Historical Record of the Thirteenth Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1715, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1842Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Thirteenth Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1715, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1842
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Light Dragoons, 13th
At the memorable battle of "WATERLOO," on the 18th of June, 1815,
the THIRTEENTH Dragoons, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Boyse, had the
good fortune to acquire additional laurels. Eminent, as British
troops ever have been, for those warlike qualities which lead to
glory in the hour of battle, yet the field of "WATERLOO" elevated
their reputation above its former standard, and the THIRTEENTH
have the honour of being numbered among the corps which signalized
themselves in the "shock of steel." The regiment was posted with
the Seventh and Fifteenth Hussars in the right centre of the
position in the rear of Hugomont; it charged repeatedly during the
day with the most distinguished success, the enemy's cavalry and
infantry, having some sharp sword conflicts with the former; it
also aided in the successful attacks upon the advancing columns,
penetrated and completely routed a square of infantry, and thus
materially contributed to the overthrow of the French army, which
was driven from the field with the loss of its cannon, ammunition,
waggons, and all its _matériel_.
The loss of the regiment was Captain James Gubbins, Lieutenants
John Geale and John Pymm, eleven rank and file, and fifteen horses
killed; Lieut.-Colonel Shapland Boyse, Captains Joseph Doherty
and Gregorie, Lieutenants George Doherty, Charles Robert Bowers,
John A. E. Irving, James Mill, George H. Packe, ten serjeants,
two trumpeters, fifty-seven rank and file, and forty-six horses,
wounded: eight rank and file and fifty-two horses missing.
Captain Brooks Lawrence, upon whom the command of the regiment
devolved in the course of the day, had two horses killed and one
wounded under him.
The gallant conduct of troop serjeant-major _Wells_, who commanded
Captain Gubbins' troop after all the officers had fallen, was
particularly remarked; he was promoted into the second West India
regiment, and retired from the Fifty-fourth regiment as a captain
in 1841.
Lieutenant Doherty, besides being severely wounded in the head,
was struck by a ball which was stopped by the interposition of his
watch, which it flattened. He had taken out his watch to remark the
time, when the regiment was ordered to advance, and not being able
to return it, he put it into the breast of his jacket, and thus
providentially his life was saved.
The regiment was subsequently rewarded with the royal authority to
bear the word "WATERLOO" on its guidons and appointments; every
officer and soldier present received a silver medal, and the
privilege of reckoning two years' service for that day was also
conferred on the troops. Colonel Patrick Doherty and Lieut.-Colonel
Shapland Boyse, of the THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons, were made
Companions of the Bath.
The following officers received silver medals for the Battle of
Waterloo:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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