In the mean time Hanover and the adjoining states had become the theatre of war, and a British force, commanded by the gallant Marquis of Granby, was serving with the troops of Hanover, Hesse, and Brunswick, the whole commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick; and in March, 1760, the six heavy troops of the Seventh dragoons received orders to proceed to Germany.
The Queen's Own dragoons, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel George Lawson Hall, embarked on the river Thames, and sailed for Germany in the beginning of April: having a quick passage, they arrived in the river Weser, landed above Bremen, the capital of a duchy of the same name in Lower Saxony, and joined the allied army commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, at the camp on the heights of Fritzlar, in the principality of Lower Hesse, on the 21st of April. They were formed in brigade with the dragoons of Price-schenik, under the orders of Colonel Bremar.
Being opposed by a French army of very superior numbers, the allies were restricted to defensive operations, and the Seventh took part in several toilsome marches and skirmishes. At length thirty thousand French troops crossed the river Dymel to cut off the communication of the allies with Westphalia, and a favourable opportunity occurring to attack this detached force, the Queen's Own dragoons, with several other corps, under the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, advanced to Liebenau, where they passed the Dymel, and making a detour of many miles, gained the left flank of the enemy's position at Warbourg, on the 31st of July. Prince Ferdinand was advancing with the main body against the enemy's front; but before his arrival, the enemy had been attacked in flank and rear, and were retiring. The cavalry under the Marquis of Granby and Lieut.-General Mostyn arrived at a favourable moment; a gallant charge of the British squadrons decided the fortune of the day, and the French made a precipitate retreat across the Dymel. The Seventh dragoons supported the infantry in the attack of the enemy's flank, and by a spirited charge towards the close of the action, contributed to the success of the day. The conduct of the British cavalry was commended by the Marquis of Granby, in his public despatch, and Prince Ferdinand declared in general orders, that "all the British cavalry performed prodigies of valour." The regiment being eager in the pursuit, had four men and horses captured by the enemy; three of the men, however, escaped and rejoined the regiment.
Lieut.-General Sir John Cope, K.B., died on the 28th of July, 1760; and King George II. conferred the colonelcy on Lieut.-General Mostyn, from the fifth, royal Irish, regiment of dragoons.
The Seventh dragoons were encamped near the banks of the Dymel, until winter, when the soldiers were directed to build huts to protect themselves and horses from severe weather. They subsequently went into cantonments in the villages in that part of the bishopric of Paderborn.
1761
The army was suddenly called from its winter quarters in February, 1761, and penetrating, during a heavy snow, into the enemy's cantonments, captured several towns and extensive magazines of forage and provision; but afterwards returned to its former quarters, and the Seventh were again quartered in villages in the bishopric of Paderborn.
On taking the field in the beginning of May, 1761, the Seventh were formed in brigade with the Scots greys and Ancram's (eleventh) dragoons, commanded by Colonel Harvey. After much manœuvring, some skirmishing, and many long and toilsome marches, they were encamped on the heights of Denkernberg, between the rivers Asse and Lippe, and formed part of the Marquis Granby's corps, which had its right in front of the village of Kirch-Denkern. This post was attacked on the 15th, and again on the 16th of July; the Seventh were formed in column behind the centre of this part of the position, and supported the infantry; the enemy was repulsed; the cavalry dashed forward, but were prevented charging by the nature of the ground.
The regiment was subsequently employed in operations which brought on slight skirmishes; but no general engagement occurred. In August it was employed on the Dymel. In the early part of November it was engaged in dislodging a French corps from a strong camp near Escherhausen, in the duchy of Brunswick; and afterwards marched to Eimbeck, where another skirmish occurred. These movements were designed to surprise the French army in dispersed quarters; but the enemy having gained time to assemble his forces, this regiment, with several other corps, marched during the night of the 7th of November, through a heavy snow to Foorwohle, where another skirmish occurred, and the British dragoons evinced signal gallantry. The Seventh were encamped in the snow until the following morning, when the British had another skirmish with their opponents; and they subsequently marched to the heights between Mackensen and Lithorst. When the army went into winter quarters, the regiment was cantoned in East Friesland.
1762