Guidons,—The first or King's guidon to be of crimson silk, embroidered and fringed with gold and silver; in the centre the rose and thistle conjoined and crown over them, with the motto Dieu et mon Droit underneath: the white horse in a compartment in the first and fourth corners, and VII. D., in gold characters, on a blue ground, in a compartment in the second and third corners. The second and third guidons to be of white silk, in the centre the Queen's cipher within the garter on a crimson ground: the white horse on a scarlet ground in the first and fourth compartments, and VII. D. within a wreath of roses and thistles upon a scarlet ground in the second and third compartments.
1752
1753
1754
The regiment was inspected at Birmingham, in October, 1751, by Lieutenant-General Sir Philip Honeywood; at Lichfield, in April, 1752, by Lieutenant-General Campbell; and at Manchester in April, 1753, by Major-General Cholmondeley. In October following it commenced its march to Scotland, and remained in that part of the kingdom upwards of four years, during which period the undetermined limits of the British territory in North America had given rise to another war with France.
1755
1756
1757
Hostilities commenced in 1755, and the establishment of the Queen's Own dragoons was augmented to three hundred and forty-seven officers and men. A seventh troop was also added, of which Captain-Lieutenant William Erskine was appointed captain by commission dated the 25th of December, 1755, and the officers and men of this troop were mounted on small horses and equipped as light dragoons. The establishment of the light troop was fixed, by a royal warrant dated the 29th of January, 1756, at three officers, one quarter-master, two serjeants, two drummers, and sixty-three rank and file; but it was subsequently augmented to upwards of one hundred officers and men.
1758
In the spring of 1758 the Seventh dragoons quitted Scotland, and were stationed in Yorkshire, the head-quarters being at York; from whence the light troop was detached to Portsmouth to take part in an expedition against the French coast, under the orders of Charles Duke of Marlborough. A brigade was formed of the light troops of nine regiments of dragoons, under the orders of Colonel Eliott, of the horse grenadier guards; and when a landing had been effected (6th June) on the coast of Brittany, the light horsemen gave signal proof of their activity and usefulness on several occasions. They took a distinguished part in the capture of the suburbs of St. Maloes, and in the destruction, by fire, of the privateers and other vessels, amounting to upwards of one hundred sail, in the harbour; also in the destruction of extensive magazines of maritime stores. The light cavalry subsequently advanced several miles up the country, and evinced zeal and activity in skirmishing with the French troops. The expedition not being of sufficient strength to undertake the siege of St. Maloes, the troops re-embarked and returned to England. The light cavalry subsequently took part in a second enterprise against the French coast, under the orders of Lieutenant-General Bligh, when Cherbourg was captured, and the works, with the shipping in the harbour and iron ordnance were destroyed, and the brass ordnance sent as trophies to London. A second landing was also effected near St. Maloes; but no advantage resulted, and considerable loss was sustained on re-embarking.
1759
After landing at Portsmouth in September, the light troop of the Queen's Own proceeded to Hackney, and afterwards to Romford; the remainder of the regiment occupying cantonments in Essex and Middlesex, from whence it marched, in November, 1759, to Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.
1760