The History of the 2nd Dragoons: "Royal Scots Greys"Almack, Edward
History
The History of the 2nd Dragoons: "Royal Scots Greys"
Almack, Edward
Great Britain. Army. Dragoons, 2nd (Royal Scots Greys)
In the summer of 1799 the Regiment went to Dorchester, Bridport, and
Weymouth. A ninth troop was now added, and in April, 1800, a tenth was
added. A force called the Fencible Cavalry was disbanded, and from it
81 men, with 220 horses, were drafted to the Greys.
In October, 1800, the Regiment marched to Salisbury, Southampton,
Blandford, Rumsey, and Portsmouth.
In 1801 the Greys marched to Dorchester.
Now came the inevitable policy of parsimony, and no war being on hand,
the Greys establishment was reduced to 8 troops of 29 officers, 8
quarter-masters, 28 sergeants, 8 trumpeters, and 480 rank and file,
including 10 dismounted men in each troop.
In July, 1802, the Regiment marched to Croydon, Rumsey, and Eastbourne.
The folly of reduction was now shown. War opened with France again in
1803, and the Regiment's strength was brought up to 10 troops. Its
efficiency was also promoted by adding 3 captains, and thus releasing
the field officers from the charge of troops. The establishment now
became 51 officers, 10 quarter-masters, 54 sergeants, 10 trumpeters,
and 1,000 rank and file.
In June, 1803, the Regiment marched to Canterbury, staying there nearly
two years, the period when Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France,
was hourly expected to attempt an attack on our coast.
In May of 1805 the Greys marched to Ipswich and Colchester.
On Thursday, January 9th, 1806, Lord Nelson was buried in St. Paul's
Cathedral, and two squadrons of the Greys took part in the procession
on this occasion.
Soon afterwards the Regiment marched into Yorkshire and
Northumberland; and the talk of invasion having passed off, the
Regiment was once more reduced, and the establishment became 40
officers, 10 quarter-masters, and 854 non-commissioned officers and men.
In January, 1807, the Regiment marched to Scotland. In June, 1808, the
Regiment sailed to Ireland. In June, 1809, an alteration was made by
substituting a regimental quarter-master and 10 troop sergeant-majors,
in the place of the 10 troop quarter-masters.
In 1810 the Regiment sailed from Dublin for England, and now
occupied quarters in Yorkshire and Lancashire. In the spring of 1813
the quarters of the Regiment were extended to Leicestershire and
Derbyshire. Two troops were left at Birmingham, and in December 8
troops marched to Canterbury, remaining there and at Dover, Deal, and
Hythe.
The following account relates to the review in Hyde Park before the
Prince Regent, the King of Prussia, and the Czar of Russia, on June
21st, 1814, and is from _The Times_ of Wednesday, the 23rd:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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