Historical Record of the Fourteenth, or the King's, Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment and of Its Subsequent ServicesCannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Fourteenth, or the King's, Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment and of Its Subsequent Services
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Light Dragoons, 14th
The rebellion being suppressed, the regiment was, in consequence
of the conditions on which the men had enlisted, directed to be
disbanded; but the Duke of Cumberland so highly approved of its
conduct that he obtained permission to embody as many of the men as
would re-enlist, as his own Regiment of Light Dragoons.
His Majesty's thanks and particular satisfaction were communicated
to His Grace the Duke of Kingston, for his zeal and affection for
His Majesty's person and Government; and His Grace was desired
to convey to the officers and soldiers His Majesty's high sense
of their loyalty, activity, and gallant behaviour, at a period
of national danger. The regiment was afterwards disbanded at
Nottingham, and nearly every man engaged in the Regiment of Light
Dragoons, of which, as a signal mark of honour and distinction, His
Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland was appointed Colonel.
The Duke of Cumberland's Light Dragoons were mounted on active
nag-tailed horses, from fourteen and a-half to fifteen hands
high. The men were from five feet eight to five feet nine inches
in height; and their equipment was upon a new and light plan,
but retaining the cocked hat of the Heavy Dragoon pattern. This
regiment served in the Netherlands, with the Army commanded by His
Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland: its general usefulness was
fully established, and it distinguished itself at the battle of
Val, in 1747. The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle having put an end to
the war, it returned to England, and was disbanded in 1749.
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.
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