In 1685 the Earl of Plymouth raised a troop of Cuirassiers in response to the Monmouth Rebellion. See my post from December 2014, covering the rebellion and Battle of Sedgemoor.
In a previous post I covered the history of the 4th Queen's Own Dragoons that could trace their history back to the Monmouth Rebellion.
4th Queens Own Regiment of Dragoons
Unlike the 4th Dragoons which had been raised in support of the Duke of Monmouth's ill fated expedition, the Earl of Plymouth's regiment was part of King James' army sent to suppress the rebellion, and following the fall of King James in 1688 was merged with other units to form the 4th Regiment of Horse in the new army of King William III.
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| Thomas Windsor Hickman - 1st Earl of Plymouth 1627 -1687 Gainsborough Old Hall |
Following the end of the war, the next thirty years were comparatively quiet and saw the the regiment
converted to Dragoon Guards, as the 3rd Dragoon Guards in 1741 and accorded the title of "Prince of Wales Regiment of Dragoon Guards" in 1765.
The regiment landed at Lisbon between the 22nd and 27th of April 1809 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Granby Thomas Calcraft and were re-acquainted with the successors of their old foes from 1685, the 4th Queens Own Dragoons in the new British Heavy Cavalry brigade under Major General Henry Fane.
The brigade and the regiment took its first steps on to the stage that was the Peninsular War when it marched into the Tagus Valley in the summer of 1809 to see action if somewhat limited when it formed part of Sir Arthur Wellesley's cavalry reserve at the Battle of Talavera. The 3rd Dragoon Guards would go on to become a veteran regiment in the Peninsular War and would see service at Talavera, Albuera, and Vittoria and would join the British army in Belgium after Waterloo.
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| 3rd Dragoon Guards Trooper circa 1811 by Bryan Fosten |
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| The 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sabre - note the hatchet tip to the blade |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1796_Heavy_Cavalry_Sword
This weapon has been described as a poor design, certainly when compared with the Light Cavalry pattern of the same year designed by the great cavalry leader General Le Marchant.
All British cavalry were trained to use the cut with infantry and on first contact with cavalry, really only using the point when enemy cavalry turned, presenting their backs. The sabre was a devastating weapon to be cut with but was less likely to kill than when using the point, as was French practise.
The hatchet end of the blade designed to encourage the cut was unusable as a point to kill and some soldiers, like Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys, made field modifications by having the farrier grind the weapon to a point.
My 3rd Dragoon Guards are composed of figures from AB
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| Major General Henry Fane with the Heavy Cavalry Brigade - 4th Dragoons and 3rd Dragoon Guards |
http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/3rd-dragoon-guards-prince-wales
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_Dragoon_Guards
http://matej16.deviantart.com/art/Soldiers-of-the-3rd-Regiment-of-Dragoon-Guards-351719332
Other sources used in this post
Wellington's Military Machine - Philip J Haythornthwaite
So the with the British heavy cavalry done, I just have two battalions of line infantry, some artillery limbers and a few general officers to do to complete Wellesley's British army. However the next few months will see the start of work on the twenty four battalions of French line infantry, and the seven battalions of Spanish infantry from Bassecourt's Division.
So next unit up is the first battalion, 24e Regiment de Ligne, the senior line regiment in General Ruffin's division.
Great stuff as usual. Is there a story behind the chap with the stovepipe Shako? No mean task 24 French infantry battalions! Good luck
ReplyDeleteThank you Rupert. The stovepipe is actually a water cap, a form or mirlton that was worn alongside the more formal bicorne and not an uncommon alternative headdress for British heavy cavalry in the Peninsula.
DeleteYes the French infantry are a challenge, but one I have been looking forward to, not having painted French line infantry for quite a few years now and I am enjoying pouring over the Otto manuscript that depicts all the regiments involved as they were in 1807.
Cheers
JJ
Very very nice indeed. I'm just about to start my Napoleonic project and this is just the kind of inspiration I need.
ReplyDeleteJames
Hi James, thank you. I saw your proposed list of units, and look forward to seeing the new armies.
DeleteCheers
JJ
Lovely, lovely work, and I enjoy the history readings besides. I do think the 1796 Heavy Cav sabre is a beautiful piece of kit, but obviously it had it's shortcomings.
ReplyDeleteThe more I read about Marlborough, the more I want a collection for WSS. :) "To serve the queen that's good and kind" :)
Hi Anna, thank you.
DeleteYes the sabre was a formidable weapon but poorly designed for cutting, the light cavalry sabre being much better for the job. I did a review of Ian Fletcher's "Galloping at Everything" which is a brilliant read on the British cavalry of this period and does a very good analysis of the tactics and the weapons used.
The WSS is a very interesting period, and I too would like to build some armies of the period, preferably in 18mm so I can use my terrain. I have thought about doing a collection for Spain & Portugal where the armies are more manageable and my terrain would work. Now you've got me thinking!
Absolutely first class work Jonathan I will have to order some I have never painted 15mm cavalry before .
ReplyDeleteRegards Furphy .
Thanks Furphy, go for it. Check out the AB, they are an 18mm figure, larger than a true 15mm but as you can see the detail and design are really worth it
DeleteCheers
JJ
Hi JJ, I have been trying to wind down my collection after a mammoth arrival of new kit but now I might need to get some of these in 28mm, however no one really makes a range as good as these are in 15mm!!! Did they not carry a flag at all?
ReplyDeletePresently sorting the last of my Portuguese Division (and others) on hols in north Devon - perfectly quiet and peaceful and happily no phone signal!!!
Best wishes, JeremyJ
Hi Jeremy,
DeleteThanks mate, and go careful in North Devon, it's frontier country up there, with plenty of "Burnings".
I'm not up to speed on 28mm offerings for British Cavalry, but I would have thought Front Rank or Perry might have some nice figures. I have a slight problem with the AB range when I get to 1812, as the KGL Heavies really need to be in overalls rather than the riding boots on these British units, but I don't think I can get a suitable figure, ho hum. Perhaps Warmodelling might come up with something now Mike Oliver is revamping the range, or I do the units in watering caps which are wearing overalls.
The question of flag carrying by cavalry is an interesting one in that it was not unknown for them to be carried, but not the norm.
The basic reasoning being that cavalry operated in squadrons, like infantry operated in battalions, and thus a regimental banner for rallying purposes was superfluous to their needs, not so for infantry. British cavalry left their standards back in the depot, and I reckon most other nations probably did so as well. But hey, I don't have a problem seeing them on the table and they're your units to do with as you will. They do look very pretty as well.
Cheers
JJ