CHAPTER XV.
“He’s brave as brave can be;
He wad rather fa’ than flee;
But his life is dear to me,
Send him hame, send him hame.
“Your love ne’er learnt to flee,
But he fell in Germanie,
Fighting brave for loyalty,
Mournfu’ dame, mournfu’ dame.”
GERMANY—MARINE SERVICE—WEST INDIES—EGYPT—WEST
INDIES—GIBRALTAR—1755–1862.
In 1755 the encroachments of France awakened a new war, in which our Borderers were employed in several generally successful expeditions against the fortified towns and arsenals on the coast of France, especially the Isle of Oleron, St Maloes, and Cherbourg. A few years later, with the Twelfth, the Twentieth, the Twenty-third, the Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-first Foot, the Horse Guards, the First and Third Dragoon Guards, the Second, Sixth, and Tenth Dragoons, they formed the British army, which, advancing from the north of Germany, allied with the Germans and other auxiliaries, latterly served under the command of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. Encountering at first severe reverses, they were at length rewarded by the victory of Minden. “This was the first occasion on which the British troops took aim by placing the butt of the firelock against the shoulder, and viewing the object along the barrel, when firing at the enemy, in which mode they had been instructed during the preceding peace. On former occasions, the firelock was brought up breast-high, and discharged towards the enemy a good deal at random; because it was considered a degradation to take aim according to the present custom. And in this year the cavalry adopted the trumpet, in place of the side-drum and hautbois.” Throughout the war, the regiment suffered very severely, its loss at the battle of Campen alone amounting to two-thirds of its number. In the Regimental Records, which afford a most interesting and ably-written account of the many “brave deeds” of the regiment, as well as a comprehensive, yet most accurate, record of the wars in which it was concerned, and to which we are largely indebted, it is recorded: “1760, December 9, died, in the 34th year of his age, of the wounds he had received in the battle of Campen, Henry Reydell Dawnay, Viscount Down, Baron Dawnay of Cowick, county York, M.P. for that county, Colonel in the army, and Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the Edinburgh Regiment, greatly regretted and lamented by every officer and soldier of the corps, and by all his companions in arms. His Lordship commanded the regiment in the battle of Minden.” Notwithstanding the great superiority of the enemy, ably commanded by the Marshal Duke de Broglio, the allies, by the most heroic efforts, not merely held their own, but frequently repulsed the enemy, especially at the battle of Kirch Deukern, or Fellinghausen, where the French were defeated with great slaughter. “Hitherto, punishments in the British army were, to a certain extent, discretionary with commanding officers of corps, and inflicted by means of switches, generally willows; but during the present year, regimental courts-martial, consisting generally of a captain and four subalterns, were instituted, and punishment with a cat-of-nine-tails introduced.”
ANCIENT BADGE OF TWENTY-FIFTH, OR KING’S OWN BORDERERS.
At length, in 1763, peace was restored. The Twenty-fifth, returning to England, whilst stationed at Newcastle, buried, with military honours, the shreds of the colours which they had so honourably fought under at the battles of Fontenoy, Culloden, Roucoux, Val, Minden, Warbourg, Campen, Fellinghausen, and Wilhelmsthal. Having replaced the losses they had suffered in the recent war, and having enjoyed for several years peaceful and pleasant quarters at home, our Borderers, in 1768, embarked in H.M.S. “Dorsetshire,” 70 guns, for Minorca, where they discharged the duties of the garrison for some time with the Third, Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Sixty-seventh regiments.
The magistrates of Edinburgh having denied a recruiting party from the regiment the ancient privilege, conferred upon it by the city in token of its good conduct at Killiecrankie, of marching at all times through the streets and beating up for recruits, the ire of the Duke of Richmond, whose brother, Lord George Lennox, then commanded the regiment, was so stirred by this indignity, that he applied for leave to have the title of the regiment changed, and, in accordance therewith, it was for a while known as the Sussex Regiment—Sussex being the county where the Lennox family held extensive estates.
About this period France and Spain, at war with Great Britain, coveting the possession of Gibraltar, had laid siege to that powerful fortress. It was no easy thing in those days, when our navy was comparatively in its infancy, to cope with the armaments of such powerful neighbours—powerful alike on land and water, and whose combined fleets had hitherto “swept the seas.” To throw in reinforcements, and re-victual Gibraltar, was in consequence a hazardous undertaking; nevertheless the British fleet, under Lord Howe, not only successfully accomplished it in spite of the immediate presence of the Spanish fleet, but signally defeated the foe off Cape St Vincent. The Twenty-fifth and Twenty-ninth regiments were on this occasion thrown into the garrison, where they helped in the successful defence of the fortress, baffling the most gigantic efforts of the enemy to reduce it.
The Twenty-fifth was ordered home in 1792, where it arrived at a time when our country was in great peril from internal enemies—the discontents which the fair promises of the French Revolution had excited, and which proved such a lamentable delusion, had their effects even amongst “our sober selves,” begetting a progeny of evils which threatened to shipwreck our good ship—the Constitution. Happily, the abilities of our Administration brought the vessel of the State in safety through the storm. Meanwhile France had declared war against us, and the tempest, which had been imminent, descended with terrible fury. Our fleet, which was then wofully inefficient, was put into commission; but, for lack of marines, detachments from various regiments, amongst others the Second (Queen’s), the Twenty-fifth (Borderers), the Twenty-ninth, and Sixty-ninth, were allotted to this service. In this new capacity a portion of the Twenty-fifth was engaged in the several land actions which are recorded in the fruitless defence of Toulon and conquest of Corsica. Although this new duty was at first attended with many disagreeables, it in the end proved a most profitable service to our soldiers, who soon became reconciled to the change. The spoil got on the sea by repeated captures far exceeded aught that might have been expected on shore. On one occasion the “St George” and “Egmont,” with detachments of the Twenty-fifth on board as marines, captured the French privateer “General Dumourier,” with a Spanish prize in tow, the “St Jago”—treasure-ship containing about one million sterling. Under Lord Howe this amphibious regiment was present to share the glories of the fight which almost annihilated the French fleet off Brest. At length, in 1794, the corps of marines having been strengthened, the regiment was relieved and returned to its native element—the land. Still we shall find that its adventures, as well as misadventures, throughout these records manifest a strong predilection for the sea—perhaps not of choice, but certainly of necessity. The loyalty of the regiment whilst serving as marines was most conspicuous during the mutiny which, in 1797, threatened very disastrous results.
In 1795, the regiment was sent to the West Indies; and whilst stationed in Grenada, rendered most important service were employed in defending Granada from the incursions of numerous hordes of brigands who infested it. The heroic defence of Pilot Hill by the Twenty-fifth, under Major Wright, is one of the most gallant actions to be found in the records of our army. Reduced by disease and the sword to about 130 officers and privates, these brave men refused to yield, well knowing, moreover, the ferocious character of the enemy with whom they had to deal. At length, exhausted and without the means to sustain life or longer maintain the post, they determined to break through the enemy, which they successfully accomplished, joining the few British that yet remained in St George’s, the capital, where they were hailed by the inhabitants as the saviours of the island; the ladies, in token of their appreciation of such valour, wore ribands round their waists—inscribed, “Wright for ever;” whilst the following address was presented to the relics of the regiment:—“The inhabitants of this island congratulate Major Wright of the Twenty-fifth regiment, and his gallant little garrison of Pilot Hill, on their safe arrival in St George; and assure him that it was with the most lively sensation of joy they beheld the landing of a handful of brave men, whom, a few hours before, they considered as devoted to the relentless cruelty of a savage and ferocious enemy; and impressed with a high sense of their meritorious exertions in defence of that post, and the well-conducted retreat upon the evacuation of it under the most desperate circumstances, request his and their acception of this tribute of their approbation and thanks, so justly due to such bravery and conduct.” The arrival of reinforcements enabled the British once more to take the field, recovering the posts which lack of numbers had compelled them hitherto to abandon; and in the end, the brigands, defeated, were dispersed, or craved, by submission, the clemency of the Government.
Meanwhile the detachments which had been called in from the marine service on board the “St George,” the “Egmont,” the “Gibraltar,” the “Monarch,” the “Stately,” and the “Reunion,” with a number of recruits obtained chiefly from among the Dutch sailors, who had become prisoners of war, were enrolled as a second battalion. Encamped with the army assembled on Shirley Common, this battalion was, in 1795, moved to the coast, and embarked on board the “Boddington” and the “Belfast.” The fleet, containing the army, which amounted to nearly 26,000 fighting men, consisted of about 300 sail. A variety of accidents arose to detain the expedition, and ultimately caught in a tempest, the vast armament was broken or dispersed. In the confusion which ensued, the “Boddington,” with part of the Twenty-fifth on board, her officers having opened the sealed orders, and found the West Indies to be the destination of the expedition, encountering many perils, at length reached Barbadoes in safety; whilst the “Belfast,” with the remainder of the regiment, was captured by a French corvette, the “Decius,” twenty-four guns. The unfortunate prisoners were treated most cruelly, and the more so that a conspiracy to rise upon their captors had been divulged by one of the Dutchmen who had recently joined the regiment. Landed at St Martin’s, they were afterwards removed to the common gaol at Guadaloupe, during the passage to which the men of the regiment rose against and overpowered the crew of one of the transports, and succeeded in escaping to the British island of Grenada, where they joined their comrades of the first battalion who still survived. The officers remaining prisoners were inhumanly treated, and only released by exchange, after enduring for ten months the miseries of confinement on board the prison hulk “Albion”—a vessel captured from the British. On their passage to rejoin the regiment which had returned home, calling at the island of St Christopher, they had the satisfaction of witnessing the captain and crew of the “Decius” in irons as prisoners. Unhappily this “chapter of accidents” had not yet ended. On the homeward voyage the transports, under convoy of the “Ariadne” frigate, encountered so severe a tempest that several foundered—the frigate was under the necessity of throwing her guns overboard; the “Bee” transport, shifting her ballast, was cast on her beam ends, and was only saved by a marvel of mercy—saved from the storm, to become the prey of a French privateer. Lauded as prisoners in France, the officers were sent on their parole into Brittany, until regularly exchanged. On returning, the survivors rejoined the relics of the regiment in Plymouth lines in 1797. Whilst in garrison here, along with the Second and Twenty-ninth Foot, and the Down Militia, the regiment was exposed to the villany of an evil-disposed and disaffected class—revolutionary incendiaries—the creatures of an iniquitous delusion, in whose soul the God-like emotion of patriotism had been stifled, and who appeared the specious friends yet certain foes of virtue. Armed with all the seductive attractions of the licentious liberty they preached, they therewith hoped to ruin our ancient constitution, and set up in its stead the lying, fatal dogmas of democracy. To accomplish this end, they strove to destroy the bulwarks of our strength as a nation by the seduction of our soldiers and sailors. In the presence of other grievances, and the absence of immediate redress, these incendiaries had succeeded but too well in imposing upon the navy, and exciting a dangerous mutiny, to which we have already referred, as illustrating the fidelity of the Twenty-fifth, who served as marines, and who could not be induced to forsake their duty to their country, nor stain the honour of the regiment by any defection. We now turn to record the fidelity of the regiment as equally creditable in the army; and we have pleasure in adding the following as a testimony of the loyalty which animated our Borderers. This interesting document—the production of the Non-Commissioned Officers of the regiment—affords us an earnest of their anxiety to detect and bring to punishment the incendiaries who had dared to sap the allegiance of the soldier:—
“Nemo me impune lacessit. The subscribing Non-Commissioned Officers of H.M. Twenty-fifth regiment of foot, find, with great regret, that attempts have been made by base and infamous persons to alienate some of the soldiers of this garrison from their duty to their King and country, by circulating inflammatory papers and hand-bills containing the grossest falsehood and misrepresentation, thereby insulting the character of the British soldier. In order to bring the incendiaries to the punishment they so justly deserve, we hereby offer a reward of ten guineas (to be paid on conviction) to the person or persons who will inform upon, secure, or deliver over to any of the subscribers, the author, printer, or distributor of papers or hand-bills criminal to the military establishment and laws of the country, or for information against any such person found guilty of bribing with money, or of holding out any false allurements to any soldier in this district tending to injure the good order and discipline of the army; which reward of ten guineas is raised and subscribed by us for this purpose, and will immediately be paid on conviction of any such offenders. God save the King!
“Signed by the whole of the Non-Commissioned
Officers of the Regiment.”
Stationed in Jersey in 1798, on returning to England the regiment formed part of the army encamped on Barham Downs and Shirley Common, until embraced in the unfortunate expedition which, in 1799, under the Duke of York, occasioned the loss of so much British blood and treasure in a vain attempt to deliver Holland from the thraldom of France. Notwithstanding the glory obtained in the battle of Egmont-op-Zee, little practical good resulted. The Dutch seemed disinclined to help themselves, and the French were in such force, whilst our expedition was so inadequate to do more than hold its own, that retreat and the ultimate abandonment of the enterprise ensued as a necessary consequence. On the return of the army, the Twenty-fifth was encamped on Shirley Common, where the troops assembled were, in 1800, reviewed by the King, who afterwards engaged in a sham fight with the Duke of York, and is represented as having beaten him. Shortly thereafter an expedition sailed under Sir Ralph Abercromby for Spain, but ill success there led that chief ultimately to direct his efforts for the expulsion of the French from Egypt. Here he fell gloriously, at the battle of Alexandria, in the arms of victory. The Twenty-fifth joined the army towards the close of the campaign. The surrender of the French having completed the deliverance of Egypt, the army returned in part to England, whence, in 1807, the Twenty-fifth was sent out to the West Indies, where, in 1809, it shared in the capture of the French island of Martinique.
“In the year 1813, while Lieut.-Colonel Light commanded the first battalion, Twenty-fifth Foot, in the island of Guadaloupe, happening to dine with the Governor, he was riding home to the barracks, distant about one mile from the Governor’s house, in a violent thunderstorm with heavy rain. A vivid flash of lightning coming very close to his horse, the animal took fright, and suddenly sprang over a precipice of fifty-four feet deep, which lay about five yards from the road on the right, into a river swelled considerably by the rain. The horse was killed by the fall, but Lieut.-Colonel Light swam on shore, with very little injury, and walked home to his barracks, a quarter of a mile distant from the place.
“Lord George Henry Lennox, son to Charles, second Duke of Richmond, and father of Charles, fourth Duke of Richmond, was colonel of the Twenty-fifth Regiment from 22d December, 1762, to 22d March, 1805 (the day of his death), a space of forty-two years and three months. His lordship was particularly attached to the regiment; so much so, that, notwithstanding his great interest—being a personal friend of the King (George III.)—his lordship was understood to have declined being removed to any other corps, although it was at the time alleged and believed that he had frequently the offer of a cavalry regiment. Lord George Henry Lennox was truly a father to the corps—never sparing any expense in its equipments, and never failing to use all his interest in promoting the officers to every vacancy which occurred in the corps; and his lordship has been known, in anticipation of a failure in this respect with the Commander-in-chief, to have solicited and succeeded with His Majesty in preventing promotion in passing out of the regiment”—and in the word “Minden” being allowed to be borne on its colours and appointments.
Having been engaged in nearly all the actions which, one by one, reduced the French West Indian Islands and placed them under British rule, the regiment returned to England in 1816, whilst the second battalion was about the same time disbanded or merged in the first battalion. After doing duty in various garrisons in Ireland for nearly ten years, the regiment, in 1825, once more was sent out to the West Indies.
Since its return to Great Britain it has remained on home service, excepting now, when, again increased to two battalions, the first is stationed at Gibraltar, whilst the second, garrisoning Edinburgh Castle, revels in the pleasing associations of “auld langsyne.”
QUEEN’S COLOURS OF TWENTY-FIFTH, OR KING’S OWN BORDERERS.
REGIMENTAL COLOURS OF TWENTY-FIFTH, OR KING’S OWN BORDERERS.