of his sons figuring amongst the wounded. Forty-one guns and 750 prisoners were taken, whilst the French casualties, it is said, numbered over 7,000, 1,200 being killed by the sabre alone.
Casualties at the Action of Beaumont, April 26, 1794.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.R. Horse Gds.1-15201st King's Dragoon Guards--6133rd Drag. Gds.221585th Drag. Gds.-1991st Royal Dragoons-16137th Hussars--11911th Hussars----16th Lancers--114
In the month of January, 1910, an Army Order was published authorizing the following regiments to assume this battle honour:
Royal Horse Guards.1st Royal Dragoons.2nd Queen's Bays.Scots Greys.3rd Dragoon Guards.6th Inniskilling Dragoons.6th Carabiniers.11th Hussars.15th Hussars.16th Lancers.
As at Beaumont a fortnight earlier, so here at Willems, our cavalry showed themselves able to break the French infantry formation, even when not pounded by artillery. Thirteen guns and 450 prisoners were the trophies of the day, and fully 2,000 of the enemy fell under the sabres of the British horse.
Casualties at the Action of Willems, May 10, 1794.