The regiment embarked at Bristol on the 17th April, 1831, and landed at Dublin on the following day. It continued on duty at various stations in Ireland until April, 1834, when it again returned to England, disembarked at Liverpool on the 22d of that month, and was stationed for one year at Manchester.
1835
1836
1837
1838
In May, 1835, the regiment proceeded to Scotland, from whence it returned in the following year, and was stationed at Leeds; in April, 1837, its head-quarters were established at Birmingham; and in May, 1838, at York.
The foregoing pages contain an account of the services of the Fifth Dragoon Guards to the termination of the year 1838, and its record bears ample testimony to the zeal and bravery which have been evinced by this distinguished corps on occasions when it has had an opportunity to attest its valour in presence of a foreign enemy.
Its noble and gallant conduct, as a regiment of Horse, at the battle of the Boyne in 1690;—at the heights of Schellenberg;—also at the memorable battle of Blenheim, where the French and Bavarian armies were nearly destroyed, and their commander, standards, and colours were captured, in 1704;—its heroic achievements in 1705 at the forcing of the French lines at Helixem and Neer-Hespen, where it captured the standards of the Bavarian horse-guards;—the glorious part it took in annihilating one of the finest and best appointed armies France ever brought into the field, at Ramilies in 1706;—its intrepid bearing, as a corps of Cuirassiers, in 1708 in the field at Oudenarde, and in the action at Wynendale;—the valour it displayed in close combat with the French household troops at the sanguinary battle of Malplaquet in 1709;—the ardour it evinced in the movements and skirmishes which led to the capture of the fortress of Bouchain in 1711;—its gallantry as a corps of Dragoon Guards in 1794 at the battle of Cateau, where the French commander, many officers and men, and thirty-five pieces of cannon were captured;—its brilliant charge at Llerena;—its victorious career on the plains of Salamanca in 1812;—its spirited conduct at Vittoria in 1813;—and at Toulouse in 1814;—the eminent qualities it displayed on these and other occasions, as set forth in the public despatches and national records, afford most honourable proof that the Fifth Regiment of Dragoon Guards has never lost sight of the ancient motto on its standards Vestigia nulla retrorsum.
The conduct of the regiment on home, as well as on foreign service, has, on all occasions, been such as to evince its usefulness, efficiency, and constant readiness to support the honour and dignity of the crown, and the prosperity of the country; thus holding forth a bright example to stimulate to good conduct the soldiers of the present and future ages, under all the circumstances of service in which the calls of their sovereign and country may occasion them to be placed.
FOOTNOTES:
[7] Charles Butler, second son of Thomas Earl of Ossory, and grandson of James first Duke of Ormond, was created Earl of the islands of Arran, in the county of Galway, in January, 1694. The Earl of Arran, mentioned at [page 7], was the eldest son of William Duke of Hamilton, and obtained his father's title in 1698.
[8] This officer's name is spelt Napper, instead of Napier, in the lists of killed and wounded published at the time; but he is the same officer who was appointed Colonel of the regiment by King George I., on the 27th of May, 1717.
[9] "The Sunday following was appointed for a day of thanks-giving, and after divine service the army drew out to fire a feu-de-joie for the victory. Marshal Tallard and the officers with him were invited to ride out to see the army fire, which they did with much persuasion. Our generals paid Tallard the compliment of riding next the army, and ordered all the officers to salute him. When the firing was over, the Duke of Marlborough asked Tallard how he liked the army; he answered with a shrug, Very well; but they have had the honour of beating the best troops in the world. The Duke replied, What will the world think of the troops that beat them?"—Parker's Memoirs.