It was not until the close of the year 1909, just 150 years after the battle, that the cavalry regiments which took part in this brilliant action were authorized to bear on their colours and appointments the battle honour "Warburg." Why the infantry regiments which bore the brunt of the fighting should be denied this distinction is not for me to tell. The regiments now honoured are the
Royal Horse Guards.
King's Dragoon Guards.
Queen's Bays.
3rd Dragoon Guards.
Carabiniers.
7th Dragoon Guards.
1st Royal Dragoons.
Scots Greys.
Inniskillings.
7th Hussars.
10th Hussars.
11th Hussars.
At Emsdorff, just a fortnight previously, the 15th Hussars had nobly retrieved the slur which had been cast on the British cavalry owing to the unfortunate behaviour of Lord George Sackville at Minden. At Warburg the mass of the cavalry under Lord Granby had an opportunity of showing that they were by no means behind the 15th in dash or steadiness. De Muy, the French Commander, occupied a very strong position in a bend of the River Diemel. His right resting on the village of Warburg. The British infantry, consisting of one brigade of four battalions under the command of Colonel Beckwith of Kingsley's Regiment (now the Lancashire Fusiliers) attacked in two columns. The right, under Major Maxwell of the Lancashire Fusiliers, consisted of the Grenadier companies of the Suffolks, Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Scottish Borderers, 37th (Hampshire), and 51st (King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry). On its outer flank was the Heavy Cavalry Brigade under Lord Granby. The left infantry column was under Major Daulhat of the West Riding Regiment; this comprised the flank companies of the Northumberland Fusiliers, the King's Liverpool Regiment, the Devons, the South Wales Borderers, the 33rd (West Riding Regiment), and the 50th (West Kent). On Daulhat's left were the light cavalry under General Mostyn, the 7th Hussars leading. In support came the two regiments of Highlanders, Keith's and Campbell's.[3] Between the two infantry columns were three troops of Horse Artillery, under Captains Phillips, MacBean, and Stephens; these earned Prince Ferdinand's highest praise for their dash and the accuracy of their fire. Some delay occurred in supporting the attack of the British infantry, who alone sustained the early stages of the action; and the Prince ordered Lord Granby to move round the rear of the columns and press home an attack on the French right rear. Granby was a different stamp of leader to Lord George Sackville. Two hours at the trot brought him within striking distance of the French. Then, forming his six regiments of heavy cavalry in two brigades, and supporting them with Mostyn's Light Dragoons, charged straight home. The French never waited the attack, save three squadrons which stood firm and which were cut to pieces. The main portion of the French cavalry turned and fled. Ordering Mostyn to follow these up, Granby (always well to the front) wheeled the heavies to the right, and threw himself on the right rear of De Muy's infantry. These, like the cavalry, broke, throwing down their arms and making for the ford across the Diemel in their rear. Our artillery now came up at the gallop, and effectually prevented any attempt at reforming on the part of the beaten foe. The loss in our cavalry was trifling. That of the French amounted to nearly 8,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners, whilst 12 guns remained in our hands as trophies of war at Warburg.
Casualties at Warburg.
| Regiments. | Officers. | Men. | ||
| K. | W. | K. | W. | |
| Royal Horse Guards | - | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| King's Dragoon Guards | - | 1 | 7 | 28 |
| Queen's Bays | - | 3 | 12 | 11 |
| 3rd Dragoon G. | - | - | 1 | 5 |
| Carabiniers | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| 7th Dragoon G. | - | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Royal Dragoons | - | - | 8 | 12 |
| Scots Greys | - | - | 1 | - |
| Inniskillings | - | - | 2 | 3 |
| 7th Hussars | - | - | 1 | - |
| 10th Hussars | 2 | - | 2 | 10 |
| 11th Hussars | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| Royal Artillery | - | - | 2 | 7 |
| Northumberland Fusiliers | - | 2 | 4 | 26 |
| King's Liverpool Regt. | - | 1 | 4 | 13 |
| Devons | - | - | 12 | 21 |
| Suffolks | 1 | 1 | 15 | 35 |
| Lancs. Fusiliers | - | 1 | 15 | 38 |
| Royal Welsh Fusiliers | - | 2 | 12 | 19 |
| 24th S. Wales Borderers | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| K.O. Scottish Borderers | - | 1 | 8 | 25 |
| W. Kent Riding Regt. | - | - | 5 | 33 |
| Hampshire | - | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| Royal W. Kent | - | - | 4 | 14 |
| K.O. Yorkshire L.I. | - | 1 | 9 | 23 |
For his services at Minden, Major Daulhat was given the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 51st (King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry), and his battalion of Grenadiers was placed under Major Welsh, of the 11th (Devons), who commanded it at Wilhelmstahl.
In his official report of the action to King George, Prince Ferdinand wrote:
"The English artillery got up at a gallop and seconded the attack in the most spirited manner. All the troops have done well, and particularly the English."
"The loss on our side is very numerous, and falls chiefly upon the brave battalions of Maxwell's Grenadiers, which did wonders. Colonel Beckwith, who commanded the Brigade of English Grenadiers and Scotch Highlanders, distinguished himself greatly, and is badly wounded in the head. My Lord Granby with the English cavalry contributed extremely to the success of the day."