In the mean time, the death of Charles VI., Emperor of Germany, had been followed by war on the continent; and the Elector of Bavaria, aided by the French monarch, was endeavouring to deprive the Archduchess, Maria Theresa, of the kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia.
1742
The Queen's Own dragoons left Scotland in April, 1742: and soon after their arrival in England, they were selected to form part of an army of sixteen thousand men, sent to the Netherlands under the command of Field-Marshal the Earl of Stair, to support the interests of the Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. The regiment embarked in the early part of August; and after landing at Ostend, marched a few stages up the country, where it halted until the beginning of the following year.
1743
In February, 1743, the regiment commenced its march for Germany; and after taking part in several manœuvres, it was encamped at Aschaffenburg, where King George II. and the Duke of Cumberland joined the army. On the 26th of June, as the troops were marching along the bank of the river Maine, a French force was discovered in position near Dettingen, a village in the Bavarian States, in the circle of the Lower Rhine; and King George II. commanded the British, Austrians, and Hanoverians to form line opposite the enemy. After a severe cannonade of several hours' duration, the French advanced from their formidable position, and a series of charges of cavalry, with a heavy fire of musketry, commenced on the left of the allied army, and extended along the front. During the heat of the engagement, the regiment which forms the subject of this memoir, had an opportunity of displaying its intrepidity and prowess in close combat with the cavalry of the opposing army, and obtained the approbation of its sovereign. The British dragoons encountered the French gens d'armes and household cavalry, and, though without armour, they fought their steel-clad opponents with signal gallantry. Twice the British horsemen were forced back; but, rallying and returning to the charge, at the third onset they overthrew the opposing squadrons, and chased them from the field with great slaughter, and with the loss of several standards and kettle drums. The infantry of the allied army evinced great bravery, and a complete victory was gained over the enemy.
The Queen's Own regiment of dragoons had Lieutenant Falconer, Cornet Hobey, one serjeant, ten rank and file, and twenty-two horses killed; Lieutenant Frazer, Cornet St. Leger, one quarter-master, two serjeants, thirteen rank and file, and thirteen horses wounded: Cornet St. Leger afterwards died of his wounds.
After passing the night in the open grounds near the field of battle, the regiment marched on the following day to Hanau, and was subsequently encamped with the army on the banks of the Kinzig. In the early part of August the king proceeded towards the Rhine, passed that river beyond Mentz, and advanced to Worms. The Queen's Own dragoons were employed in West Germany, but nothing of importance occurred; and in the autumn they re-passed the Rhine, and marched back to Brabant and Flanders, where they remained during the winter.
1744
The regiment served the campaign of 1744 under Field-Marshal Wade, and was employed in several movements, but no general engagement occurred, and in the autumn it marched into winter quarters at Bruges.