Wha the proud usurpers quell’d.”
LIFE GUARDS—SEVENTH HUSSARS—SEVENTEENTH LIGHT
DRAGOONS—SEVENTIETH FOOT.
Not to exceed the limits we prescribed in setting out, we are reluctantly compelled, in fulfilling our promise, to group into a single brief chapter a variety of records incidental to our history.
LIFE GUARDS.
It is only fitting to note, that two troops of Scots Life Guards, raised in Scotland shortly after the Restoration, and engaged with the Scots Greys and Claverhouse’s Scots Horse in putting down Presbyterianism by the sword, were at the Revolution included in the splendid cavalry of the Life Guards, which have since been retained in waiting upon the sovereign—their magnificent equipment and martial appearance, lending dignity to the pageant of Royalty. Their excellence as soldiers has been proved in the memorable victory of “Waterloo.”
THE SEVENTH HUSSARS—“QUEEN’S OWN.”
Viscount Dundee’s regiment of Scots Dragoons, or, as familiarly known in Scottish song, “the bonnets o’ Bonnie Dundee,” refusing to enter the service of William and Mary upon the involuntary abdication and flight of James II., retiring into Scotland, becoming partners in the treason and rebellion of their fiery leader, involved in his ruin, was lost to the country. As if to replace this regiment, which had thus fallen to pieces, the King, in 1690, raised a new cavalry corps in Scotland, known as Cunningham’s Dragoons. It shares much of the history, and participates largely in the honours, which we have already attempted to describe as belonging to the “Scots Greys.” The regiment was disbanded in 1713; but, two years later, re-formed from three companies of the Scots Greys, two companies of the Royal Dragoons, and one newly raised. As the “Seventh Queen’s Own Hussars,” it has never since ceased to sustain its early reputation for steadiness and valour—the tokens of which, emblazoned upon its colours and appointments, are comprised in these two words: “Peninsula” and “Waterloo.”
SEVENTEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS.
Whilst France and Britain fiercely contended as to the extent of their dominions in the American continent, where each might well be supposed to have enough and to spare, Lord Aberdour, in 1759, raised a regiment of cavalry in Scotland. Light dragoons had just then been introduced into the service, and proved a most valuable arm thereof. We have failed to discover precisely in what services this corps was employed, but are inclined to think, with the Fifteenth Light Dragoons, the Inniskilling, and Scots Greys, it must have served in Germany, under the Duke of Brunswick, during the Seven Years’ War. It was disbanded in 1763.