The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was signed on October 7th, 1748, and the
Greys returned to England, and were stationed at Leicester, Coventry,
and Warwick. By the usual mean and miserable policy, or want of any
policy, the Regiment was at once reduced to 285 officers and men!
(In time of peace, always take care not to be prepared for war.) In
December, 1749, the Regiment went into quarters in Kent, and was
employed on revenue duty on the coast. In 1750 they were in Sussex and
Devon, and in 1751 in Dorsetshire. The Regiment marched into Lancashire
in the spring of 1753; with detached troops in Somersetshire, where
it was stationed during the following year; and in the spring of
1755 proceeded to Northampton and other towns in that part of the
kingdom. Complications now coming to a point about British and French
possessions in North America, the Regiment's establishment was made up
to 357 of all ranks, and very soon a light troop was added, in the same
way as light companies had been added to regiments of infantry.
In the summer of 1755 the Greys occupied quarters in Herefordshire and
in the winter months were dispersed in cantonments in Kent. In the next
spring they marched into Surrey, and afterwards into Dorsetshire, and
in June encamped with several other corps near Blandford.
In April, 1757, they went into cantonments in Essex, staying there four
months, and then going into Suffolk. In October four troops proceeded
to Newmarket.
An expedition was now made ready for a descent on the coast of France,
and the "light troop," commanded by Captain Francis Lindsay, was
ordered on this service.
The following is from the "Weekly Journal," 23 May, 1758:--
"The nine troops of Hussars (Light Dragoons) belonging to the nine
regiments of cavalry, are now preparing to go upon this expedition.
The flower of these Hussars is the troop commanded by Captain
Lindsay, quartered at Maidenhead, where they have been practising
the Prussian exercise, and for some days have been digging large
trenches and leaping over them, also leaping high hedges with broad
ditches on the other side. Their Captain on Saturday last, swam
with his horse over the Thames and back again; and the whole troop
were yesterday to swim the river."
On June 5th, 1758, the Brigade landed on the coast of France about nine
miles from St. Malo, and on the 7th set fire to the shipping in St.
Malo.
The troops having succeeded in this, now came home again.
In August the Greys light troop formed part of another expedition which
captured Cherbourg. After returning to England the light troop was
quartered in towns on the coast of Sussex.
The Greys were among the troops sent to Germany under the command of
Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick in the year 1758, at which time the Duke
of Argyle commanded the Regiment. These troops landed at Embden on the
20th of July and were headed by the Duke of Marlborough and the Lord
George Sackville.
Still did their gallantry and good conduct preserve to them the high
opinion which the Regiment had so justly merited in every conflict to
which its squadrons were exposed.
The following notes are from a volume (belonging to the Regiment)
lettered outside
"+Regimental Orders+, 1759."
Inside:--
"Copied from an old Regimental Order Book in possession of R. B.
Wardlaw Ramsay, Esqre., of Whitehill, Laeswale.
"+Piershill Barracks.+
"+Edinburgh+
"+1873.+
"+Tule+, 8 January 1759
"+Weaver+ 12 January
"+Wever+ 19 January
"The Major recommends it to the commanding officers of Troops,
that before they clear their men, they will stop from each man
for a pair of new shoes to carry into the field with them, as he
apprehends those they have will be wore out before that time.
"+Wever+, 22ⁿᵈ January
"A stiver to be stopped from each man for having his hatt cocked,
which the Major hopes the men wont be against paying as it is for
their own advantage.
"+Wever+, 25 January.
"The Troops to send the Bread waggons for their Hatts and Gloves on
Monday next, and no man to presume to alter the Cock, otherwise it
will be done over again, and he be obliged to pay every time it is
not in shape.
"+Tule+, 6 January
"George. Farrier of Captain Douglas's Troop to be sent to Head
Quarters to cock all the New Hats.
"The men not to dispose of their old Hats, as they will serve for
the Nosebags.
"+Wever+ 27 January
"+Engern+ 21 March 1759
"+Neider Meiser+ 22 "
"+Ober Velner+ 24 "
"+Rangershausen+ 26 "
"+Hanven+ 27 " Tuesday
(Buff caps sold here)
"+Herschfeld+ 28 "
"+Grebenan+ 29 "
"+Affhausen+ 30 "
"+Ofhausen+ 1 April, Sunday
" " 4 "
" " 5 "
" " 6 "
" " 7 "
" " 8 " Sunday
" " 9 "
"+Richlos+ 10 "
"+Heldenbergen+ 12 "
(13th fighting.)
"+Wendroken Camp+ 14 "
"+Waryenburn+ 15 April 1759
"+Bergesernesde+ 17 April
"+Neidierbessingen+ 18 "
(19th fighting.)
"+Alsfelt+ 20 "
"+Gabersdorff+ 22 " Sunday
"+Neidzuren+ 27 " Friday
"+Neiderzueren+ 29 April 1759
"+Steinhausen+ 17 May
"+Beringbrocet+ 19 "
"+Beren Broick+ 21 "
"+Gronenberg+ 26 "
"+Werle Camp+ 7 June.
" " " 9 "
"It is Lord George Sackville's orders that for the future, the
officers and men of the Cavalry carry their swords upright, with
the hilt resting on the Right Pistol, that the Regiment march by
Sub-Divisions, and the officers strictly keep their posts. These to
be standing orders for the whole British cavalry for the future.
"+Toest Camp+ 11 June
"+Aurnchte Camp+ 13 "
"+Brink Camp+ 15 "
"+Overhagen Camp+ 19 "
"+Ritberg Camp+ 22 "
"+Marienvelt Camp+ 30 "
"+Disson Camp+ 3 July
"+Osneburg Camp+ 8 "
"+Stoltzenaw+ 15 "
"+Hilbs Camp+ 31 "
"+Petershagen Camp+ 23 "
"From the "London Gazette," Saturday, September 6th, 1760.
"+Hague+, Septr. 1st.
"By the last letters from Prince Ferdinand's Army, which are of
the 28th past, we have received information that the French under
Marshall Broglio, left their camp upon the Dymel in the night
between the 21st and 22nd, marching off by their right, and that
the Hereditary Prince crossed that river on the 22nd at the head
of 12,000 men, in order to gain the left flank of the enemy. That
the advanced troops of that corps came up with their rearguard near
Zierenberg; and that, after the light troops on each side had been
engaged with different success, the Hereditary Prince arrived in
person with the Greys and Iniskilling Dragoons, supported by the
English Grenadiers, and put an end to the affair in a quarter of an
hour, by forcing the enemy to a precipitate flight with great loss."
The "London Gazette," Saturday, September 13th, to Tuesday,
September 16th, 1760.
"Prince Ferdinand's Head Quarters at Buhne, Sept. 9.
"On the 5th past, a very considerable body of the enemy, amounting
to 20,000 men and upwards, attempted to make a general forage in
the neighbourhood of Geismar; But Prince Ferdinand, having received
previous intelligence of their design, crossed the Dymel early
in the morning of that day, and went in person with a corps of
troops to oppose them; and though His Serene Highness was much
inferior in number to the French, yet he took his precautions so
well, by occupying some advantageous heights, and placing artillery
there, that he rendered the enemy's attempt totally ineffectual,
notwithstanding a large portion of their Army was in motion to
cover the foragers.
"On the morning of that day likewise, the Hereditary Prince
(upon intelligence that the volunteers of Clermont and Dauphiné,
consisting each, when compleat, of 600 Horse and 600 foot, were
cantoned at Zierenberg; and, from the very small distance of the
French camp at Dierenberg, thought themselves in perfect security)
went from his camp at Warbourg to Maltzberg, which is not much more
than a league from Zierenberg, without seeing any of their Posts,
or meeting any of their Patroles. This made His Serene Highness
resolve on an attempt to surprise them; for which purpose he
ordered five Battalions, a Detachment of 150 Highlanders under the
command of Captain McLeon, and eight squadrons of Dragoons to be
ready to march at eight at night.
"They left their tents standing, and passed the Dymel near
Warbourg; Maxwell's Battalion of Grenadiers, the Detachment of
Highlanders, and Kingsley's Regiment, forming the Head of the
Column. These were followed by two other Battalions of Grenadiers
and by Block's Regiment. The eight squadrons of Dragoons were
Block's, the Greys, and Iniskillings. At the village of Witzen,
about a league on the other side of the Dymel, we found all the
light troops, which were under Major Bulow's command, and whose
destination was to turn the town of Zierenberg, and to take post
between it and Durenberg, in order to intercept whoever should
attempt passing to the enemy's Camp. At the entrance of a large
wood, near Maltzberg, the Greys and Iniskillings were posted.
At Maltzberg, a Battalion of Grenadiers. The other Battalion of
Grenadiers, the regiment of Block, and Block's Dragoons, were
posted at proper distances between Maltzberg and Zierenberg to
cover us, in case we had been repulsed and pursued. At a mill,
about two English miles from the town and within sight of the fires
of the enemy's grand guards, Maxwell's Grenadiers took one Road,
Kingsley's Regiment and the Detachment of Highlanders another.
When we came within less than half a mile of the Town the vedettes
of their grand guards challenged us, but did not push forward to
reconnoitre us. Our men marched in the most profound silence.
In a few minutes we saw the fires of their piquets, which they
had posted close to the Town. The noise of our trampling over
gardens gave them the alarm, and they began to fire; upon which
our Grenadiers, who had marched with unloaded firelocks (as had
been agreed on), ran on towards the town, pushed the Piquets, and
having killed the guard at the gate, rushed into the Town, and
drove everything before them. Never was a more compleat surprize.
The attack was so sudden, that the enemy had not time to get
together in any numbers, but began to fire at us from the windows;
upon which our men rushed into the houses, and for some time made
a severe use of their Bayonets. They afterwards loaded and killed
a great many of the enemy, who had mounted their horses. It was
about two in the morning when we got into the Town, and about
three the Prince ordered the Retreat, after we had taken M. de
Norman, Brigadier, who commanded the volunteers of Dauphiné, and
M. de Comeiras, Colonel of those of Clermont, with about 40 more
officers and 300 private men. The number of killed and wounded is
very considerable, from an ill-judged resistance of those who were
in the houses; but in justice to our men, it must be said that
they gave quarter to all who asked it; and there are several noble
instances of their refusing to take money from their prisoners, who
offered them their purses. General Griffin, who went into the Town
at the head of Kingsley's Regiment, received a thrust in the breast
with a Bayonet (as it is supposed from one of our own people) upon
hearing him talk French to a soldier whom he had seized, and who
would not quit his firelock, but the wound is a very slight one.
What makes this affair the more satisfactory is that it has not
cost us ten men, which is wonderful in a night attack, where we
might have expected to have lost more by our own mistaking friends
for foes.
"The behaviour of the Officers and the bravery of the Troops upon
this occasion deserve the greatest commendation. Lord George Lennox
was a volunteer in this expedition, and had his horse wounded under
him by a shot from a window. With our prisoners we brought off two
pieces of cannon, and had we had time to search the houses the
number of our prisoners would have been doubled; but as day was
coming on, and we might have been cut off from Warburg, we returned
the same way we came, and arrived there at eight in the morning of
the 6th without being at all molested."
In 1763 a treaty of peace was signed, and as early as February, 1763,
the Greys quitted Germany, and marching through Holland, embarked at
Williamstadt in North Brabant, landed at Gravesend, and proceeded to
Hereford. Soon the light troop, which had remained in England, was
disbanded, but 8 men per troop were now equipped as Light Dragoons.
The establishment was reduced to 213 men! In November the Regiment
marched to Scotland, and were stationed at Dalkeith and Musselburgh;
but soon returned South, and in 1764 were stationed at Manchester and
Warrington. In April, 1765, they marched to Worcester and Pershore. In
1766 they went to Sussex.
At this date "Drummers," who had been on the establishment from the
foundation of the Corps, were ordered to be replaced by "Trumpeters."
In May, 1767, the Regiment marched to Canterbury, and in the winter of
1768 it was in winter cantonments in Lincoln and Boston.
In 1769 they went to Scotland, returning the next year to Warwick,
Lichfield and Stratford-upon-Avon.
The greater part of 1771 was spent in cantonments in Dorsetshire and
Somersetshire. In 1772 the Regiment was stationed at Canterbury,
with detachments on coast duty in Kent. In May, 1773, it marched
into quarters at Greenwich and the neighbouring villages; and on May
22nd King George the Third reviewed the Greys,--expressing his high
admiration of the Regiment's appearance and discipline.
The newspapers of the time describe the day as particularly fine, and
allude to the great crowds assembled to witness "the martial appearance
and correct manœuvring of this gallant old corps."
The Regiment now went to Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's, and in the
autumn extended its quarters to Norwich. In 1774 it marched to York,
and again sent detachments on coast duty. In the spring of 1775 it
marched again North, and remained in Scotland until April, 1776.
After this it spent 11 months in Lancashire. Next the Regiment went
to Worcester for a summer station, passing the autumn in Gloucester,
Tewkesbury, Pershore, and Ludlow.
In 1778, when the War of Independence broke out, no heavy cavalry corps
were sent to North America; but the establishment of the Greys was
increased by some 250 men and horses, and 48 of these were equipped as
Light Dragoons. The "light" part of the Regiment now consisted of 6
sergeants, 6 corporals, and 84 private men; and in April, 1779, these
light horsemen were incorporated, with detachments from the 7th, 15th
and 16th Dragoons, into a Regiment which was numbered 21st Dragoons.
During the summer of 1779 the Greys were encamped on Salisbury Plain,
and other Dragoon Regiments with them. In November the Regiment went
into quarters at Marlborough, Chippenham, Colne, and Malmesbury.
In the autumn of 1780 they marched into Worcestershire.
In January, 1781, two troops requisitioned by magistrates on account
of disturbances, marched to Ludlow. In June the Regiment marched into
Dorsetshire.
In 1782 the Regiment was at Durham, and in 1783 went north to Scotland.
In this year, peace having been made with the United States of America,
the Regiment's establishment was reduced to 232 all told.
In 1784 they marched south, and were stationed 11 months in Manchester.
In April, 1785, they went to Worcester.
In the summer of 1786 they occupied extensive cantonments in
Dorsetshire, and early in 1787 four troops were called in to aid the
civil power in Wiltshire. In June the Regiment marched into quarters in
Hampshire.
In April, 1788, they were in quarters near Hounslow, and thence went
to Ipswich, removing in the summer of 1789 to Nottinghamshire and
Lincolnshire. Early in 1790 the Regiment marched into Yorkshire; from
there 3 troops were soon sent to Newcastle-on-Tyne, and in September
the other 3 troops marched to Durham. In the spring of 1791 they
marched to Scotland, returning in the spring of 1792, and quartering in
Lancashire. In December, 1792, an increase of 60 men was ordered.
The French Revolution having broken out, the Regiment was, in 1793,
made up to 9 troops of 54 non-commissioned officers and men each; and
soon 4 troops were ordered to be held perfectly ready for foreign
service.
On January 20th, 1793, Louis the Sixteenth was murdered. The French
envoy was at once ordered to leave England, and on February the 3rd the
Convention declared war against England. The French attacked Holland,
and a united British and Hanoverian force, commanded by the Duke of
York, went to the help of the Dutch.
On July the 9th, 1793, 4 troops of the Greys embarked at Blackwall for
Flanders. The rest were left at Worcester, Tewkesbury and neighbouring
towns. The 4 troops landed at Ostend on July 16th, and marching towards
France joined the army laying siege to Valenciennes. After Valenciennes
had been taken, they were at first occupied in covering the siege of
Dunkirk; but this was soon abandoned, and they were next occupied near
Lisle, and made a successful charge against some French cavalry on the
heights of Cateau Cambresis. In November the 4 troops marched to Ghent.
The 5 troops remaining in England were increased to 80 men each.
In February, 1794, the 4 troops quitted Ghent for Beveren.
On April the 17th, after joining the army on the plains of Cateau, they
supported the infantry attack on the villages of Vaux and Prêmont.
At day-break on May the 10th, the army was in position on the heights
in front of Tournay, the Greys being formed in column of troops behind
the left wing. The Bays, Greys, and Inniskilling Dragoons forming one
brigade, advanced in open column of half-squadrons, with the Duke of
York at their head; on approaching the enemy they formed line under a
heavy cannonade and charged.
The following is in the Honourable J. W. Fortescue's account, Vol. IV.,
p. 249, of his splendid new _History of the British Army_:--
"At last, however, a little to the south of Willems, the battalion-guns
of the British infantry came up and opened fire, when the French, after
receiving a few shots, began to waver. The squadrons again charged,
and an officer of the Greys, galloping straight at the largest of
the squares, knocked down three men as he rode into it, wheeled his
horse round and overthrew six more, and thus made a gap for the entry
of his men. The sight of one square broken and dispersed demoralised
the remainder of the French. Two more squares were ridden down, and
for the third time the British sabres had free play among the French
infantry.... Not for eighteen years was the British Cavalry destined
again to ride over French battalions as they rode on this day; and
then Stapleton Cotton was fated once more to be present, leading not a
squadron of Carabiniers, but a whole division of horse to the charge at
Salamanca. But the 10th of May 1794 is chiefly memorable as marking the
date on which the new French infantry showed itself not unworthy of the
old."
In November, 1795, the 4 troops of Greys embarked at Bremen for England
and landed at South Shields on Christmas Eve. From here they went to
Northallerton, and in February, 1796, joined the rest of the Regiment
at Canterbury.
In July of this year the Regiment was encamped near Weymouth; in
September it went into quarters at Dorchester, Bridport, Weymouth, and
Wareham.
Late in 1797 the Regiment marched to Nottingham, Loughborough,
Leicester, and Ashby-de-la-Zouch; in July, 1798, it was encamped
in Windsor Forest, and in September went from there to Birmingham,
Coventry, and Lichfield.
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:--
"It is little less than impossible to keep pace in the public
journals with all the movements of the illustrious personages
now in the British metropolis, or to describe the affectionate
zeal with which they are received.... Our army has now, with
great reason, become as much our boast as our navy, and therefore
the display of its merits--of the persons, the horses, the
accoutrements, of its component parts--ought to excite as great an
interest as the exhibition of our ships of war and their equipages.
Their Majesties, we have reason to believe, were as highly
gratified by the review as British hearts could wish. A detachment
of the Greys attended the great potentates, accompanied by the
Hetman Platoff and a small detachment of Cossacks.
"They were received with the loudest shouts by the populace.
The Prince Regent, who was accompanied on one side by the King
of Prussia, and on the other by the Emperor of Russia, was
greeted with high applause. He was followed by Blucher and a most
magnificent staff, superbly attired."
In July, 1814, the Regiment was reduced to 8 troops, amounting to 584
officers and men, including 16 dismounted men for each troop. In a few
months the Regiment went into winter quarters at Bristol and Trowbridge.
Early in 1815 Napoleon was once more in France, and the Greys
establishment was again made up to 10 troops, comprising in all 946
officers and men. Six troops were to be held in readiness to go abroad,
and the other four were marched to Ipswich.