Historical Record of the Second, or Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in the Year 1661, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1837 — John Shaqi
Historical Record of the Second, or Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in the Year 1661, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1837Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Second, or Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in the Year 1661, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1837
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
On the 6th of October the French and Dutch armies again contested
the field with their opponents, and were once more forced by
British valour to retire. In his report of this victory, the Duke
of York remarks, that 'the gallantry the troops displayed, and
the perseverance with which they supported the fatigues of the
day, rival their former exertions.' The loss of the QUEEN'S
ROYAL in this action proves they were honourable competitors
for glory.
Notwithstanding the successes of the British forces, they were
precluded from a further advance, and from profiting by the just
reward of their labours, in consequence of the lateness of the
season, and the difficulty of obtaining supplies during the winter;
besides which, the French army was receiving large reinforcements.
These and other causes induced his Royal Highness to desist from
further offensive operations, and finally led to the withdrawing
of the Anglo-Russian army from Holland, and to the termination
of an expedition which, although unattended with full success,
evinced distinguished merit and bravery on the part of the British
commander and his army.
Nor must it be omitted, in alluding to this expedition, that at
this period the old regiments had been considerably reduced by the
arduous services against St. Domingo and the French West India
islands, and were now chiefly made up from volunteers from the
militia, hastily got together, and employed in active offensive
operations before they could be properly organised and rendered fit
for such duty.
Notwithstanding these disadvantages, the British troops employed in
Holland upheld, by their gallantry and discipline, the honour of
their country, and by the skill and attention of their officers,
this short but active campaign prepared this little army to
advance the glory of England in succeeding years, against the best
organised troops in Europe.
Major-General Coote expressed, in orders, his approbation of the
conduct of the QUEEN'S ROYAL; and after the evacuation of
Holland, the regiment landed at Yarmouth, from whence it proceeded
to Ashford, in Kent, for the winter.
[Sidenote: 1800]
In May, 1800, the QUEEN'S ROYAL marched to Plymouth, and
embarked on board the Europa and Thisbe, on a flying expedition,
under the command of General Sir Thomas Maitland and Admiral Sir
Edward Pellew, which was employed in making descents upon the coast
of France, and destroying batteries and small crafts. In this
service, Major Ramsay, of the QUEEN'S, led some successful
attacks, and on one occasion (as recorded in 'Baine's History of
the Wars') 'he seized several sloops and gun-vessels, and burned a
national corvette of eighteen guns, by means of a detachment from
the QUEEN'S Regiment, assisted by the gun-launches under
Lieutenant Pinfold.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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