Historical Record of the Third, Or the King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846.Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Third, Or the King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846.
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Light Dragoons, 3rd
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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