Hounslow Heath 1822

Reviews were occasionally held on Hounslow Heath for regiments serving in England. In July 1917 there was a review for regiments recently returned from the Peninsula. The Duke of York inspected the 14th LD who had returned from France only days before. During the latter part of the war they had been called the Ragged Brigade but at the review on the Heath the Duke commented on the regiment that 'they appear as if they had never been on service'. This detail from a painting by Denis Dighton in the Royal Collection shows the 14th Light Dragoons demonstrating their firing drill in front of an audience at a later review on Hounslow Heath on 1 June 1822. The troopers are easily identifiable by their orange-fronted uniforms. Other units include the 9th Lancers, on the left, and the 10th Hussars in the background. In the middle distance is the Duke of York with other generals and staff. In the foreground is a general officer of hussars with civilian admirers.

Regimental Details