13th Light Dragoons
Encyclopedia
The 13th Hussars was a cavalry regiment
of the British Army
whose battle honours include Waterloo
and The Charge of the Light Brigade
. 1n 1922, the regiment was amalgamated with the 18th (Queen Mary's Own) Royal Hussars, to form the 13th/18th Hussars.
British
light dragoons were first raised in the 18th century. Initially they formed part of a cavalry
regiment
performing scouting, reconnaissance and the like, but due to their successes in this role, (and also in charging and harassing the enemy), they soon acquired a reputation for courage and skill. Whole regiments dedicated to this role were soon raised; the 15th Light Dragoons were the first, followed by the 18th Light Dragoons and the 19th Light Dragoons
.
The 13th Light Dragoons were initially heavy dragoons known as Richard Munden’s Regiment of Dragoons. By 1751 the regiment title was simplified to the 13th Regiment of Dragoons and by 1783 they had been converted to the light role. In 1861 the regiment changed its name to the 13th Hussars and in 1922 it amalgamated with the 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) to form the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
. The 13th/18th were in turn consolidated with the 15th/19th King’s Hussars
to form the Light Dragoons in 1992.
The 13th light Dragoons served around the world including in the Peninsular War
, at Waterloo
, in India
and in the Crimean War
.
on the Spanish-Portuguese border (25 March 1811) a clash occurred between British and Portuguese cavalry, under Robert Ballard Long
, and a force of French infantry and cavalry under General Latour-Maubourg
. This was to be one of the 13th Light Dragoons most famous and infamous actions. The 13th, two and a half squadrons strong, led by Colonel Michael Head, charged and routed a superior French cavalry force of no less than six squadrons. The 13th, with two Portuguese squadrons, then went on to pursue the French for seven miles to the outskirts of Badajoz
. The report reaching Lord Wellington
seems to have glossed over the epic quality of the charge and emphasised the overlong pursuit. After receiving Marshal Beresford
's report, Wellington issued a particularly harsh reprimand to the 13th LD calling them "a rabble" and threatening to remove their horses from them and send the regiment to do duty at Lisbon. The officers of the regiment then wrote a collective letter to Wellington detailing the particulars of the action. Wellington is reported as saying that had he known the full facts he would never have issued the reprimand. The historian Sir John Fortescue wrote, "Of the performance of Thirteenth, who did not exceed two hundred men, in defeating twice or thrice their numbers single-handed, it is difficult to speak too highly."
On the 16 May 1811, the 13th Light Dragoons formed part of Beresford's Allied-Spanish Army at Albuera
during the Peninsular War
. The French army, commanded by Marshal Jean-de-Dieu Soult, Duc de Dalmatie
, was attempting to relieve the French garrison of the border fortress of Badajoz. Only after bloody and fierce fighting, and the steadfastness of the British infantry, did the allies carry the day. The 13th Light Dragoons, who were unbrigaded, along with the 3rd Dragoon Guards
and the 4th Dragoons under Brigadier George Grey, plus a brigade of Portuguese dragoons, formed the cavalry force commanded by, initially, Brigadier Robert Ballard Long
, and later in the battle by Major General Sir William Lumley. The 13th numbered 403 in four squadrons equipped with Paget light cavalry carbine and 1796 pattern sabre
.
On the 21 June 1813, the regiment saw action at the Battle of Vittoria; the last major battle against Napoleon's forces in Spain opening the way for the British forces to invade France. The Allied army under the command of Lieutenant General Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington
decisively defeated the French army under Joseph Bonaparte
, King of Spain and brother of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Along with the 10th Light Dragoons and 15th Light Dragoons, the 13th Light Dragoons formed the 2nd Brigade (part of the right centre column), commanded by Colonel Colquohon Grant
.
Light dragoons before 1812 wore a dark blue, braided, dolman
jacket and a leather "Tarleton" helmet with a bearskin crest. After the uniform changes of 1812, often not fully implemented until 1813, light dragoons wore dark blue jackets with short tails and a bell-topped shako
. Wellington criticised the new uniform as being too similar to French uniforms and likely to cause mistakes in identification at a distance. Other battle honours of the 13th Light Dragoons during the Peninsular War include the Battle of Orthez
and the Battle of Toulouse
.
On 18 June 1815, the armies of Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
and Generalfeldmarschall Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
decisively defeated the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo
.
In total ten troops of the regiment, consisting of 895 men and 775 horses were readied for service. The 13th commanded by Lt-Colonel Patrick Doherty (later replaced due to illness by Lt-Colonel Boyse who in turn, after being wounded in the battle, was replaced by Major B. Lawrence), along with 3rd King's German Hussars of the King's German Legion
formed part of the 7th Cavalry Brigade under Colonel Sir F V Arentschildt. All cavalry was commanded by the Earl of Uxbridge
.
On the 17 June the regiment was ordered to join the 5th Cavalry Brigade (consisting of the 7th Hussars and 15th Hussars) under Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant
. On the morning of the battle, 18 June, Grant moved to the right centre of the position occupied by the army, taking up its position in the rear of the Brigade of Guards commanded by Major-General Byng.
Initially the brigade saw little action, however, when the French pushed forward with two columns of cavalry and infantry to force the British position, the cavalry brigade received orders to charge. The enemy broke and were pursued until other French cavalry on the left flank were detected. The brigade then retired behind the infantry until Lord Uxbridge and Lord Hill ordered the 13th forward again; this time against a square of French infantry. The enemy were completely routed, and dispersed.
The late afternoon brought renewed French attacks with infantry and cavalry in a last effort to win the day. The brigade, along with Major-General Dornberg’s 3rd Cavalry Brigade on the left, attacked a heavy column of French infantry. An officer of the 13th wrote:
Although sustaining heavy fire, the attack was again successful and the enemy routed. In total the 13th Light Dragoons at Waterloo
suffered 99 casualties with 113 horses lost.
, Bulgaria
on the 2 June. On the 28 August the entire Light Brigade (consisting of the 4th Light Dragoons and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers
, the 8th Hussars and 11th Hussars
, under the command of Major General the Earl of Cardigan
) were inspected by Lord Lucan; five men of the 13th had already succumbed to cholera
. On the 1 September the regiment embarked for the Crimea
- a further three men dying en-route.
On the 20 September the regiment, as part the Light Brigade, took part in the first major engagement of the Crimean War
, the Battle of the Alma. The Light Brigade covered the left flank, although the regiment’s role in the battle was minimal. With the Russians in full retreat by late afternoon, Lord Lucan ordered the Light Brigade to pursue the fleeing enemy. However, the brigade was recalled by Lord Raglan
as the Russians had kept some 3,000 uncommitted cavalry in reserve.
According to regimental records, by the 25 October the 13th Light Dragoons had a parade state of 128 officers and men. However, other records state the number could have been as low as 103 out of a total strength of the Light Brigade of 673. Regimental records do not state who was in overall command of the regiment.
During the 25 October the regiment, as part of the Light Brigade, took part in the Battle of Balaclava
and the famous Charge of the Light Brigade
. At Balaclava A, B, D, and E troops were engaged:
The A and B troops formed one squadron, the A troop being on the extreme right of the line. The D and E troops formed the other, E troop being on the left of the other squadron. The officers with the depot troops (troops C and F) in England were Captains Holden and the Hon. John Hely Hutchinson; Lieutenant Clayton and Lieutenant Davis; and Cornets Dearden and Fielden.
The 13th Light Dragoons formed the right of the front line along with the 17th Lancers
on the left. The 13th and 17th moved forward; after 100 yards the 11th Hussars
, in the second line, also moved off followed by the 4th and 8th. It was not long before the brigade came under heavy Russian fire. Lord Cardigan, at the front of his men, charged into the Russian guns receiving a slight wound. He was soon followed by the 13th and 17th. The two squadrons of the 13th and the right squadron of the 17th were soon cutting down the artillerymen that had remained at their posts. Once the Russian guns had been passed, they engaged in a hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy that was endeavouring to surround them by closing in on either flank. However, the Light Brigade having insufficient forces and suffering heavy casualties, were soon forced to retire.
The 13th Light Dragoons lost three officers in the charge: Captains Oldham and Goad and Cornet Montgomery. Troop Sergeant-Major Weston, and ten rank and file were also killed. Two Troop Sergeant-Majors and 30 rank and file were wounded, while 10 rank and file were taken prisoner. However, the valorous conduct of the 13th Light Dragoons during the charge earned the regiment a Victoria Cross
awarded to Lance-Sergeant Joseph Malone of the E Troop.
During the Crimean War the 13th also took part in the Battle of Inkerman
. The brigade played a minor role, although Captain Jenyns complained:
The 13th Light Dragoons also took part in the Siege of Sevastopol, 1855, as part of the 2nd Light Brigade under Colonel George Paget.
, Afghanistan
(during the Second Anglo-Afghan War
) and South Africa
(during the Second Boer War
).
The 13th Hussars served in India and Afghanistan from 1874 to 1884. There is little to chronicle in this relatively quiet period for the regiment. However, it is worth noting that in 1876 R.S.S. Baden-Powell
joined his first regiment, the 13th Hussars, in India. The founder of the Scout
movement also served with the regiment in Afghanistan, South Africa and on home service in England. In 1911, he would be appointed Colonel of the Regiment.
On November 14 the 13th Hussars, after more than ten years in India, embarked on board the Serapis at Bombay for England.
On 5 December 1899 the 13th disembarked at Durban
, South Africa
. The 13th Hussars along with the Royal Dragoons
and the 14th Hussars formed Colonel Burn-Murdoch’s Brigade; part of the force sent to relief the besieged town of Ladysmith
being invested by the Boers. However, the regiment’s role in the battle was minor.
, moved from Meerut in India to France; arriving in Marseilles in 1914. The Meerut Brigade served in the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division
where for the next two years the regiment saw action in the western front in France
and Flanders
. The regiment fought both in the trenches and in their mounted role.
In July 1916, the brigade left the division and moved to Mesopotamia
where, together with the 13th Lancers and the 14th Lancers
, it formed part of the 7th Indian Cavalry Brigade
. The regiment's battle honours include Kut al Amara
1917 and the capture of Baghdad
in March 1917. The 13th Hussars also saw action at the last battle of the Mesopotamian front, the Battle of Sharqat
, where they made a mounted charge against Turkish guns across a flat plain to the foot of the hill the guns were on before making a further dismounted bayonet charge to take them. The action saw the British regional Commander-in-Chief Sir William Marshall secure control of the Mosul
oilfields north of Baghdad.
After the war the army reduced in size. In 1922 the 13th Hussars amalgamated with the 18th Royal Hussars
(Queen Mary’s Own) to form the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
).
1722 11.19 - F.M. Sir Robert Rich
1725 09.20 - Maj-Gen. William (Stanhope), 1st Earl of Harrington
1730 07.07 - Lt-Gen. Henry Hawley
1740 05.12 - Col. Robert Dalway
1741 01.09 - Lt-Gen. Humphrey Bland
1743 04.18 - Col. James Gardiner
1745 10.01 - Col. Francis Ligonier
1746 03.03 - Col. Peter Naison
1751 01.26 - Maj-Gen. Sir Charles Armand Powlett
, KB
1751 12.21 - F.M. Henry Seymour Conway
1754 07.08 - Gen. John Mostyn
1758 10.18 - Lt-Gen. Archibald Douglas
1778 11.27 - Lt-Gen. Sir Richard Pierson, KB
1781 02.15 - Gen. Francis Craig
1811 12.30 - Gen. Hon. Sir Henry George Grey, GCB, GCH
1845 01.29 - Gen. Hon. Edward Pyndar Lygon, CB
1860 11.12 - Lt-Gen. Allan Thomas Maclean
(1861- changed to 13th Hussars)
1868 12.10 - Gen. John Lawrenson
1883 10.31 - Lt-Gen. Broadley Harrison
1890 07.01 - Lt-Gen. Richard Buckley Prettejohn, CB
1891 01.05 - Gen. Sir Wiliam Henry Seymour, KCB
1894 01.20 - Gen. Sir Baker Creed Russell, GCB, KCMG
1911 11.26 - Lt-Gen. Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB
(1922 amalgamated with the 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) to form the
13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
)
Cavalry regiments of the British Army
There are currently nine regular cavalry regiments of the British Army, with two tank regiments provided by the Royal Tank Regiment, traditionally classed alongside the cavalry, for a total of eleven regiments. Of these, five serve as armoured regiments, and five as formation reconnaissance...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
whose battle honours include Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and The Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
. 1n 1922, the regiment was amalgamated with the 18th (Queen Mary's Own) Royal Hussars, to form the 13th/18th Hussars.
Regimental history
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
light dragoons were first raised in the 18th century. Initially they formed part of a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
performing scouting, reconnaissance and the like, but due to their successes in this role, (and also in charging and harassing the enemy), they soon acquired a reputation for courage and skill. Whole regiments dedicated to this role were soon raised; the 15th Light Dragoons were the first, followed by the 18th Light Dragoons and the 19th Light Dragoons
19th Light Dragoons
The 19th Light Dragoons was a cavalry regiment of the British Army created in 1781 for service in British India. The regiment served in India until 1806, and in North America during the War of 1812, and was disbanded in Britain in 1821.-Formation:...
.
The 13th Light Dragoons were initially heavy dragoons known as Richard Munden’s Regiment of Dragoons. By 1751 the regiment title was simplified to the 13th Regiment of Dragoons and by 1783 they had been converted to the light role. In 1861 the regiment changed its name to the 13th Hussars and in 1922 it amalgamated with the 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) to form the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
The 13th/18th Royal Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-Formation:On 9 September 1922, the 13th/18th Hussars was formed by amalgamation of the 13th Hussars and the 18th Royal Hussars . In December 1935, it became known as the 13th/18th Royal Hussars ...
. The 13th/18th were in turn consolidated with the 15th/19th King’s Hussars
15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars
The 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was created as part of the reduction in the cavalry in the aftermath of World War I. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 15th The King's Hussars and the 19th Royal Hussars on 11 April 1922, becoming the...
to form the Light Dragoons in 1992.
The 13th light Dragoons served around the world including in the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
, at Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and in the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
.
The Peninsular War
At Campo MayorBattle of Campo Maior
In the Battle of Campo Maior, or Campo Mayor , on 25 March 1811, Brigadier General Robert Ballard Long with a force of Anglo-Portuguese cavalry, the advance-guard of the army commanded by William Beresford, clashed with a French force commanded by General of Division Marie Victor de Fay, marquis de...
on the Spanish-Portuguese border (25 March 1811) a clash occurred between British and Portuguese cavalry, under Robert Ballard Long
Robert Ballard Long
Lieutenant-General Robert Ballard Long was an officer of the British and Hanoverian Armies who despite extensive service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars never managed to achieve high command due to his abrasive manner with his superiors and his alleged tactical ineptitude...
, and a force of French infantry and cavalry under General Latour-Maubourg
Marie Victor de Fay, marquis de Latour-Maubourg
Marie Victor Nicolas de Fay, marquis de Latour-Maubourg was a French cavalry commander starting under the Ancien Régime of France, and rising to prominence during the First French Empire...
. This was to be one of the 13th Light Dragoons most famous and infamous actions. The 13th, two and a half squadrons strong, led by Colonel Michael Head, charged and routed a superior French cavalry force of no less than six squadrons. The 13th, with two Portuguese squadrons, then went on to pursue the French for seven miles to the outskirts of Badajoz
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
. The report reaching Lord Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
seems to have glossed over the epic quality of the charge and emphasised the overlong pursuit. After receiving Marshal Beresford
William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford
General William Carr Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford, 1st Marquis of Campo Maior, GCB, GCH, GCTE, PC , was a British soldier and politician...
's report, Wellington issued a particularly harsh reprimand to the 13th LD calling them "a rabble" and threatening to remove their horses from them and send the regiment to do duty at Lisbon. The officers of the regiment then wrote a collective letter to Wellington detailing the particulars of the action. Wellington is reported as saying that had he known the full facts he would never have issued the reprimand. The historian Sir John Fortescue wrote, "Of the performance of Thirteenth, who did not exceed two hundred men, in defeating twice or thrice their numbers single-handed, it is difficult to speak too highly."
On the 16 May 1811, the 13th Light Dragoons formed part of Beresford's Allied-Spanish Army at Albuera
Battle of Albuera
The Battle of Albuera was an indecisive battle during the Peninsular War. A mixed British, Spanish and Portuguese corps engaged elements of the French Armée du Midi at the small Spanish village of Albuera, about 20 kilometres south of the frontier fortress-town of Badajoz, Spain.From...
during the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
. The French army, commanded by Marshal Jean-de-Dieu Soult, Duc de Dalmatie
Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult
Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duke of Dalmatia , the Hand of Iron, was a French general and statesman, named Marshal of the Empire in 1804. He was one of only six officers in French history to receive the distinction of Marshal General of France...
, was attempting to relieve the French garrison of the border fortress of Badajoz. Only after bloody and fierce fighting, and the steadfastness of the British infantry, did the allies carry the day. The 13th Light Dragoons, who were unbrigaded, along with the 3rd Dragoon Guards
3rd Dragoon Guards
The 3rd Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 3rd/6th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
and the 4th Dragoons under Brigadier George Grey, plus a brigade of Portuguese dragoons, formed the cavalry force commanded by, initially, Brigadier Robert Ballard Long
Robert Ballard Long
Lieutenant-General Robert Ballard Long was an officer of the British and Hanoverian Armies who despite extensive service during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars never managed to achieve high command due to his abrasive manner with his superiors and his alleged tactical ineptitude...
, and later in the battle by Major General Sir William Lumley. The 13th numbered 403 in four squadrons equipped with Paget light cavalry carbine and 1796 pattern sabre
Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre
The Pattern 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre, is a sword that was used primarily by British Light Dragoons and hussars, and King's German Legion light cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars...
.
On the 21 June 1813, the regiment saw action at the Battle of Vittoria; the last major battle against Napoleon's forces in Spain opening the way for the British forces to invade France. The Allied army under the command of Lieutenant General Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
decisively defeated the French army under Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who made him King of Naples and Sicily , and later King of Spain...
, King of Spain and brother of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Along with the 10th Light Dragoons and 15th Light Dragoons, the 13th Light Dragoons formed the 2nd Brigade (part of the right centre column), commanded by Colonel Colquohon Grant
Colquhoun Grant (British cavalry general)
Lieutenant General Sir John Colquhoun Grant KCB was a British soldier.-Military career:Sir Colquhoun Grant in joined the 36th Regiment as an ensign in 1793, exchanging to the cavalry , with which he served at Seringapatam, but returning to the infantry in 1802 to command the 72nd regiment, which...
.
Light dragoons before 1812 wore a dark blue, braided, dolman
Dolman
A Dolman Originally, the term referred to a long and loose garment with narrow sleeves and an opening in the front. It was worn generally by the Turks, and is not unlike a cassock in shape.-Military dolman:...
jacket and a leather "Tarleton" helmet with a bearskin crest. After the uniform changes of 1812, often not fully implemented until 1813, light dragoons wore dark blue jackets with short tails and a bell-topped shako
Shako
A shako is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a peak or visor and sometimes tapered at the top...
. Wellington criticised the new uniform as being too similar to French uniforms and likely to cause mistakes in identification at a distance. Other battle honours of the 13th Light Dragoons during the Peninsular War include the Battle of Orthez
Battle of Orthez
The Battle of Orthez saw the Anglo-Portuguese Army under Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington defeat a French army led by Marshal Nicolas Soult in southern France near the end of the Peninsular War.-Preliminaries:...
and the Battle of Toulouse
Battle of Toulouse (1814)
The Battle of Toulouse was one of the final battles of the Napoleonic Wars, four days after Napoleon's surrender of the French Empire to the nations of the Sixth Coalition...
.
Waterloo
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
and Generalfeldmarschall Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Fürst von Wahlstatt , Graf , later elevated to Fürst von Wahlstatt, was a Prussian Generalfeldmarschall who led his army against Napoleon I at the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig in 1813 and at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 with the Duke of Wellington.He is...
decisively defeated the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
.
In total ten troops of the regiment, consisting of 895 men and 775 horses were readied for service. The 13th commanded by Lt-Colonel Patrick Doherty (later replaced due to illness by Lt-Colonel Boyse who in turn, after being wounded in the battle, was replaced by Major B. Lawrence), along with 3rd King's German Hussars of the King's German Legion
King's German Legion
The King's German Legion was a British Army unit of expatriate German personnel, 1803–16. The Legion achieved the distinction of being the only German force to fight without interruption against the French during the Napoleonic Wars....
formed part of the 7th Cavalry Brigade under Colonel Sir F V Arentschildt. All cavalry was commanded by the Earl of Uxbridge
Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey
Field Marshal Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, KG, GCB, GCH, PC , styled Lord Paget between 1784 and 1812 and known as The Earl of Uxbridge between 1812 and 1815, was a British military leader and politician, now chiefly remembered for leading the charge of the heavy cavalry against...
.
On the 17 June the regiment was ordered to join the 5th Cavalry Brigade (consisting of the 7th Hussars and 15th Hussars) under Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant
Colquhoun Grant (British cavalry general)
Lieutenant General Sir John Colquhoun Grant KCB was a British soldier.-Military career:Sir Colquhoun Grant in joined the 36th Regiment as an ensign in 1793, exchanging to the cavalry , with which he served at Seringapatam, but returning to the infantry in 1802 to command the 72nd regiment, which...
. On the morning of the battle, 18 June, Grant moved to the right centre of the position occupied by the army, taking up its position in the rear of the Brigade of Guards commanded by Major-General Byng.
Initially the brigade saw little action, however, when the French pushed forward with two columns of cavalry and infantry to force the British position, the cavalry brigade received orders to charge. The enemy broke and were pursued until other French cavalry on the left flank were detected. The brigade then retired behind the infantry until Lord Uxbridge and Lord Hill ordered the 13th forward again; this time against a square of French infantry. The enemy were completely routed, and dispersed.
The late afternoon brought renewed French attacks with infantry and cavalry in a last effort to win the day. The brigade, along with Major-General Dornberg’s 3rd Cavalry Brigade on the left, attacked a heavy column of French infantry. An officer of the 13th wrote:
Our last and most brilliant charge, was at the moment that Lord Hill, perceiving the movement of the Prussian army, and finding the French Imperial Guard on the point of forcing a part of the British position, cried out, - "Drive them back, 13th!" such an order from such a man, could not be misconstrued, and it was punctually obeyed.
Although sustaining heavy fire, the attack was again successful and the enemy routed. In total the 13th Light Dragoons at Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
suffered 99 casualties with 113 horses lost.
The Crimean War
In 1854 the regiment received its orders from the War Office to prepare for service overseas. Five transport ships - Harbinger, Negotiator, Calliope, Cullodon, and the Mary Anne – embarking between the 8 May and 12 May, carried 20 officers, 292 other ranks and 298 horses. After a troubled voyage, the regiment arrived at VarnaVarna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
on the 2 June. On the 28 August the entire Light Brigade (consisting of the 4th Light Dragoons and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers
17th Lancers
The 17th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War...
, the 8th Hussars and 11th Hussars
11th Hussars
The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
, under the command of Major General the Earl of Cardigan
James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan
Lieutenant General James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, KCB , was an officer in the British Army who commanded the Light Brigade during the Crimean War...
) were inspected by Lord Lucan; five men of the 13th had already succumbed to cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
. On the 1 September the regiment embarked for the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
- a further three men dying en-route.
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, the Battle of the Alma. The Light Brigade covered the left flank, although the regiment’s role in the battle was minimal. With the Russians in full retreat by late afternoon, Lord Lucan ordered the Light Brigade to pursue the fleeing enemy. However, the brigade was recalled by Lord Raglan
FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan
Field Marshal FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, GCB, PC , known before 1852 as Lord FitzRoy Somerset, was a British soldier.-Early life:...
as the Russians had kept some 3,000 uncommitted cavalry in reserve.
According to regimental records, by the 25 October the 13th Light Dragoons had a parade state of 128 officers and men. However, other records state the number could have been as low as 103 out of a total strength of the Light Brigade of 673. Regimental records do not state who was in overall command of the regiment.
During the 25 October the regiment, as part of the Light Brigade, took part in the Battle of Balaclava
Battle of Balaclava
The Battle of Balaclava, fought on 25 October 1854 during the Crimean War, was part of the Anglo-French-Turkish campaign to capture the port and fortress of Sevastopol, Russia's principal naval base on the Black Sea...
and the famous Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
. At Balaclava A, B, D, and E troops were engaged:
- A Troop - Captain Oldham and Cornet Montgomery.
- B Troop - Captain Jenyns and Lieutenant Jervis.
- D Troop - Captain Goad and (for a time) Cornet Goad.
- E Troop - Captain Tremayne, Lieutenant Percy Smith, and Cornet Chamberlayne.
The A and B troops formed one squadron, the A troop being on the extreme right of the line. The D and E troops formed the other, E troop being on the left of the other squadron. The officers with the depot troops (troops C and F) in England were Captains Holden and the Hon. John Hely Hutchinson; Lieutenant Clayton and Lieutenant Davis; and Cornets Dearden and Fielden.
The 13th Light Dragoons formed the right of the front line along with the 17th Lancers
17th Lancers
The 17th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War...
on the left. The 13th and 17th moved forward; after 100 yards the 11th Hussars
11th Hussars
The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
, in the second line, also moved off followed by the 4th and 8th. It was not long before the brigade came under heavy Russian fire. Lord Cardigan, at the front of his men, charged into the Russian guns receiving a slight wound. He was soon followed by the 13th and 17th. The two squadrons of the 13th and the right squadron of the 17th were soon cutting down the artillerymen that had remained at their posts. Once the Russian guns had been passed, they engaged in a hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy that was endeavouring to surround them by closing in on either flank. However, the Light Brigade having insufficient forces and suffering heavy casualties, were soon forced to retire.
The 13th Light Dragoons lost three officers in the charge: Captains Oldham and Goad and Cornet Montgomery. Troop Sergeant-Major Weston, and ten rank and file were also killed. Two Troop Sergeant-Majors and 30 rank and file were wounded, while 10 rank and file were taken prisoner. However, the valorous conduct of the 13th Light Dragoons during the charge earned the regiment a Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
awarded to Lance-Sergeant Joseph Malone of the E Troop.
During the Crimean War the 13th also took part in the Battle of Inkerman
Battle of Inkerman
The Battle of Inkerman was fought during the Crimean War on November 5, 1854 between the allied armies of Britain and France against the Imperial Russian Army. The battle broke the will of the Russian Army to defeat the allies in the field, and was followed by the Siege of Sevastopol...
. The brigade played a minor role, although Captain Jenyns complained:
They put us under a very heavy fire at Inkerman, but luckily for us - and no thanks to any General - we had a slight rise on our flank, which ricocheted the balls just over our heads. Some ship's shells bowled over a few men and horses though. It was useless, as we could not act.
The 13th Light Dragoons also took part in the Siege of Sevastopol, 1855, as part of the 2nd Light Brigade under Colonel George Paget.
Renamed to The 13th Hussars
On the 8 April 1861 the 13th Light Dragoons were renamed the 13th Hussars. The regiment’s uniform also changed, influenced by the Austro-Hungarian army. However, the blues, and golds were soon replaced by khaki as the regiment found itself serving in, IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
(during the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
) and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
).
The 13th Hussars served in India and Afghanistan from 1874 to 1884. There is little to chronicle in this relatively quiet period for the regiment. However, it is worth noting that in 1876 R.S.S. Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
joined his first regiment, the 13th Hussars, in India. The founder of the Scout
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
movement also served with the regiment in Afghanistan, South Africa and on home service in England. In 1911, he would be appointed Colonel of the Regiment.
On November 14 the 13th Hussars, after more than ten years in India, embarked on board the Serapis at Bombay for England.
The Second Anglo-Boer War
The 13th Hussars participated in the Second Anglo-Boer War, 1899–1902.On 5 December 1899 the 13th disembarked at Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The 13th Hussars along with the Royal Dragoons
Royal Dragoons
The Royal Dragoons was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed in 1661, and served until 1969, when it was amalgamated with the Royal Horse Guards to form The Blues and Royals....
and the 14th Hussars formed Colonel Burn-Murdoch’s Brigade; part of the force sent to relief the besieged town of Ladysmith
Siege of Ladysmith
The Siege of Ladysmith was a protracted engagement in the Second Boer War, taking place between 30 October 1899 and 28 February 1900 at Ladysmith, Natal.-Background:...
being invested by the Boers. However, the regiment’s role in the battle was minor.
First World War
The regiment, as part of the Meerut Cavalry Brigade7th Indian Cavalry Brigade
The 7th Indian Cavalry Brigade was a formation of the British Indian Army that served during World War I on the Western Front as part of 2nd Indian Cavalry Division and later as an independent brigade in the Mesopotamian Campaign...
, moved from Meerut in India to France; arriving in Marseilles in 1914. The Meerut Brigade served in the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division
2nd Indian Cavalry Division
The 2nd Indian Cavalry Division was a regular division of the British Indian Army during World War I.-History:The division sailed for France from Bombay on October 16, 1914, under the command of Major General G A Cookson. During the war the division would serve in the trenches as infantry...
where for the next two years the regiment saw action in the western front in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
. The regiment fought both in the trenches and in their mounted role.
In July 1916, the brigade left the division and moved to Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
where, together with the 13th Lancers and the 14th Lancers
14th Murray's Jat Lancers
The 14th Murray's Jat Lancers, was a cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army.The regiment was first raised for the East India Company by Captain Murray. Like all regiments of the Indian Army the 14th Murray’s Jat Lancers underwent many name changes in the various reorganisations. They are...
, it formed part of the 7th Indian Cavalry Brigade
7th Indian Cavalry Brigade
The 7th Indian Cavalry Brigade was a formation of the British Indian Army that served during World War I on the Western Front as part of 2nd Indian Cavalry Division and later as an independent brigade in the Mesopotamian Campaign...
. The regiment's battle honours include Kut al Amara
Second Battle of Kut
The Second Battle of Kut was fought on February 23, 1917, between British and Ottoman forces at Kut, Mesopotamia .The battle was part of the British advance to Baghdad begun in December 1916 by a 50,000-man British force organized in two army corps.The British, led by Frederick Stanley Maude,...
1917 and the capture of Baghdad
Fall of Baghdad (1917)
The British Indian Army fought the Ottoman Empire in the First World War. On 11 March 1917, after a series of defeats, it captured Baghdad after a two-year campaign.-Arrival of General Sir Frederick Stanley Maude:...
in March 1917. The 13th Hussars also saw action at the last battle of the Mesopotamian front, the Battle of Sharqat
Battle of Sharqat
The Battle of Sharqat was between the British and the Ottoman Empire in the Mesopotamian Campaign in World War I, which became the final conflict that ended as a result of the signing of armistice....
, where they made a mounted charge against Turkish guns across a flat plain to the foot of the hill the guns were on before making a further dismounted bayonet charge to take them. The action saw the British regional Commander-in-Chief Sir William Marshall secure control of the Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
oilfields north of Baghdad.
After the war the army reduced in size. In 1922 the 13th Hussars amalgamated with the 18th Royal Hussars
18th Royal Hussars
The 18th Royal Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, first formed in 1759. It saw service for two centuries, before being amalgamated into the 13th/18th Hussars in 1922....
(Queen Mary’s Own) to form the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
The 13th/18th Royal Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-Formation:On 9 September 1922, the 13th/18th Hussars was formed by amalgamation of the 13th Hussars and the 18th Royal Hussars . In December 1935, it became known as the 13th/18th Royal Hussars ...
).
Regimental Colonels
1715 07.22 - Brig-Gen. Richard Munden1722 11.19 - F.M. Sir Robert Rich
1725 09.20 - Maj-Gen. William (Stanhope), 1st Earl of Harrington
1730 07.07 - Lt-Gen. Henry Hawley
1740 05.12 - Col. Robert Dalway
1741 01.09 - Lt-Gen. Humphrey Bland
1743 04.18 - Col. James Gardiner
1745 10.01 - Col. Francis Ligonier
1746 03.03 - Col. Peter Naison
1751 01.26 - Maj-Gen. Sir Charles Armand Powlett
Charles Armand Powlett
Major General Sir Charles Armand Powlett, KB was a British soldier. He was the younger son of Lord William Powlett, brother of the second Duke of Bolton, by his wife Louisa, daughter of Armand Nompar de Caumont, Marquis de Montpouillon, and granddaughter of Henri Nompar de Caumont, 3rd Duc de La...
, KB
1751 12.21 - F.M. Henry Seymour Conway
Henry Seymour Conway
Field Marshal Henry Seymour Conway was a British general and statesman. A brother of the 1st Marquess of Hertford, and cousin of Horace Walpole, he began his military career in the War of the Austrian Succession and eventually rose to the rank of Field Marshal .-Family and education:Conway was...
1754 07.08 - Gen. John Mostyn
1758 10.18 - Lt-Gen. Archibald Douglas
1778 11.27 - Lt-Gen. Sir Richard Pierson, KB
1781 02.15 - Gen. Francis Craig
1811 12.30 - Gen. Hon. Sir Henry George Grey, GCB, GCH
1845 01.29 - Gen. Hon. Edward Pyndar Lygon, CB
1860 11.12 - Lt-Gen. Allan Thomas Maclean
(1861- changed to 13th Hussars)
1868 12.10 - Gen. John Lawrenson
1883 10.31 - Lt-Gen. Broadley Harrison
1890 07.01 - Lt-Gen. Richard Buckley Prettejohn, CB
1891 01.05 - Gen. Sir Wiliam Henry Seymour, KCB
1894 01.20 - Gen. Sir Baker Creed Russell, GCB, KCMG
1911 11.26 - Lt-Gen. Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB
(1922 amalgamated with the 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) to form the
13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
The 13th/18th Royal Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-Formation:On 9 September 1922, the 13th/18th Hussars was formed by amalgamation of the 13th Hussars and the 18th Royal Hussars . In December 1935, it became known as the 13th/18th Royal Hussars ...
)
Battle Honours
- Albuhera, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse, Peninsula, Waterloo, Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, Sevastopol, Relief of Ladysmith, South Africa 1899-1902
- The Great War: France and Flanders 1914-16, Kut al Amara 1917, Baghdad, Sharqat, Mesopotamia 1916-18