History of the Scottish Regiments in the British Army

by Archibald K. Murray

CHAPTER II.

“Loudon’s bonnie woods and braes,

I maun lea’ them a’, lassie;

Wha can thole when Britain’s faes

Would gi’e Britons law, lassie?”

WARS OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION—REBELLION OF 1715—SEVEN\

YEARS’ WAR—1693–1793.

Our last chapter closed the dark record which unhappily clouds the early history of the Royal Scots Dragoons, and it is with pleasure we turn from the record of these unnatural and suicidal wars to narrate the nobler deeds of the regiment on a nobler field. The accession of William, Prince of Orange, to the throne, is not to be regarded merely as the triumph of the Protestant party, but as involving the dawn of freedom to an oppressed people; as the guarantee of liberty of conscience; and as the harbinger of peace, especially to distressed Scotland. In 1694, the Royal Scots Dragoons, accompanied by Cunningham’s Scots Dragoons—now the Seventh (Queen’s Own) Hussars—and associated with the First (Royal English), the Third (King’s Own Hussars), the Fourth (Queen’s Own Hussars), and the Fifth (Royal Irish Lancers) Dragoons, were sent over to the Netherlands against the French. Here they represented the nation with credit, especially at the siege of Namur, until the conclusion of peace, four years afterwards, permitted their return.

Unfortunately, the peace was not of long duration, and afforded but a short respite, during which the regiment was remounted on grey horses, as a corps élite. The question of the Spanish succession rousing the ambition of France, the flames of war were again rekindled. Accordingly, in 1702, the regiment was called to maintain the honour of their country on the plains of Holland. The earlier campaigns were chiefly made up with a variety of sieges—Venloo, Ruremonde, Stevenswaert, Liege, Bonn, Huy, Limburg, &c., in all of which the regiment had a part. Lord Hay, afterwards Marquis of Tweeddale, this year (1704) purchased the colonelcy of the regiment. The daring spirit and rising genius of Marlborough, who then commanded the British army, aspiring to something mightier, turning his eye towards Germany, selected a grander field of action—planned a campaign, which, taking Europe by surprise, fell like a thunderbolt upon the foe, and produced the most glorious results. The soldierly bearing of the Royal Scots Dragoons had already attracted the keen eye of the Commander-in-Chief, and won for them this tribute to their fidelity and worth, inasmuch as they were selected to be his own body-guard. They were, moreover, destined to lead the van, or, at all events, to assume a first place in the memorable actions of the campaign. Their firmness and valour helped their great commander to a great renown, as they were honoured to share with him the dangers and the glories of the campaign, and so “win laurels that shall never fade.” Not less brave, although not so favoured, were the gallant troops which accompanied the Royal Scots Dragoons in the marvellous march from the Netherlands to Germany, and who alike contributed to the success of the expedition. These comprised the First (King’s), the Third (Prince of Wales’), the Fifth (Princess Charlotte of Wales’), the Sixth (Carabineers), the Seventh (Princess Royal’s) Dragoon Guards, and the Fifth (Royal Irish Lancers) Dragoons; besides the infantry which followed, including the Foot Guards, the First (Royal Scots), the Third (East Kent Buffs), the Eighth (the King’s), the Tenth (North Lincoln), the Fifteenth (York, East Riding), the Sixteenth (Bedfordshire), the Eighteenth (Royal Irish), the Twenty-first (Royal North British Fusiliers), the Twenty-third (Royal Welsh Fusiliers), the Twenty-fourth (Warwickshire), the Twenty-Sixth (Cameronians), and the Thirty-seventh (North Hampshire) regiments of Foot. Marlborough having successfully accomplished with rapidity and secrecy this masterly manœuvre, and united his army to the Imperialists—hardly allowing the French and Bavarians time to know, far less to recover from their surprise—immediately prepared for action. The assault upon the French lines on the heights of Schellenberg, and the consequent capture of Donawerth, was the first event calling forth the bravery of the Scots Greys. But this was but the precursor to a more decisive blow. On the 13th of August the French and Bavarians were encountered in the vicinity of the village of Blenheim. The struggle was a severe one. The Greys and other troops attacking the village, which was strongly occupied by the French, for long waged a very doubtful conflict; but at length, by indomitable efforts, they succeeded in driving back the enemy, and cutting off their retreat—twenty-four battalions of infantry and twelve squadrons of cavalry surrendered. The campaign closed with the siege of Landau. Having delivered Germany from the immediate presence of the enemy, Marlborough withdrew the British army into winter quarters in the Netherlands. The only action of importance which falls to be recorded in the succeeding year is the victory of Helixem, where the same redoubtable British cavalry successfully attacked and broke in upon the French lines.

A mightier achievement awaited the arms of our “gallant Greys” in 1706. At the battle of Ramilies, after much hard fighting, the regiment succeeded in penetrating into the village of Autreglize, inflicting a dreadful carnage, and were honoured in receiving the surrender of the French “Regiment du Roi,” with arms and colours. Amid the trophies of the day, the Greys are said to have taken no fewer than seventeen standards. At the close of the battle a very curious circumstance was brought to light, affording an illustrious example of woman’s love, fidelity, endurance, and heroism. Amongst the wounded of the Scots Greys, a female (Mrs Davies) was discovered, who, donning the habiliments of man, had enlisted in the regiment, braved the perils of Schellenberg and Blenheim, that in this disguise she might follow her husband, who was a soldier in the First (Royal Scots) Foot, then with the army. Her case at once excited the interest and sympathy of the whole army; and awakening the generosity of the officers, especially of the colonel of her regiment, she was restored to her true position as a woman, lived to be of considerable service as envoy to the army, and at her death in 1739 was buried with military honours in Chelsea Hospital.

In the autumn of this eventful year, the Greys were called to mourn the death of their colonel, who had been with them throughout the war, and who was cut off by fever in the midst of a bright and glorious career. He was succeeded in the colonelcy by the Earl of Stair. About the same time the regiment was authoritatively designated the Royal North British Dragoons, and in 1713 was further registered as the Second Regiment of Dragoons.

It is superfluous to say that, at the battle of Oudenarde, in 1708, the sieges of Lisle and Tournay, and specially at the battle of Malplacquet in 1709—where, thrice charging the French household cavalry, they ultimately broke through that magnificent and hitherto invincible corps—as well as at a variety of minor engagements, the Greys maintained their high character. On the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, they returned to England loaded with the honours of war.

In the following year, the Earl of Portmore, a distinguished one-eyed veteran, was appointed colonel in room of the Earl of Stair—retired.

The rebellion of 1715, in Scotland, in favour of the Pretender, again called for the service of the Greys, who, with a firm fidelity, continued to discharge their duty to the king—notwithstanding many pressing temptations to desert. Whilst quartered at Stirling, they dispersed gatherings of rebels at Kinross and Dunfermline. With the Third (King’s Own Hussars), the Fourth (Queen’s Own Hussars), the Sixth (Inniskillings), and the Seventh (Queen’s Own Hussars) Dragoons; also the Third (East Kent Buffs), the Eighth (the King’s), the Eleventh (North Devon), the Fourteenth (Buckinghamshire), the Seventeenth (Leicestershire), the Twenty-first (Royal North British Fusiliers), the Twenty-fifth (King’s Own Borderers), and the Thirty-Sixth (Herefordshire) regiments of foot, in all 4000 men, they were present at the drawn battle of Sheriffmuir, where the enemy mustered fully 10,000 men. The royalist army was mainly saved from utter defeat by the dauntless valour of the Greys, who, repeatedly charging the cavalry and right wing of the rebel army, succeeded in driving back and ultimately dispersing them, so as to counterbalance the success of the rebels on the left. Although forced to retreat for the time, the royalists, recruited by other regiments, were soon able once more to assume the offensive, and, notwithstanding the presence of the Pretender himself, ultimately dispersed the rebel army. A second attempt, aided by a Spanish force, in 1719, met with the same firmness, and fared no better. The rebel army, encountering the king’s army—including the Greys—at Strachell, were completely routed.

Meanwhile the regiment was permitted to enjoy its laurels in peace. In 1717, General John Campbell had been appointed colonel of the Scots Greys, in room of the Earl of Portmore—resigned.

In 1742, France, Prussia, and Bavaria having leagued together for the destruction of Austria, George II., espousing the cause of Austria, in person, led an army of 16,000 British through Flanders into Germany. Of this force the Greys formed a part, under the command of their own chivalric monarch. The battle of Dettingen, in 1743, was the first event of importance in the war, in which the Greys were engaged—successively charging and defeating the imposing line of French Cuirassiers, and thereafter the magnificent array of the French household cavalry; capturing from these last a white standard—a trophy which never before had been taken by an enemy.

The army having been withdrawn into Flanders, and placed under the command of the Duke of Cumberland, achieved nothing of importance until the disastrous battle of Fontenoy, in 1745, in which, although no very prominent place had been assigned the Scots Greys, they nevertheless suffered severely—especially in the loss of their gallant colonel, General Campbell. He was succeeded in the colonelcy by the Earl of Stair—reappointed.

The rebellion of 1745, in Scotland, occasioning the withdrawal of a large portion of the army, the following regiments were left behind to make head against the overwhelming hosts of France:—the Second (Scots Greys), the Sixth (Inniskillings), the Seventh (Queen’s Own Hussars) Dragoons; the Eighth (King’s), the Eleventh (North Devon), the Thirteenth (1st Somersetshire or Prince Albert’s), the Nineteenth (1st York, North Riding), the Twenty-fifth (King’s Own Borderers), the Thirty-second (Cornwall), and the Thirty-third (Duke of Wellington’s) Foot. These were aided by a few regiments of Dutch and Hessians. Taking advantage of these circumstances, the enormous masses of the French under Marshal Saxe were advanced, with the intent to overwhelm this handful of brave men. The attack was accordingly made at Roucoux, but failed; although the British general was forced to retreat, which was accomplished with success, notwithstanding the immediate presence of a foe greatly superior in numbers. It was the intrepidity of the British cavalry which rescued the army from destruction.

The following year the Earl of Crawford was appointed colonel in room of the then deceased Earl of Stair. He was an officer of very extensive military knowledge, having served in many of the continental armies, as a volunteer, with credit.

The bloody and glorious battle of Val, fought in 1747, and which may fitly be considered the closing event of the war, exhibits in bold relief what may well be esteemed as the crowning achievement of the Scots Greys. Towards the close of this desperate fight, the regiment was ordered to charge. Notwithstanding their resistless bravery and accompanying success, by which the French cavalry were broken and lost four standards, these fortunate results and glorious trophies were dearly won, not merely because of the numerous casualties which the regiment was called to mourn (157 killed and wounded), but on account of the loss of that which to a soldier is dearer than life itself—a standard. It fell into the enemy’s hands in the confusion of retreat.

On the conclusion of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1749, the regiment returned to England. In the following year the Earl of Crawford dying, the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on the Earl of Rothes, but exchanging into the Third (Scots Fusiliers) Foot Guards in 1752, he was succeeded in the command by General Campbell, afterwards Duke of Argyle.

On the breaking out of war with France in 1758, whilst a newly-raised light troop of the regiment was engaged with other troops in successive descents on the French coast, viz., St Maloes, Cherbourg, and Lunar, the remainder of the regiment was sent to Germany, to aid in the liberation of Hanover from the French yoke. Under the command of the Duke of Brunswick, the Greys were present at the battles of Bergen and Minden, but it was not until the assault upon Warbourg that they seriously encountered the enemy. Their conduct on the occasion is well described by the Commander-in-Chief when he says they performed “prodigies of valour.” At Zierenberg the battle was decided by a brilliant and successful charge of the Greys and Inniskillings. A variety of manœuvres and skirmishes continued to agitate the conflict in the following year, in all of which the regiment upheld its reputation. The peace of 1763 at length released the regiment from the turmoil of war, and permitted it to return home and rest awhile upon its honours.

It is interesting to observe that in nearly every instance the Royal Scots Dragoons shared the dangers and glories of the conflict with the Royal Irish or Inniskilling regiments of dragoons. It is still the same. Scotland and Ireland, side by side, are to be recognised fighting their country’s battles. It is an ancient and happy alliance which, strengthening with years, has been of signal service in the past, is blessed in the present, and promises to be of further use in the future.

In 1770, on the death of the Duke of Argyle, the Earl of Panmure was advanced to the colonelcy, and on his death, in 1782, General Preston was appointed colonel, but he in turn passing away in 1785, made room for General Johnstone.

These were times of peace, and afforded no opportunity for these venerable soldiers to distinguish their stewardships. The succeeding chapter introduces us to more stirring times.