[CHAPTER VI.]
I now return to the narrative of services of the 1st Battalion, who had marched to Dover on their return from the Peninsula in 1814. Napoleon having landed from Elba, on the resumption of hostilities against him, six companies of this Battalion, under the command of Sir Andrew Barnard, embarked at Dover on the 25th April 1815 on board the ‘Wensleydale’ transport and landed at Ostend on the 27th.
The officers present with these six companies were:
Colonel Sir Andrew Barnard.
Major and Brevet Lieut.-Col. Cameron.
Captain Leach, Brevet Major.
” Chas. Beckwith, Brevet Major.
” Glasse.
” Lee.
” Smyth.
” Chawner.
Lieutenant Layton.
” Molloy.
” Archibald Stewart.
” Freer.
” Gardiner.
” Lister.
” George Simmons.
” Stilwell.
” Haggup.
” FitzMaurice.
” E. D. Johnston.
” Orlando Felix.
2nd Lieutenant Church.
” Allen Stewart.
” Wright.
Volunteer Charles Smith.
Lieutenant and Adjutant Kincaid.
Paymaster McKenzie.
Quartermaster Bagshawe.
Surgeon Burke.
Assistant-Surgeon Robson.
” ” Hett.[152]
As soon as the companies were all landed at Ostend they embarked in large boats on the canal, and arrived at Bruges about dark. The next morning at four o’clock they proceeded (towed by horses) to Ghent, where they arrived at three o’clock. Here they disembarked and were billeted until the 10th May; on which day they marched to Alost, and thence on to Wella, where they halted during the 11th. And on the 12th marched to Brussels, where they arrived about eleven o’clock, and went into billets.
Either at this time or soon afterwards they were placed (with the 28th, 32nd and 79th) in Sir James Kempt’s brigade of General Picton’s division. Sir James Kempt having commanded one of the brigades of the Light Division during the latter part of the Peninsular war, the Riflemen of the 1st Battalion felt themselves at home under his orders.
Leaving the 1st Battalion at Brussels I proceed to note that five companies of the 2nd Battalion, consisting of 2 Field Officers, 5 captains, 14 subalterns, 4 staff, 50 sergeants, 16 buglers, and 480 rank and file, under the command of Colonel Wade, marched from Dover Castle at five o’clock P.M. on March 25; and embarking at eleven P.M. on board packets, reached Ostend on the next day, disembarked at two P.M. and marched immediately, three companies to Saas and two to Sluys. On the 28th the whole marched to Bruges; on the 29th three companies marched to Piethem and two to Eeghem. The next day the five companies marched to Courtrai, and on the 31st to Tournay. The 1st April they marched to Leuze. Here they remained, with detachments at Villers St. Amand, Villers Notre Dame, Ligne, Moulbaix and Grammont, till June 12.
Meanwhile, on April 18 the company (1 captain, 5 subalterns and 100 men) which had been with Sir Thomas Graham in Holland joined, making the strength of the Regiment in Belgium six companies; and on April 20 they were inspected by the Duke of Wellington.
On April 29 Colonel Wade left the Battalion to take command of the consolidated depôts; and on May 2 Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Norcott took command of the Battalion.
On June 12 the Battalion marched to Tourpe, Ellegnies and Auberhies. On the 16th it marched to Nivelles, and on the 17th marched to Waterloo and bivouacked there.