10th or Prince of Wales’s Own Light Dragoons

The Hon Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby

Frederick Ponsonby was born on 6 July 1783, the second son of the 3rd Earl of Bessborough. He was educated at Harrow and commissioned into the 10th Light Dragoons in Jan 1801. He reached the rank of captain on 20 Aug 1803, and exchanged to the 60th Rifles in April 1806. He served in the Peninsula War with the 23rd Light Dragoons and fought at Talavera. He was a lieutenant-colonel on 15 Mar 1810 and on 11 June 1811 was appointed commanding officer of the 12th Light Dragoons. He distinguished himself at many battles in the Peninsula war. He fought at the battle of Waterloo and fell victim to so many injuries and outrages that it is a miracle that he survived. His light cavalry brigade charged too far and he was knocked off his horse. Both arms were wounded but as he lay helpless he was speared by a French lancer. He was then robbed, but soon afterwards received some kind treatment from a French officer of the Imperial Guard Dragoons. Another French soldier used his body as a shield to fire over, and later on, some Prussian cavalry rode over him. He lay there all night and was roughed up by a looter. His legs were wounded and made worse when a British dragoon fell on them and lay dying. Finally a soldier of the 40th Foot discovered him and watched over him for the rest of the night. In the morning he was taken by cart to a surgeon who treated him for 7 major wounds. The treatment he was given included bleeding him of 3.5 litres of blood over 2 days, but he survived and convalesced under the supervision of Lady Caroline Lamb. When he was fully recovered he was posted to the Ionian Islands where he commanded the garrison from May 1825. But 18 months later he was appointed governor of Malta, a post he retained until Sep 1836. He was Colonel of two regiments: 86th Foot from Dec 1835 to Mar 1836, and the Royal Dragoons from Mar 1836 until his death on 11 Jan 1837. He reached the rank of major-general and was GCMG, KCB and KCH. He died suddenly at an inn near Basingstoke and was buried at St Nicholas Church, Hatherop, Gloucestershire. A memorial to him was erected in Valletta in 1838, but it was struck by lightning in 1864, although the plinth base still stands. He was married, on 16 Mar 1825, to Lady Emily Bathurst daughter of the 3rd Earl of Bathurst. they had 3 sons and 3 daughters. The portrait is by Thomas Heaphy, painted shortly before the battle of Waterloo.

Regimental Details | Soldiers