of age he was page to the Duke of Montague in his grace's embassy to
France. In 1672, he entered the army as a private gentleman in the
Duke of York's troop of life guards, which corps was, at that period,
as a school where young gentlemen were qualified for commissions. In
1685 he was appointed troop quarter-master in a newly-raised corps
of cuirassiers, now second dragoon guards; in which regiment he rose
to the rank of cornet in 1687, and afterwards to that of lieutenant,
captain, and lieutenant-colonel. He served with his regiment in
Ireland, and in Flanders and Brabant, and was promoted to the rank
of colonel in the army in 1702. In the following year he purchased
the colonelcy of the QUEEN'S Dragoons and was promoted to the rank of
brigadier-general on the 25th of December, 1705. He proceeded to Spain
in 1706, and serving with the allied army, signalized himself at the
unfortunate battle of _Almanza_ in 1707, where he repeatedly charged
at the head of the British cavalry, and, commanding one of the last
squadrons which left the field, saved the Earl of Galway, many wounded
men, and much of the baggage from falling into the hands of the enemy.
He continued with the army in Spain, acquiring additional honour by
his excellent conduct on all occasions, was promoted to the rank of
major-general in September, 1708, and to that of lieutenant-general
in January, 1710. In the brilliant cavalry action on the plains of
Almanara, on the 27th of July, 1710, he highly distinguished himself,
and was wounded: his spirited conduct on this occasion, procured him
the thanks of King Charles III. of Spain, afterwards Emperor of the
Romans, who was with the army. He acquired fresh laurels at Saragossa
and wrote an interesting account of that battle, which was published
at the time. After advancing to Madrid, the army retreated to Valencia
and Catalonia, and Lieutenant-General Carpenter was with the division
under General Stanhope, which halted at the little walled town of
Brihuega, in the mountains of Castile, and was there surrounded and
made prisoners by the French army. On this occasion he was wounded by
a musket-ball, which, having broken part of his jaw, lodged itself
under the root of his tongue, where it remained several months before
it could be extracted, during which time his life was in danger, and he
suffered great pain.
In the spring of 1715, he was appointed envoy extraordinary and
plenipotentiary to the court of Vienna. During the rebellion of the
Earl of Mar, he commanded a detached corps, prevented the insurgents
obtaining possession of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and afterwards, joining
Major-General Wills, took a division of the rebel army prisoners,
at Preston, in Lancashire. He was rewarded with the appointment of
governor of Minorca and Port Mahon, and commander of the forces in
Scotland; and in May, 1719, he was advanced to the peerage of Ireland
by the title of BARON CARPENTER of Killaghy in the county of Kilkenny.
LORD CARPENTER was many years a member of Parliament, first for
Whitchurch in Hampshire, and afterwards for the city of Westminster.
He published a highly useful work entitled 'A Dissertation on the
Manœuvres of Cavalry.' After serving the Crown a period of nearly sixty
years, in the reign of six successive sovereigns, he died, on the 10th
of February, 1732, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and was buried
at Ouselburg in Hampshire, where a monument was erected to his memory.
He was ancestor of the Earls of Tyrconnel.
PHILIP HONEYWOOD.
_Appointed 29th May, 1732._
PHILIP HONEYWOOD entered the army in 1694, and served under King
William III.; he subsequently served Her Majesty Queen Anne, and became
an efficient officer under the celebrated JOHN, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.
Having attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the thirty-third
foot, on the 27th of May, 1709, he was promoted to the colonelcy of the
92nd regiment, which was disbanded in 1712. In 1715 he was commissioned
to raise, form, and discipline a regiment of dragoons, (now the
eleventh light dragoons), which he executed with ability, and was
afterwards instrumental in the suppression of the rebellion of the Earl
of Mar. In 1719 he commanded a brigade under Lord Cobham at the capture
of Vigo and Rondondella in Spain. On the 29th of May, 1732, he was
removed to the command of the THIRD dragoons, which he retained until
promoted to the King's Own regiment of horse in 1743. In 1742 a British
force was sent to Flanders, under General Honeywood, who held the chief
command of the troops, until the arrival of the Earl of Stair. At the
battle of Dettingen one division of the army was commanded by this
distinguished officer, and he led the royal horse guards and the King's
horse to the charge with great gallantry. He served in the subsequent
campaigns on the continent with distinction, and with the approbation
of his sovereign, by whom he was advanced to the dignity of a Knight
of the honourable order of the Bath. He died in 1752, and was interred
with military honours at Portsmouth, of which place he was governor at
the time of his decease.
HUMPHREY BLAND.
_Appointed 18th April, 1743._
HUMPHREY BLAND served several campaigns on the continent under
the celebrated JOHN, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. He afterwards served as
lieut.-colonel in Spain, and in 1710 was wounded at the battle of
Almanara. In 1715 he was appointed lieut.-colonel to the eleventh
dragoons, and was afterwards lieut.-colonel of the second horse, now
first dragoon guards. In 1737 he was promoted to the colonelcy of the
thirty-sixth foot, from which he was removed in 1741, to the thirteenth
dragoons, and two years afterwards to the KING'S OWN dragoons. He had
his horse shot under him at Dettingen; displayed great gallantry at
Fontenoy, and highly distinguished himself at the battle of Culloden.
In 1752 he was removed to the first dragoon guards; and died in the
following year.
JAMES, LORD TYRAWLEY.
_Appointed 8th July, 1752._
THE HON. JAMES O'HARA was appointed lieutenant in the royal regiment
of fusiliers, commanded by his father, on the 15th of March, 1703, and
in 1706 he proceeded with his regiment to the relief of Barcelona.
In the following year he was aide-de-camp to the Earl of Galway,
whose life he is reported to have saved at the unfortunate battle of
Almanza, by interposing between his lordship and a dragoon, whom he
shot with his pistol, but was, himself, wounded by the dragoon. He
served several years at Minorca, and in 1713 obtained the colonelcy of
the royal fusiliers, in succession to his father, at whose decease,
in 1733, he succeeded to the dignity of BARON TYRAWLEY. The rank
of brigadier-general was conferred on his lordship on the 23rd of
November, 1735; that of major-general on the 2nd of July, 1739; and in
August, of the latter year, he was removed from the royal fusiliers
to the fifth horse, now fourth dragoon guards. In March, 1743, he was
promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and in the following month
obtained the colonelcy of the second troop of horse grenadier guards,
from which he was removed in 1745 to the third troop of life guards,
which gave him the privilege of taking the court duty of gold stick.
In 1746, when King George II. had resolved to disband the third and
fourth troops of life guards, his lordship was removed to the tenth
foot: he was again removed, in 1749, to the fourteenth dragoons; in
1752, to the THIRD or KING'S OWN regiment of dragoons; and in 1755, to
the second, or Coldstream regiment of foot guards. He was appointed
governor of Portsmouth on the 1st of May, 1759, and was promoted to
the rank of general on the 7th of March, 1761. He held the appointment
of governor of Minorca for several years; was employed as envoy and
ambassador to the courts of Portugal and Russia; and died at Twickenham
on the 13th of July, 1773.
GEORGE, EARL OF ALBEMARLE.
_Appointed 8th April, 1755._
VISCOUNT BURY commenced his military service as ensign in the second
foot guards in 1738; in 1741 he was captain-lieutenant in the royal
dragoons; in 1743 he held the same rank in his former regiment; and
on the 27th of May, 1745, he obtained the commission of captain and
lieut.-colonel in the same corps. He was aide-de-camp to the Duke of
Cumberland at the battle of Fontenoy; also attended His Royal Highness
at the battle of Culloden,--was sent with the news of that victory
to London, and was immediately afterwards appointed aide-de-camp to
the King with the rank of colonel. The colonelcy of the twentieth
foot was conferred on his lordship on the 1st of November, 1749. In
1754 he succeeded to the title of EARL OF ALBEMARLE; and obtained
the colonelcy of the KING'S OWN dragoons in the succeeding year.
The rank of major-general was conferred on his lordship in 1756,
and that of lieut.-general in 1759. In 1761 he was a member of the
privy council and governor of the island of Jersey; and in 1762, he
commanded the land forces employed in the reduction of the Havannah;
in the performance of which service he acquired great reputation, and
his conduct called forth the approbation of his sovereign and of the
British nation. He was elected a Knight of the Garter in 1766; and died
in 1772.
CHARLES, LORD SOUTHAMPTON.
_Appointed 20th October, 1772._
LORD CHARLES FITZROY, brother of Augustus-Henry, Duke of Grafton,
choosing a military life, obtained the commission of ensign in the
first foot guards on the 16th of March, 1752. In 1756 he was promoted
to the rank of lieutenant, and in 1758 obtained the command of a
company with the rank of lieut.-colonel. In 1762 he was promoted
to the colonelcy of the 119th, or Prince's Own, regiment of foot,
which was disbanded after the peace of Fontainbleau. The colonelcy
of the fourteenth dragoons was conferred on his lordship on the
11th of September, 1765, and in 1772 he was promoted to the rank of
major-general and removed to the KING'S OWN dragoons. He was further
promoted to the rank of lieut.-general in 1777; advanced to the peerage
by the title of LORD SOUTHAMPTON in 1780; and promoted to the rank of
general in 1793. He died on the 21st of March, 1797.
FRANCIS LASCELLES.
_Appointed 23rd March, 1797._
This Officer was appointed on the 13th of December, 1761, captain in
the seventeenth light dragoons, then commanded by captain-commandant
Lord Aberdour. In June, 1764, he was appointed major of the eighth
dragoons, and in May, 1768, obtained the lieut.-colonelcy of the
regiment, from which he was removed on the 8th of May, 1780, to
the lieut.-colonelcy of the KING'S OWN dragoons. He was appointed
major-general in 1782; colonel of the eighth dragoons in 1789; and
lieut.-general on the 12th of October, 1793. After the decease of Lord
Southampton the colonelcy of the KING'S OWN dragoons was conferred on
Lieut.-General Lascelles, who was also groom of the bed-chamber to King
George III.; and was advanced to the rank of general in 1798. He was
highly respected by the officers of the regiment, and was distinguished
for easy dignity, manliness, and good sense. He died in 1799.
SIR CHARLES GREY, K.B.
_Appointed 4th September, 1799._
CHARLES GREY, fourth son of Sir Henry Grey, Baronet, entered the army
in the reign of King George II., and was promoted to the command of a
company in the twentieth foot on the 31st of May, 1755. In 1758 his
regiment proceeded to Germany, and he was appointed aide-de-camp to the
Duke of Brunswick, in which capacity he served in 1759 at the glorious
battle of Minden, where he was wounded. In 1761, he was appointed
lieut.-colonel commandant of the ninety-eighth regiment, which was
then newly-raised, and was disbanded after the peace of Fontainbleau,
when he was placed on half-pay. In 1772 he was promoted to the rank of
colonel, and appointed aide-de-camp to King George III., who conferred
on him the colonelcy of the twenty-eighth foot in March, 1777, and
promoted him to the rank of major-general in August following. In 1782
he obtained the dignity of a knight of the Bath; was promoted to the
rank of lieut.-general, and appointed commander-in-chief in America;
but the war was terminated before he had an opportunity of proceeding
thither. In 1787 he was removed to the eighth dragoons; and in 1789
he obtained the colonelcy of the seventh or Princess Royal's dragoon
guards.
In 1793 Sir Charles Grey was appointed to the command of an expedition
to the West Indies; but while the armament was preparing the Duke of
York raised the siege of Dunkirk, and the French menaced Ostend and
Nieuport. The troops sailed for Flanders, and by his timely arrival
Sir Charles Grey preserved the two fortresses from the power of the
enemy. He subsequently proceeded to the West Indies, and the islands
of Martinico, St. Lucia, and Guadaloupe were captured: and his
services were recompensed with the government of Dumbarton, and the
colonelcy of the twentieth, or Jamaica, regiment of light dragoons, by
commission dated the 4th of November, 1795. After his return to England
he was promoted to the rank of general, sworn of the privy-council,
reappointed colonel of the eighth dragoons, and placed in command of
the troops stationed in the southern district, to repel the projected
French invasion. In 1799 he was appointed colonel of the THIRD, or
KING'S OWN dragoons. At length, being worn out with age and active
service, he retired to his country seat to pass the remainder of his
days in the bosom of his family. His services were not forgotten by his
sovereign, who created him BARON GREY DE HOWICK in 1801; and advanced
him, in 1806, to the dignity of Viscount Howick and EARL GREY: he held
also the government of the island of Guernsey. His decease occurred on
the 14th of November, 1807, at his seat called Fallowden, near Alnwick,
in Northumberland.
WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT.
_Appointed 28th November, 1807._
This Officer was appointed cornet in the tenth dragoons on the 22nd of
February, 1769, lieutenant in 1775, captain-lieutenant in the THIRD
dragoons in 1778, and exchanged in 1779 to the tenth dragoons, of which
corps he was appointed major in 1786, and lieut.-colonel in 1793. The
high condition of the tenth was a proof of his care and attention to
all the duties of commanding officer; and in 1796 he was appointed
colonel in the army, and aide-de-camp to King George III. Having been
promoted to the rank of major-general in April, 1802, he was employed
on the staff of South Britain during the succeeding six years, first in
the inspection of cavalry regiments in the western district, afterwards
in the command of the cavalry on the coast of Kent, in the command
of the cavalry in the home district, and subsequently in the command
of a brigade of cavalry in Kent, designed for foreign service. In
1804 he was promoted from the lieut.-colonelcy of the tenth, to the
colonelcy of the twenty-third dragoons, and in 1807 he obtained the
colonelcy of the KING'S OWN dragoons. He was advanced to the rank of
lieut.-general in 1808, to that of general in 1819, and in 1821 he was
removed to the colonelcy of the King's dragoon guards. He was a member
of the consolidated board of general officers: his decease occurred in
February, 1827.
STAPLETON COTTON, VISCOUNT COMBERMERE, G.C.B., and G.C.H.
_Appointed 25th January, 1821._
STAPLETON COTTON entered the army in 1790 as second lieutenant in the
royal Welsh fusiliers. His services, in command of a troop of the
sixth dragoon guards under the Duke of York in Flanders, under General
Harris in the East Indies, at the Cape of Good Hope, under the Duke of
Wellington in command of a brigade of cavalry at Talavera, in command
of the British cavalry at Fuentes d'Onor, Salamanca, Orthes, Toulouse,
&c. &c. &c., were rewarded with the dignity of VISCOUNT COMBERMERE,
grand cross of the military order of the Bath, and grand cross of the
royal Hanoverian Guelphic order. He was appointed to the colonelcy of
the twentieth dragoons in 1813, to that of the KING'S OWN dragoons in
1821, and was removed in 1829, to the first regiment of life guards, of
which corps he has retained the command to the present time.
LORD GEORGE THOMAS BERESFORD, G.C.H.
_Appointed 16th September, 1829._
LORD GEORGE BERESFORD entered the service as cornet of the 14th light
dragoons in April, 1794; he was shortly afterwards promoted, and, after
serving in the grades of lieutenant and captain in the infantry, he
obtained, in December, 1800, a majority in the 6th dragoon guards.
In the following three years he was employed with that regiment in
Ireland, and in attending Parliament as a member of the House of
Commons for the county of Waterford, of which he was Custos Rotulorum.
He was promoted to the rank of lieut.-colonel in Dillon's regiment in
1803, and when a second battalion was added to the 71st regiment, under
the Additional Force Act, in the year 1804, Lieutenant-Colonel Lord
George Beresford was selected for the command of it. In July, 1807,
Lord George Beresford reverted to the cavalry branch of the service,
and was appointed to the command of the 2nd, or Queen's Dragoon Guards,
which he retained until his promotion to the rank of major-general
on the 4th June, 1814. On the 16th September, 1829, his Lordship was
appointed to the colonelcy of the THIRD, KING'S OWN, Light Dragoons,
and attained the rank of lieut.-general in the army on the 22nd July,
1830. His Lordship was brother to the late, and uncle to the present,
Marquess of Waterford, and he died at the Palace at Armagh, the
residence of his elder brother, the Lord Primate of Ireland, on the
26th October, 1839.
LORD CHARLES SOMERSET MANNERS, K.C.B.
_Appointed 8th November, 1839._
APPENDIX
TO THE
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE
THIRD, OR THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT
OF
LIGHT DRAGOONS.
The following is a list of the Officers of the Third, or the King's
Own, Light Dragoons, showing those who were engaged in the campaign on
the Sutlej in the years 1845 and 1846.
Copies of Brigadier White's Reports, dated 19th and 25th December,
1845, are annexed, respecting the conduct of the Officers and Men at
the memorable battles of Moodkee and Ferozeshah.
These testimonials are equally honourable to the Officers and Men, and
to their Commander, Brigadier-General White, by whose talents, bravery
and example, the excellent qualities of the regiment were drawn forth,
which are attested in the strongest terms of commendation, by the
Governor-General and by the Commander-in-Chief, in India, as detailed
in the Historical Record of the services of the Regiment.
To these reports are added copies of the Votes of Thanks of the House
of Lords, and of the House of Commons; Marks of Honour, which are
conferred only for great and glorious actions, and for special public
services.
Names and Distribution of the Officers of the Third, "King's Own" Light
Dragoons, during the campaign on the Sutlej, in 1845 and 1846.
+----------------+---------------------+----------------------------------+
| Rank. | Names. | Remarks. |
+----------------+---------------------+----------------------------------+
| Lieut.-Colonel | Colonel Sir Joseph | Commanding the Cawnpore Station |
| | Thackwell, K.C.B. | as Major-General; was present |
| | and K.H. | at Sobraon, where he commanded |
| | | the Cavalry Division. |
| | | |
| " | Col. Michael White | Brigadier commanding the Cavalry |
| | | Division at Moodkee and 1st |
| | | Cavalry Brigade at Ferozeshah, |
| | | where he was wounded. |
| | | Promoted Aide-de-Camp to the |
| | | Queen, with the rank of |
| | | Colonel, on the 3rd April, |
| | | 1846. |
| | | |
| Major | Lieut.-Colonel G. | Absent on leave. Promoted on |
| | H. Lockwood | 9th November, 1846. Rejoined |
| | | on 13th January, 1847. |
| | | |
| " | Lieut.-Col. C. W. | Commanded the regiment at |
| | M. Balders | Moodkee and Ferozeshah until |
| | | wounded on the evening of |
| | | 21st December. |
| | | |
| Captain | J. Tritton | Assistant Adjutant-General of |
| | | the Cavalry Division. Promoted |
| | | in 10th Royal Hussars on 3rd |
| | | April, 1846. |
| | | |
| " | J. W. Yerbury | Absent on leave. Promoted on |
| | | 9th November, 1846. Rejoined |
| | | 5th April, 1847. |
| | | |
| " | J. R. B. Hale | Commanded the regiment on the |
| | | night of the 21st December, |
| | | and during the action of the |
| | | 22nd, _vice_ Major Balders; |
| | | wounded. Promoted to the rank |
| | | of Major on the 3rd April, |
| | | 1846. |
| | | |
| " | Lieut.-Colonel J. | Commanding 2nd Cavalry Brigade; |
| | B. Gough. | severely wounded at Sobraon. |
| | | |
| " | W. Unett | In charge of Depôt Troop at |
| | | Maidstone. Rejoined the |
| | | regiment 4th June, 1846. |
| | | |
| " | Major W. R. Herries | Aide-de-Camp to the |
| | | Governor-General. Killed at |
| | | Moodkee. |
| | | |
| " | J. E. Dyer | Absent on leave. Exchanged to |
| | | the 68th Regiment, on 3rd |
| | | April, 1846. |
| | | |
| " | G. Forbes | In charge of Detachments _en |
| | | route_. Joined the regiment |
| | | in January, 1846, and was |
| | | present at Sobraon. |
| | | |
| " | W. E. F. Barnes | Present with the regiment. |
| | | |
| Lieutenant | J. E. Codd | Promoted Captain on 19th |
| | | December, 1845, _vice_ |
| | | Herries. Killed in action at |
| | | Ferozeshah. |
| | | |
| " | S. Fisher | Major of Brigade of 1st Cavalry |
| | | Brigade; severely wounded at |
| | | Moodkee. Promoted Captain on |
| | | 22nd December, _vice_ Codd. |
| | | |
| " | W. H. Hadfield | In charge of Depôt Service |
| | | Troops at Umballa. Promoted |
| | | 3rd April, 1846. |
| | | |
| " | G. Newton | Killed in action at Moodkee. |
| | | |
| " | J. Martin | At Cavalry Depôt, Maidstone. |
| | | Promoted on 9th November, |
| | | 1846. |
| | | |
| " | E. G. Swinton | Severely wounded at Moodkee. |
| | | |
| " | J. D. Codwell | Present with the regiment. |
| | | |
| " | J. Sullivan, | Appointed Officiating Major of |
| | _Adjutant_ | Brigade of 1st Cavalry Brigade |
| | | on 19th December, _vice_ |
| | | Fisher; wounded. |
| | | |
| " | H. Wood | On leave of absence. Rejoined |
| | | the regiment on 28th June, |
| | | 1846. |
| | | |
| " | E. Roche | Aide-de-Camp to Major-General |
| | | Sir J. Thackwell; afterwards |
| | | Acting Assistant |
| | | Quarter-Master-General. |
| | | Present at Sobraon. |
| | | |
| " | G. Cookes | Appointed Acting Adjutant to the |
| | | regiment, on 19th December, |
| | | _vice_ Sullivan, Acting |
| | | Brigade Major. |
| | | |
| " | C. Bowles | On duty with Invalids. Joined |
| | | the regiment in January, 1846, |
| | | and was present at Sobraon. |
| | | Exchanged to 7th Hussars on |
| | | 27th August, 1846. |
| | | |
| " | J. H. Travers | At Cavalry Depôt, Maidstone. |
| | | Rejoined the regiment on 1st |
| | | July, 1846. |
| | | |
| " | R. Casement | On leave of absence. Rejoined |
| | | the regiment on the 17th |
| | | September, 1846. |
| | | |
| " | E. B. Cureton | Severely wounded at Moodkee. |
| | | |
| " | J. B. Hawkes | Present;--wounded at Sobraon. |
| | | |
| " | T. Penton | Present. |
| | | |
| " | H. C. Morgan | Severely wounded at Ferozeshah. |
| | | |
| " | F. G. Archer Burton | Present with the regiment; |
| | | received a contusion at |
| | | Ferozeshah. |
| | | |
| Cornet | E. Worley | Killed at Moodkee. |
| | | |
| " | H. Ellis | Killed at Forezeshah. |
| | | |
| " | H. W. White | Present. Wounded at Sobraon. |
| | | Promoted on 19th December, |
| | | 1845, _vice_ Lieut. Codd. |
| | | |
| " | J. D. White | Present. Received a contusion at |
| | | Ferozeshah. Promoted on 19th |
| | | December, 1845, _vice_ Lieut. |
| | | Newton. |
| | | |
| " | George Wyndham | Exchanged to 16th Lancers, with |
| | Knight Bruce | Cornet Hodgson, on 31st |
| | | October, and continued on |
| | | service with the 3rd Light |
| | | Dragoons. Killed at Ferozeshah |
| | | on the 21st December, 1845. |
| | | |
| " | J. Rathwell, | Present. Received a contusion at |
| | _Riding-Master_ | Ferozeshah. Promoted on 22nd |
| | | December, 1845, _vice_ Lieut. |
| | | Fisher. |
| | | |
| " | W. H. Orme | Severely wounded at Ferozeshah. |
| | | Promoted on 3rd April, 1846. |
| | | |
| " | C. R. Colt | _En route_ with Detachment; |
| | | joined the regiment in |
| | | February, 1846, and was |
| | | present at Sobraon. Promoted |
| | | on 9th November, 1846. |
| | | |
| " | R. Hodgson | Exchanged from the 16th Lancers |
| | | on 31st October, 1845, with |
| | | Cornet Bruce. Joined the 3rd |
| | | Light Dragoons in January, |
| | | 1846, and was present at |
| | | Sobraon. |
| | | |
| " | G. E. F. Kauntze | Present. Severely wounded at |
| | | Sobraon. |
| | | |
| Paymaster | E. Cormick | Present with the Regiment. |
| | | |
| Adjutant | Lieut. J. Sullivan | Present. |
| | | |
| Quartermaster | A. Crabtree | Present. Wounded at Sobraon. |
| | | |
| Surgeon | J. Henderson (M.D.) | On duty with Invalids. |
| | | |
| Assis. Surgeon | H. Franklin | Present. |
| | | |
| " " | F. Laing (M.D.) | Present. |
| | | |
| Vet. Surgeon | G. Edlin | Present. |
+----------------+---------------------+----------------------------------+
It is worthy of being recorded, that many of the Non-Commissioned
Officers and Men, who were wounded in the different engagements,
concealed the fact, that they might have an opportunity of sharing in
any further Actions in which the regiment might be engaged. Amongst
others, Troop Serjeant-major WALTER ELDRIDGE, who received a bayonet
wound through the calf of his leg, in charging over the enemy's
entrenched infantry on the evening of the 21st December, never reported
the circumstance, until from lameness, caused by inflammation of the
leg, the brave fellow could no longer conceal it. He was immediately
conveyed to the Hospital, where he died in a few days afterwards.
_Copy of a Despatch of Brigadier M. White, C.B., Commanding
the Cavalry Division on the 18th December, 1845, to the
Adjutant-General of the Army in India._
Camp, Moodkee, 19th December, 1845.
SIR,
In forwarding the accompanying return of the casualties which occurred
in the Cavalry Division under my command in the Action of yesterday,
I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency the
Commander-in-Chief, that the whole of the regiments engaged performed
their duty to my entire satisfaction; but, consequent on the nature of
the ground and the numerous bodies of both Cavalry and Infantry that
were opposed to them, I regret to say the loss has been very heavy,
more particularly in Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons, who bore the
brunt of the Action.
I further beg to bring to the notice of His Excellency, that
Captain Tritton of Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons, my Assistant
Adjutant-General, captured one of the enemy's Standards with his own
hands, which he has delivered over to me as Commanding the Cavalry
Division.