The Queen's Royal Regiment was first employed under the command of Sir Sydney Smith, at the siege of Fort Aboukir; but on the 12th of March, seven companies, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, were ordered to join the army, and arrived in time to take a share in the victory of the 13th of March. The other three companies of the regiment remained with the Twelfth Light Dragoons (dismounted) before Aboukir, until the surrender of that fort on the 19th of March. The regiment was afterwards attached to the fourth brigade, under Major-General Sir John Doyle's command, and was present at the glorious Battle of Alexandria, on the 21st of March; when a protracted and well-contested fight terminated in victory to the British troops after a loss of between 1400 and 1500 men.
After the battle of the 21st of March, the Queen's Royal was detached, with the flank companies of the Fortieth regiment, under Colonel Spencer, to Rosetta, and was employed in the reduction of that town, and of the fortress of St. Julien, which commanded the navigation of the Nile, on which occasion one of the 'French Invincible Standards' was taken. The Regiment then proceeded with the army towards Cairo, and was engaged in the affair at Rahmanie,—the capture of the French convoy in the Desert,—at the surrender of Cairo—and in the escort of the French garrison from that city to its place of embarkation. Subsequently, the regiment joined that part of the army which was engaged in the blockade of Alexandria, and was attached to the reserve brigade commanded by Major-General (afterwards Sir John) Moore. Alexandria surrendered on the 2nd of September, 1801, and the Queen's Royal was ordered to Fort Pharos, at the entrance of the harbour, where it continued until the following December.
In this campaign, the severe loss sustained by the British army in their active operations against the enemy was greatly augmented by deaths caused by fatigue, as well as by the climate of Egypt. The casualties in the Queen's were 36 killed and 70 wounded[27].
In the action of the 21st of March, Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercrombie, the commander-in-chief of the army, received a mortal wound, and died on the 28th of the same month. His merits are attested in General Orders issued to the army on the 16th of May, 1801[28], and in the dispatch of his successor, General Hutchinson, in the following terms: 'His memory will be recorded in the annals of his country, will be sacred to every British soldier, and embalmed in the recollection of a grateful posterity.' The same officer adds, 'It is impossible for me to do justice to the zeal of the officers, and to the gallantry of the soldiers, of this army.'
By the conquest of Egypt, Great Britain effected a revolution, which, in a great degree, influenced the politics of nations throughout the world. The vaunting ambition of France received a timely check, by the defeat of the boldest project which the mind of her greatest General had ever conceived; and the 'Army of the East' returned to their country, relieved, in a short campaign, of the fruits of four years' toil and glory.
The successful efforts of the British fleet and army were followed by a treaty of peace with France, which was concluded at Amiens on the 1st of October, 1801, by which Egypt was again restored to the Ottoman empire. The troops, as opportunities offered, were withdrawn from the scene of their brilliant achievements, and about the end of the year 1801 the Queen's Regiment embarked for Gibraltar.
The peace concluded at the above period was, however, of short duration, and did not tend to check the hostile spirit of Bonaparte, whose perfidious conduct and insatiable ambition rendered an appeal to arms again necessary, and Great Britain was obliged to declare war against France in May, 1803.
1802
1804
From the spring of 1802 until the end of 1805, the Queen's Royal formed part of the garrison of Gibraltar, and was highly complimented by his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, for its loyalty, steadiness, and good conduct throughout the mutiny which occurred there. By the malignant fever which raged with great violence in that garrison in 1804, it lost in a few weeks one captain, six subalterns, and about 90 men, besides women and children.
While the regiment was at Gibraltar, the officers received permission to wear the medals which had been presented to them by the Grand Signior, for their services in the Egyptian campaign.