‘From the early Middle Ages Scotland, poor and turbulent, sent many of her sons abroad for a livelihood, and the profession of arms was the easiest to follow. In France especially, they were welcome, and in 1419, the 7,000 men whom John Stuart, Earl of Buchan, brought to assist the French against the English, linked up Scotland for good with the French army. Buchan became Constable of France, and though his victory at Beaugé was annulled by his defeat and death at Verneuil, a Scottish nucleus remained. Younger sons of famous Scottish houses were recruited in each generation for the Gens d’Armes Ecossais, and the close military association is shown by the troops which Henri IV raised in Scotland in 1590 for his war against the [Catholic] League. That is the first strain in the ancestry of the Royal Scots.

The second had its beginnings in 1620 when Sir Andrew Grey raised a regiment for the service of the ‘Queen of Hearts’ [Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James I, married to Frederick, Prince Palatine of the Rhine. She was the mother of Electress Sophia of Hanover and grandmother of George I]. It was constituted, as the Scottish regiments in the 18th century were said to have been constituted, of ‘the flower of the Scottish gaols, commanded by the flower of the Scottish gentry’ for it drew largely upon Border moss-troopers and broken Highland clans. But it was a formidable fighting force, and presumably, in one of its officers, John Hepburn, it found a leader of genius. It fought for the Elector Palatine, for the King of Denmark, and ultimately, accreting to itself other Scottish detachments, it became the famous green Brigade of Gustavus Adolphus.’

Gustavus Adolphus

Pikeman & Musketeer

The Green Brigade, fresh from their victory at Leipzig went on to occupy Würzburg and Marienburg. They entered Munich on 7 May 1632 and Hepburn was appointed military governor. It was here that Sir John and the King ended their collaboration. It is said that Gustavus taunted Hepburn about his religion and ‘the splendour of his dress’. Their contract would have ended in that year anyway as Gustavus was killed at the Battle of Lützen in November 1632.

Le Régiment d’Hebron

Sir John Hepburn returned to Britain and was welcomed by King Charles I who ratified his knighthood. It was a common practice at that time for a monarch to send a regiment to serve their counterpart in a foreign country. Thus it was that on 28 March 1633 Charles commissioned Sir John to raise a regiment of Scotsmen to serve in France under Louis XIII. France had employed Scottish soldiers since 1421 and men from the Gardes Ecossaises and the Scottish Archers were recruited to the Régiment d’Hebron, so that the origins of the Royal Scots can be dated far back in time, prompting the nickname Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguard. Recruits from Scotland and men who had served in the Green Brigade of the Swedish army swelled the ranks so that by 1635 Hepburn commanded 8,000 men.

Le Régiment de Douglas

James Douglas was succeeded by his brother Archibald Douglas, styled Earl of Angus in 1613 at the age of 4. He was not active as Colonel spending most of his time in Scotland where he died in October 1655. Another member of the Douglas family then became Colonel, Lord George who was created Earl of Dumbarton in 1675. The regiment was still serving in the French army which had been under the control of Louis XIV since his father Louis XIII had died in 1643. In 1672 Louis declared war on the Protestant Dutch Republic and the regiment were required to take part, in an army led by Turenne. This proved unpopular in Britain where anti-Catholic feelings ran high. When the war ended in 1678 the regiment returned to Britain, but Dumbarton, as a Catholic, was removed from the colonelcy. The regiment’s service under the English crown began in January 1679, and six years later, when the Catholic King James II came to the throne, Dumbarton was briefly restored to the command.

Tangier 1680

The port of Tangier in Morocco had come into the possession of the English in 1661 when Charles II married the Portuguese Infanta Catherine of Braganza. It was strategically important as it was placed on the other side of the Straits of Gibraltar and able to control entry into the Mediterranean. The garrison came under constant attack by Moors so twelve more companies of Dumbarton’s followed on to join the original four. As well as Dumbartons, there was the Tangier Regiment (2nd Queen’s), the 2nd Tangier Regiment (4th King’s Own), The Duke of York’s (disbanded in the 1690s), The Holland Regiment (The 3rd Buffs), and a composite Guards Battalion as well as further reinforcements. But the situation became untenable and very expensive so in 1683 King Charles ordered Tangier to be evacuated and abandoned. The harbour wall and fortifications were destroyed with explosives and in 1684 Dumbartons Regiment left, and went into quarters at Rochester.

Dumbarton’s Regiment provided five companies and was led by Major Robert Douglas who later became Colonel of the regiment. They and the other units, led by the Earl of Feversham, were seasoned fighters, mostly veterans of the battles at Tangier. Monmouth led his army out of Bridgewater and proceeded southeast to Sedgemoor to mount a surprise night-time attack on the King’s forces. But they met with a Royalist patrol who sent a galloper to Feversham and the army was put on the alert. Monmouth’s cavalry had the misfortune to be led by Ford Grey, Earl of Tankerville, a cowardly man who later avoided punishment by betraying his associates in the rebellion. The night-time battle lasted until dawn. Dumbarton’s regiment was on the right of the line and outflanked the rebels who had been stalled at the Bussex Rhyne. However, they suffered many casualties, mostly from Monmouth’s three pieces of artillery. Many of the wounded were returned to London where they became the first patients at the newly established Royal Hospital at Chelsea. The Royalist army lost 80 killed and 220 wounded while the rebels lost 1,400 in the battle. The rebels were routed and ruthlessly pursued. Many were shot where they hid in ditches but there were scores of executions carried out in a horrific way, victims of the infamous Judge Jeffreys’ Bloody Assizes.

There was a purge of Catholic officers and the Earl of Feversham was ordered by William to disband certain regiments without pay. Many soldiers deserted with their weapons which worried the authorities enough to countermand the disbandment order to encourage deserters to return, with a promise of impunity. The atmosphere of uncertainty brought low morale and a lack of discipline which did not improve when William and Mary were proclaimed King and Queen in February 1689. The reaction amongst the population was mixed, and the soldiers billeted in towns and villages did not know how to react to demonstrations against the new monarchy.

The fear of the army becoming uncontrollable brought about the idea of introducing the Mutiny Act. The need for this became an imperative when, in March, regiments were ordered abroad to reinforce Britain’s Dutch allies against the threat of a French invasion. One English unit, Prince George’s Regiment of Foot, mutinied at Brentford on 13 March. Some were persuaded to obey orders but at the end of the day 150 out of 600 were AWOL. Things became worse when they were joined by the King’s Own Royal Regiment of Horse, a Scottish cavalry regiment who were disaffected and refusing to embark. At Croydon the two units came together and the mutiny spread to 100 more of Prince George’s. There was understandable resentment that British soldiers should fight for the Dutch Republic while William retained Dutch regiments in England. The two regiments were disbanded.

Dumbarton’s two battalions had been sent south from Scotland in November 1688 to support James against William’s invasion. But when James left the country, the threat of civil war evaporated, and the Earl of Dumbarton went into exile. He was replaced by the Duke of Schomberg but the Scots resented this change of command. This, as well as the fact that their Stuart king had been deposed caused discontent amongst officers and men. It was bad enough that some veterans in the regiment had fought in Louis XIV’s army against the Dutch from 1672 to 1678 and were now required to fight for the Dutch, against the French.

At Ipswich, on 13 March 1689, the same day that Prince George’s regiment mutinied at Brentford, many of the Scots refused to march to Harwich for embarkation. The grenadiers were the most vocal in the protest and four officers ordered the men to disarm those who objected to the mutiny. After a brief disturbance in the marketplace 800 men of Dumbarton's (now Schomberg’s) Regiment marched out of Ipswich towards Scotland, taking four artillery guns and a box of money intended for pay arrears. News of the mutiny reached London on 15 March and General Ginkel was sent off with a force of cavalry to stop the mutineers and bring them back. If they chose not to submit, Ginkel was instructed to ‘fall upon them.’ The regiments of Dutch and English cavalry caught up with the mutineers at Sleaford in Lincolnshire. The Scots drew up for battle but the cavalry outflanked them and they had to give up without a fight. Ginkel promised to persuade the King to pardon them if they laid down their arms.

The rebel group numbered 500, including 20 officers, at this stage so some 300 must have either turned back or avoided capture. A detachment of 40 rebels had been sent on ahead to Sleaford to secure quarters for the men and were apprehended after a fight that resulted in four Scotsmen being killed. Meanwhile the news of the mutiny had spurred politicians to rush through the Mutiny Act which was approved on 28 March. The regiment managed to send its First Battalion on campaign where they proved their loyalty. Most regiments lost many men through desertion in the Netherlands but Schomberg’s listed only 21 desertions from May to December 1689. The 2nd Battalion joined the First later in the year having been brought up to strength with 500 new recruits. It was felt that the regiment was the most free of dissidents while other regiments still had a residue of discontent.

It became apparent who the ringleaders of the mutiny were, and they were locked up in Newgate and the Gatehouse. Seven men were selected to stand trial for high treason at Bury St Edmunds. They were:

Captain John Auchmounty
Captain William Deans
Captain John Livingston
Lieutenant Alexander Gawne
Robert Johnston
Patrick Cunningham
James Ennice

The trial began on 2 August and it transpired that the painstakingly gathered evidence was not required because six of the accused pleaded guilty. The seventh, thought to be Lt Gawne, was quickly dealt with. All seven were sentenced to death which was to take place on 13 August, but the sentences were never carried out. William at first suspended the executions and the men were transferred back to Newgate where they spent two years. They were eventually pardoned but forced into exile. Alexander Gawne was permitted to remain in Britain until he had completed some unfinished business and seems to have escaped notice because he did not leave the country. The remainder of the mutineers were pardoned on 26 Sept 1689: three captains, six lieutenants, seven ensigns, four sergeants and nine men. Additionally there was one captain and seven men who were taken into custody but not tried or mentioned by name in the General Pardon.

This account of the Ipswich Mutiny is a summary of an article by Charles D Ellestad MA in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research no.213 (Spring 1975)

Walcourt, 25 Aug 1689

The First Battalion of the Royal Regiment (as it had been titled by Charles II since 1684) was one of the first British units to arrive in the Netherlands, commanded by Lt-Colonel Robert Douglas. Walcourt, a town south of the River Sambre in the Spanish Netherlands, was the only battle of importance that took place in 1689. In the 17th and 18th century, military campaigns in Europe were confined to the summer months, and the summer of that year was taken up with marching and counter-marching to establish the best strategic advantage. At that time the British regiments did not have the benefit of an efficient commissariat so their uniforms and shoes were of poor quality compared with the Dutch and German soldiers. But, as the Prince of Waldeck noted, the British were brave, and showed ‘Joie de combattre’. The battle was a victory for the Alliance but no battle honours were awarded.

Steenkerque, 3 Aug 1692

Steenkerque was the bloodiest battle of the whole Nine Year War. The Alliance army was, this time, commanded by King William III who had taken over from the Prince of Waldeck. Steenkerque (or Steenkirk) is a village on the River Senne just south of Enghien in the Southern Netherlands (now Belgium). The French Army under the Duke of Luxembourg had taken up a strong position just east of the village, with its right flank on the river. William sent an advance guard of British and Danish infantry and artillery under the Duke of Wurttemberg, before dawn, to surprise the French right wing in their camp. This had some success as the main French force was further back and not ready.

Sir Robert Douglas at Steenkerque

The main body of the Allied army was also unready, and badly delayed by the cavalry under Count Solms. Some infantry units did join the battle but not until noon. The advance guard suffered the heaviest casualties having been fighting since 5am. Both battalions of the Royal Regiment fought in this battle but the 1st Battalion, being the most experienced, was in the advanced guard, along with the 2nd bn 1st Guards, O’Farrell’s (Scots Fusiliers), and FitzPatrick’s (later disbanded).

The French made a great effort to reach the hottest part of the battle and succeeded in driving the advanced guard back. One of the Colours carried by the Royal Regiment was captured, but the Colonel of the regiment, Sir Robert Douglas jumped over a hedge and retrieved it. As he brought it back he was shot dead. Most of the cavalry, under Count Solm, were not able to contribute to the action, although 4 regiments (later the 3rd 4th 6th and 7th Dragoon Guards) and two others (later disbanded) suffered losses. William foolishly ordered General Hugh MacKay to advance at a time when withdrawal was the only option. Mackay, a former officer of the Royal Regiment, commanded the Scots Brigade in the Dutch service. He reluctantly placed himself at the head of his men with the words, “The will of the Lord be done.” and was mortally wounded.

The French made a further supreme effort so that even King William was forced to admit defeat. They were outnumbered from the start but now the Alliance was badly depleted, so the order was given to retreat. The delayed cavalry and infantry who had not seen much action were able to cover the withdrawal. The French were exhausted, and had also lost many killed and wounded, so there was no pursuit.

A collection of papers known as King William’s Chest has detailed lists of the losses incurred by the British army and these were published in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research no.68 (Winter 1938). List C shows the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment as losing one field officer (Sir Robert Douglas), 3 captains, 4 subalterns, 14 NCOs and 195 rank-and-file. The 2nd Battalion lost only two men killed. Under Wounded and Missing the 1st Battalion listed 3 captains, 10 subalterns, 9 NCOs, and 64 rank-and-file. Again there are only two men listed in the 2nd Battalion as wounded or missing. The total losses for the British infantry were 2,807 killed and 1,265 wounded or missing. British cavalry losses were 30 men killed, 27 wounded, and 100 horses killed.

Landen or Neerwinden, 29 July 1693

The battle took place around the village of Neerwinden, northwest of the town of Landen. The allied army had built strong fortifications between Neerwinden and Neerlanden and on 29 July, at around 8am, the French attacked the right of the allied line at Neerwinden but were repulsed. Several attempts were made against the allied fortifications and the Royal Regiment (also called Hamilton’s) positioned on the left at Neerlanden, at first successfully repulsed them, but the enemy threw everything they had on that side and pushed the infantry back. They then managed to force Ramsey’s Brigade back on the other wing so that both flanks were now exposed. Ammunition was running low and so a retreat was the only option. The Allies had to leave their artillery behind and quit the field. The casualties for the Royal Regiment are not recorded but one account published in the Naval and Military Magazine of 1827 claims that the army lost 214 officers killed, 296 wounded. The rank-and-file lost 6005 killed and prisoners, and 3958 wounded. This was put of a total of 50,000 men.

Namur July - Sep 1695

Namur 1695

King William sailed from England to lead his army in May 1695 and began the siege of Namur on 2 July. After the defeats at Steenkerque and Landen, the siege, although costly in terms of casualties, was William’s greatest success. The Royal Regiment (Hamilton’s) played a prominent part in the assault of the Counterscarp on 27 July with the Guards attacking on the right, and the Royal Regiment and O’Farrell’s (Scots Fusiliers) on the left. After a hard fight against a determined defence the assault was successful. A quote in Major Wetherall’s Historical Account of the First or Royal Regiment of Foot (1832), attributed to Smollett says, ‘The valour of the assailants (English and Scotch, under Ramsay and Hamilton) was altogether unprecedented, and almost incredible; whilst on the other hand, the courage of the besieged was worthy of praise and admiration.’ A few days later, after an artillery barrage, a breach was opened near the St Nicholas Gate, and again the British infantry charged over the rubble to engage in a desperate fight that cost them 800 killed and wounded. The city capitulated on 3 August, but there was still the citadel, overlooking the Meuse, to contend with, and the assault on 30 August saw thousands of lives lost. The final surrender came on 4 Sept 1695. The Royal Regiment lost 6 officers killed, 5 wounded, and 62 men killed, 109 wounded. The Royal Scots were retrospectively awarded the battle honour NAMUR 1695 in 1910.

Schellenberg, 2 Jul 1704

The steep climb to the Schellenberg that dominated Donauwörth was stormed by four battalions; one battalion of the Guards, Ingoldsby’s (Welsh Fusiliers) and both battalions of Orkney’s. Having been repulsed twice, they and their reinforcements succeeded the third time and drove the defenders into the Danube. Having been sent in first, these four battalions suffered more than the rest. The casualties for Orkney's were as follows:

1st Battalion
One captain and two ensigns killed
Colonel White, Major Cockburn, 3 captains, 2 lieutenants and 3 ensigns wounded.
One sergeant killed and 3 wounded.
38 men killed and 103 wounded.

2nd Battalion
One captain and one lieutenant killed
Major Kerr, one captain, 6 lieutenants and 7 ensigns wounded.
One sergeant killed and 12 wounded.
76 men killed and 184 wounded.

Battle of Blenheim, 13 Aug 1704

After the victory at Donauwörth and the Schellenberg, the army carried out a destructive campaign in Bavaria, until the Elector of Bavaria was joined by the French, commanded by Mareschal de Tallard. Both battalions fought at the important battle of Blenheim, the 1st Battalion was one of the units that attacked the village on the right of the French line while the 2nd Battalion was brought up as a reinforcement. The enemy were trapped in Blenheim and faced repeated assaults from the British infantry. The cavalry managed to break through other parts of the French line and the day ended with a famous victory for Marlborough and the allies. There are no figures for the casualties among the rank and file of Orkney’s Regiment but of the officers, four were killed: Colonel White, one captain and two ensigns. Wounded: 4 captains, 2 lieutenants and one ensign. Total casualties for the British army were 51 officers and 625 men killed, 147 officers and 1,381 men wounded.

Battles of Helixem and Ramillies, 1705 - 1706

After sieges at Ulm and Lanau the army marched to the Rhine and embarked for the Netherlands. On 18 July 1705 the regiment helped retake Huy and was involved in the engagement at Helixem, or Elixheim, where, having sent the Dutch towards Namur as a feint, Marlborough marched the British to the village of Elixheim and broke through the French lines of Brabant. In 1706 the two armies faced each other at Ramillies. The 2nd Battalion was in the first attack on the right of the line and the 1st Battalion joined in later, clearing a village as the French defences collapsed. The French retreated and the regiment spent many weeks occupying various fortified towns.

Battle of Oudenarde, 11 July 1708

In early July 1708 the French captured Bruges and Ghent and then set out to capture the fortified city of Oudenarde which would damage Marlborough’s lines of communication to England. The allied army force-marched to Oudenarde, crossing the Scheldt by pontoon bridges, to confront the French around the river Diepenbeck. Both armies were about equal in strength, 90,000 each. There was much cavalry action and the involvement of troops from all parts of Europe, including Swiss mercenaries fighting for France, and Hessian and Hanoverians fighting for the allies. The British battalions were not so heavily engaged. Their losses were 4 officers and 41 men killed, 17 officers and 160 men wounded. There are no figures for the losses incurred by Orkney’s Regiment. There was disagreement between Vendôme and his generals which eventually helped Marlborough to defeat them.

Siege of Lille, Sept - Oct 1708

Convoy to Lille 1708

In March 1708 one battalion of the Royal Regiment was sent to England along with nine other regiments when Scotland was threatened by a French invasion. They embarked at Ostend and arrived at Tynemouth on 2 April. But the invasion was abandoned and they returned to Flanders. The two battalions were placed in different brigades; the first under Brigadier-General Temple, the second in Brigadier-General North’s Brigade. They took part in the siege of Lille which began on 13 Aug 1708. One battalion was part of a convoy coming from Ostend to supply and reinforce the regiments besieging Lille. On 28 Sep the French intercepted the convoy and a battle ensued at Wijnendale. The battle lasted two hours and British losses were 912 killed and wounded. Although heavily outnumbered, they defeated the French who are said to have lost 6,000 men. The convoy was able to complete its journey and Lille capitulated on 23 Oct after a siege of 10 weeks. The allied troops lost 3632 killed and 8332 wounded during that time.

Battle of Malplaquet, 11 Sep 1709

A detachment of the regiment fought at the siege of Ghent in December 1708, and they were involved in the siege of Tournay in August 1709, along with the Buffs and the Hampshires, suffering heavy casualties. In September Marlborough marched his army to Mons where the French under Villars held a formidable position with a strength of 95,000. They had built strong entrenchments on a three mile front, with redans armed with artillery pieces. On 11 Sept the Dutch and German troops fought bravely alongside 20 British battalions. It was a very destructive battle that resulted in heavier losses for the allies than the French despite the fact that the French were defeated. The casualties in Orkney’s Regiment were two officers killed and two wounded. No figures are available for casualties amongst the NCOs and men of the regiment. The British as a whole lost 26 officers and 571 men killed, 66 officers and 1,281 men wounded.

Final Battles of the Campaign, 1709 - 1714

Mons was captured on 23 Oct 1709 after a short siege. Douay was besieged for 53 days and captured on 27 July 1710, but the allied losses were heavy; 8,000 killed and wounded. More losses were incurred at Bethune, St Venant and Aire in the autumn of 1710 in which the allies lost 11,300 killed and wounded. There was a harrowing forced march of 30 miles without a stop in August 1711 to penetrate the French lines of Bouchain. This action was completed on 14 Sept and was the last major battle of the campaign. Marlborough relinquished command of the army on 27 Oct 1711, his place taken by the Duke of Ormond. The Royal Regiment camped at Ghent in August 1712 and then marched to Dunkirk where they were employed in demolishing fortifications. There was a bombardment of Arras and the siege of Quesnoy at the end of 1712, and peace was signed at Utrecht in 1713. The regiment remained in the Netherlands until May 1714.

Fontenoy, 11 May 1745

It is generally accepted that the British advance on the right wing of the line made good progress and proved the worth of the British soldiers. Their bravery and determination caused the French defenders to doubt their ability to withstand the attack and so fell back on their camp.

Fontenoy 1745

This could have given the Duke of Cumberland a great victory, but the main cause of the allied defeat was the failure of the Dutch to dislodge the French on the left. There was also a confusion of orders that resulted in the disgrace of Brigadier-General Ingoldsby after his regiments’ lack of success against the French redoubts. The Royal Regiment lost two sergeants and 85 men killed. Eight officers were wounded along with 5 sergeants and 178 men. Eight men were missing after the battle. An officer of the Royal Regiment, Captain-Lieutenant Edward Wortley Montagu, wrote letters from the war at the time. He was attached to the Quartermaster General’s staff, the QMG being the regiment’s Colonel, General St Clair. He commanded the second line at Fontenoy, so Montagu was in the thick of the battle, although not with the regiment. He noted that the French artillery fire began at 5 am and continued until 2 pm. He saw ‘horrible slaughter on both sides…we have lost a prodigious number of officers, among others General Ponsonby whose head was shot off, as I saw many many hundreds’. He also explained the injuries sustained by the infantry, ‘that among the great number of wounded there is scarce so much as a single cut or push from sword or bayonet.’ An indication that there was almost no hand-to-hand fighting, that the casualties were from artillery fire from a safe distance.

Action at Melle near Ghent, July 1745

In a letter written on 17 July 1745, Edward Wortley Montagu describes a battle in which the Royal Regiment were badly mauled and later betrayed to the enemy. They were part of a detachment of 4,000 infantry and dragoons under General Moltke heading towards Ghent in early July 1745. Four miles from the city they were about to attack a fort at Melle manned by 1,200 French but decided against it. They soon came under fire from artillery to their front; ‘Our Regiment marched up to the cannon with so much Conduct and Bravery that they soon beat off the Enemy, took the whole battery and turned four pieces of their own Cannon against them.’ But they had no trained gunners so were not able to make proper use of the guns, or spike them. They managed to extract themselves from a dangerous situation as they were threatened by a large force of infantry.

That night they marched into Ghent with only 240 men out of 600 involved in the battle. They were accompanied by 150 mounted men of Sir Robert Rich’s Dragoons (later the 4th Hussars) but two other infantry regiments in Moltke’s force had not reached Ghent. Montagu says of the battle at Melle, ‘this is one of the finest Actions I ever heard of, and shews we have still amongst that spirit which has made the British nation admired and respected.’ However, on 11 July, in Ghent, they were surprised by the French and forced to surrender. Montagu suspected the townspeople of treachery. Most of the officers were taken prisoner; ‘the others are in the Cittadel with the poor remains of our brave battalion, but without provision so they must be taken.’ The number of killed or captured was 315, 3 captains taken prisoner, one wounded. One lieutenant killed and two wounded. The contemporary account by Montagu does not make it clear if these casualties were as a result of the ambush in the city of Ghent, as distinct from the earlier action at Melle.

Quiberon, Oct 1746

Much of the army was withdrawn to Britain in 1746 to defend the UK against the Jacobite uprising. The 1st Battalion, however, was initially intended for service in Canada but then joined the force sent to Brittany. The expedition was commanded by General St Clair, Colonel of the regiment, and in September they landed near Port L’Orient, besieging the town with artillery. However the siege was lifted and they sailed round the peninsula to attack Quiberon on the south side. The battalion fought alongside the 42nd Highlanders. Forts and guns were destroyed before they returned to England on 17 Oct. Casualties were light but Major Erskine and Major Bagshaw were wounded.

Fort Sandberg, 5 May 1747

The war continued in the Netherlands in 1746 and 47 and the 1st Battalion was part of a force under Maj-Gen Fuller with the 42nd Highlanders and the 28th to go to the relief of Hulst which was under siege. Having disembarked at Stapledyke on 1 May 1747 they were ordered to relieve the exhausted Dutch defenders of Fort Sandberg. This position was stormed by the French two days later, but the attack was repelled so the enemy began digging a ‘sap’ a trench dug towards the fort’s palisades. When they were a short distance away they poured out and stormed the defences at 9 pm. The Dutch troops gave way but when the French were confronted by the Royal Regiment they received a volley of musket fire. This battle lasted several hours but the battalion was badly placed with no room either side, so were required to present a narrow front which was repeatedly changed to allow the men to reload. ‘All this, though in the night, was performed without any disorder and confusion.’ The battalion suffered heavy casualties in this action; 3 officers and 63 men killed, 8 officers and 187 men wounded, having begun the action with 21 officers and 501 NCOs and privates. They were relieved by the 42nd Highlanders early next morning. The French had suffered a greater loss of men. Major Sir Charles Erskine was one of the officers who died and the CO Lt-Col James Abercrombie was amongst the wounded. The fort was vacated soon afterwards and Hulst surrendered to the enemy.

Falkirk, 17 Jan 1746

When the Jabobite Rebellion broke out in 1745 the 2nd Battalion embarked from Dublin on 30 Sep and were sent to Yorkshire from where they were part of the pursuit of the rebels who had reached Derby and were retreating back to Scotland. The battalion marched to Edinburgh where General Hawley was assembling the Royal Army. The rebels were reinforced, now having artillery, and occupied Stirling. Hawley proceeded to Falkirk and the two armies met on Falkirk Moor. The 2nd Battalion was near the middle of the front line, numbering 300 men, along with 5 other regiments. The battle began in mid afternoon just as a terrific storm broke. This proved to the advantage of the Highlanders on the high ground. The redcoats were blinded by driving rain and their powder was dampened. The rebels charged down on them and the soldiers on the left wing were thrown into disarray. Some units stayed firm; Barrell’s (4th) and Ligonier’s (59th) fired into the flank of the rebels from behind a ravine. Other regiments managed to stand firm; Price’s (14th), Fleming’s (36th) and the Buffs. There are no reports of the 2nd Battalion either running away or standing to fight. The casualties of this battle, for Hawley’s army were 12 officers and 55 men killed and 170 missing. No figures for the 2nd Battalion are available.

Culloden, 16 April 1746

Battle of Culloden

The Jacobites claimed a victory at Falkirk but in anticipation of facing a greatly reinforced army, they headed north to Inverness. The British army, now commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, initially marched as far as Aberdeen. The 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment, commanded by Lt-Col John Ramsey, was part of the advance guard under the command of General Humphrey Bland. They marched via Huntly where the battalion was quartered in the castle in March while Bland’s cavalry fought a skirmish at Keith. The two armies finally met on Drummossie Moor near Culloden House, situated a few miles east of Inverness. The two armies faced each other with the infantry drawn up in lines. The Royal Regiment was on the right of the front line with (from right to left) Cholmondley’s (34th), Price’s (14th), The Scots Fusiliers, Munro’s (37th) and Barrell’s (4th). The battalion had 401 rank-and-file, 25 drummers, 29 sergeants, 19 subalterns, 5 captains and 2 field officers. The battle began around lunchtime, with an exchange of artillery fire. The Highlanders were not prepared to tolerate the effect of canon balls and began to charge at the redcoats. They were armed with muskets as well as swords and shields but having fired a shot they discarded the musket and ran at their enemies with swords at the ready. The British guns changed to grapeshot and many Scotsmen were killed before they had run the full 700 yards. The infantry were firing volleys which also thinned the Scots ranks. The most effective charge was made towards the left of the British line where Barrell’s and Munro’s regiments fought hand-to-hand. The Royal regiment were more fortunate in having marshy ground to their front which slowed the Highland charge, minimising casualties so that they only suffered four wounded and none killed.

One soldier in the ranks of the 2nd Battalion was Alexander Taylor from Ayrshire. He wrote that the Highlanders ‘came running upon our front line like troops of hungry wolves, and fought with intrepidity. But the thunder of our fire, and the continuation of it, began to slacken their fury. In about forty minutes they began to reel, and fought for some time in a hover; but the fire rather increasing, the arms being clean, and the men past consternation, being encouraged by the Duke and Generals example, they doubled their efforts, and the highlanders took plain flight.’

Embarkation for North America 1757

The 2nd Battalion was sent to reinforce the allied army near Ruremonde in 1748 but the war ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, and the British regiments returned to England. The battalion was sent to Ireland and remained there until May 1757. They were ordered to embark for North America, arriving at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 9 July. There they formed part of an expedition under the Earl of Loudon to attempt the capture of the French held fort of Louisburg, further up the coast. But by the time the force had been organised it was becoming too late in the season to undertake this task. Also there were reports that a large army and fleet was making good progress to reinforce the garrison, so the expedition was postponed.

Louisburg, June - July 1758

Map of Louisburg

The second expedition was organised the following year, sailing from Halifax at the end of May 1758. Major-General Jeffrey Amherst was in command of the land forces which consisted of 15 battalions and artillery. A fleet of 23 ships under Admiral Boscawen brought them to Cape Breton island. But the French had been busy preparing strong defences and guns at the most likely landing places. The landings were split into 3 divisions under Brigadier-Generals Wolfe, Lawrence and Whitmore. Whitmore’s division included the 2nd Battalion plus the 22nd 40th 48th regiments and the 3rd Battalion 60th Rifles, ordered to land at White Point. Wolfe’s division, consisting of the grenadier and light companies, was to be the main attacking force. The landings took place on 8 June in rough seas and under heavy bombardment from the shore. Many lives were lost in this hazardous undertaking, and those that reached shore were put to work in unloading guns and material from the boats, and setting up batteries. Wolfe’s division made good progress seizing defence works on the north side of the harbour and occupied a commanding position 300 yards from the most northerly bastion. With the help of Boscawen’s naval guns the bombardment was relentless and very damaging. The French surrendered on 27 July and the garrison of 5,600 men were taken as prisoners. Casualties of the 2nd Battalion were 2 officers killed, 4 wounded. 13 men killed 27 wounded. The Royal Scots were retrospectively awarded the battle honour LOUISBURG on 13 March 1882.

Fort Triconderago, July 1759

General Amherst, as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in North America decided upon four simultaneous operations to force the French out. The most well known of these was General Wolfe’s assault on Quebec. Amherst himself led the expedition to Fort Triconderago which was still in French hands after a failed attack the previous year. The 2nd Battalion along with six other regiments and artillery formed a force of 13,000 with the aim of capturing the fort as well as Crown Point, Lake George and Lake Champlain. For the first three weeks of June 1759 they were assembled at Fort Edward. On 21 June they embarked on boats to sail down Lake George. Soon after landing there was a skirmish with a force of 400 French and native Americans who, realising the size of Amherst’s army, fled back to Triconderago. On approaching the fort the British found enemy defence works established outside but these were soon battered into submission by the Royal Artillery. On 23 June the assault on the fort itself began but the French garrison was only 400 men so the siege was soon over. The French blew up the fort and withdrew to Crown Point. The casualties for the whole British force were light; 2 officers and 15 men killed, 50 wounded. The casualties of the 2nd Battalion are not recorded.

War against the Cherokee, June 1760

The British colonists of South Carolina were threatened by local tribes of the Cherokee nation and appealed to Amherst for military assistance. A force was detached under the command of Colonel Archibald Montgomerie consisting of 400 men of the 2nd Battalion, 700 of Montgomerie’s own Highland Regiment and 100 Provincials. They sailed down the coast, arriving in South Carolina and made their way to Little Keowee which was successfully attacked by the light companies. Two officers of the Royal Regiment were wounded in this attack. The rest of Montgomerie’s force proceeded to Estatoe which had been largely abandoned but which the army destroyed and any natives remaining there were killed. Further attacks on Cherokee villages were less successful. The country was wooded and swampy, too difficult for troops who were unaccustomed to guerrilla warfare. Montgomerie withdrew the force to Fort Prince George and later sailed back to Canada. The casualties for the whole force were 2 officers and 20 men killed, 26 officers and 68 men wounded.

Dominica, June 1761

There was further activity in Canada in 1760 which saw the end of French control in 1761. However, in May 1761 the focus of the war against France switched to the Caribbean. Many of the troops, including a detachment of the 2nd Battalion were sent from Montreal and anchored off Roseau, capital of Dominica, on 6 June 1761. After an agreement to surrender, the French governor changed his mind and troops were landed under cover of fire from the ships. Most of the town was easily captured but there was a more determined defence of the heights above the town. This was stormed successfully and the garrison made prisoners. The casualties were light, having a few men killed and wounded.

Havana, June - August 1762

Because of a family pact between the Bourbon monarchs, Spain was brought into the war between France and Britain, on the side of France. As there was already a British force in the Caribbean it was decided that Cuba should be invaded, Havana being the centre of Spanish power in the region. The British armies of the West Indies, combined with those of North America amounted to 12,000 men, added to which was a force sent out from England of 4,000, assembling at Martinique which had been recently captured from the French. The land forces were commanded by the Earl of Albemarle, the navy by Admiral Sir George Pocock. The fleet arrived at a point 24 miles east of Havana on 6 June and the troops landed without opposition.

The march to Havana was very difficult as the guns had to be manhandled in extreme heat and with a poor supply of water. A battery was set up 250 yards from the Moro, an almost impregnable fortress which had to be captured by a force commanded by Major-General Hon W Keppel. The siege began on 1 July and continued for 3 weeks, involving much work, preparing batteries, sapping and mining. The governor of Havana ordered a sally from the town to assist the besieged garrison. His force of 1,500 made three attempts against the British lines. Colonel Guy Carleton played an important part in defeating the Spanish in this battle, bringing up the 2nd Battalion, the 34th and the 60th to assist the various batteries. Every available Spanish gun was brought to bear to cover the retreat of their troops and many Spanish were killed by mistake. They lost 400 men compared with 50 British casualties, including Colonel Carleton who was severely wounded.

The Moro Breached

The siege of the Moro continued and on 30 July mines were exploded in the Counterscarp and in the bastion, the latter being more successful it was decided to send in the storming party: 2nd Bn Royals; 6 officers 107 NCOs and men. 90th LI; 8 officers and 53 NCOs and men. Marksmen; 8 officers and 129 NCOs and men. Lieutenant Charles Forbes of the Royal Regiment was the first man through the breach which was stormed successfully. The commander of the garrison, Don Louis de Velasco was mortally wounded in the fight along with several officers, and 130 men. The rest, numbering 400 surrendered and were made prisoners. Some defenders took refuge in the lighthouse and shot at a group of officers; Lt Forbes, Lt Nugent of the 9th, and Lt Holroyd of the 90th. The latter two officers were killed and Forbes took some men and, running to the lighthouse killed the men hidden there. Amongst these was the Marquis Gozales. The 2nd Battalion lost 5 men killed and 22 wounded in the storming party.

The battle for control of the town continued until 11 August when the Spanish guns fell silent. The terms of the capitulation were agreed and signed on 13 August. The defenders of Havana were allowed all the honours of war and conveyed to Spain with their baggage. The 2nd Battalion casualties for the whole 44 day campaign were: 2 officers killed and 3 wounded. One sergeant killed and 2 wounded. 31 rank and file killed and 76 wounded. 2 men were missing. 12 died of disease and 3 men died of their wounds.

The battle honour for MORO was granted only to the 56th Regiment. The fact that the commander of the Moro siege was Major-General William Keppel, Colonel of the 56th may have had something to do with that. The Royal Regiment lobbied for a similar honour to be granted to them as they were in the storming party and felt that they were more deserving than the 56th. As it was, they had to wait until November 1909 when the honour for HAVANNAH was retrospectively awarded.

The capture of Havana was a rich prize for the British, and the soldiers and sailors benefited materially. Distribution of prize money amongst the army:

Commander-in-Chief 122,697 pounds
Lieutenant-Generals 24,539 pounds
Major-Generals 6,816 pounds
Field officers 564 pounds
Captains 184 pounds
Lieutenants 116 pounds
Sergeants 8 pounds 18 shillings 8 pence
Corporals 6 pounds 16 shillings 6 pence
Privates & Drummers 4 pounds 1 shilling 8 pence

St Kitts Nevis 1782

The 1st Battalion was posted to Ireland until 1767, when they sailed to Gibraltar for a posting of 8 years. Having returned to Britain they were then sent to the West Indies in 1780, being present at the capture of St Eustatia on 3 Feb 1781. The following year they were stationed on St Kitts, 15 miles to the southeast in the Leeward Islands. On 9 Jan 1782 the French invaded the island as well as Nevis, with 8,000 men and artillery. The British officer in command was Brigadier-General Fraser, also CO of the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment. Being heavily outnumbered he withdrew the outposts and gathered the troops on Brimstone Hill, together with the Governor, Sir Thomas Shirley and 350 Militia. So his garrison consisted of the 1st Battalion plus the two flank companies of the 15th Regiment, the Militia and 12 pieces of artillery; 1,200 men. The guns, however, were without ammunition as it was still at the foot of the hill, consisting of 1,500 shells and 6,000 shot. This was a windfall for the French and provided them with the means to capture the island. They first occupied Sandy Point and Godwin’s Gut, then Basseterre and Old Road.

Brimstone Hill

Brimstone Hill was actually impregnable and would have presented a huge problem to the Marquis de Bouillé, the enemy commander. The siege began on 16 Jan when the French dug in at Somersall’s estate, 500 yards to the northwest. The barrage from a battery of 6 mortars began on 19 Jan. The artillery built up to 24 mortars and 32 artillery guns, bombarding all day, every day. The garrison on the hill was defending an area no more than 200 yards in diameter. The bombardment destroyed all the buildings and their guns. They were short of food, and tools to repair the defences or dig trenches. Brigadier-General Fraser decided to capitulate on 12 Feb after an exhausting and brave defence lasting 5 weeks. The casualties were 3 officers killed, along with 3 sergeants, 2 drummers and 22 men. The wounded were; 3 officers, 6 sergeants, 4 drummers and 84 men, with 2 men missing. The island of Nevis was also captured by the French. The Governor was allowed to sail to Antigua, and Fraser and the garrison were allowed to march out with their Colours, but lay down their arms. A British Fleet then confronted the French ships and defeated them on 26 Jan 1782.

Fort Mulgrave, Toulon 1793

were posted there until 1775 and spent the next eight years at home. There was service in Gibraltar from August 1784 until October 1793 when it was one of the units sent against Toulon on the south coast of France. There was a short confrontation at Les Sablettes, and 3 companies were detached, with some artillery, posted to Fort Mulgrave on the heights of Balaguire. Under the command of Captain Duncan Campbell they fought off several attacks on 15 Nov. They shared the task of defending the fort with troops from Spain, Naples and Sardinia, losing 61 men in total, against the loss of 600 French killed and wounded. Campbell was wounded as well as Lieutenant Lemoine RA.

Toulon

On 30 November The enemy artillery opened up on the allied troops at Toulon from the height of Arenes, and it was decided to attack their position. The battalion, numbering 400, along with 2,000 allies, marched out and crossed the river to ascend the height. The French retired and were pursued by the troops over several more hills until they met a larger force of French approaching. The height of Arenes had to be abandoned and the French proceeded to besiege Fort Mulgrave with five batteries on 16 Dec. Napoleon was famously in command of the French artillery on the heights, and was wounded by a British sergeant. The defence of the fort was carried out under very desperate conditions, against overwhelming numbers. The place was evacuated the next day and the losses counted up. In this battle the defenders suffered heavy losses: One officer, one sergeant and nine men were killed. Three officers were wounded along with 2 sergeants, a drummer and 32 men. As well as these losses, 21 men were listed as missing, presumed captured. They included one officer, 2 sergeants and a drummer.

Toulon itself was burned and destroyed by the allies before being evacuated on 19 December. French ships were commandeered, storehouses destroyed, containing naval stores ‘to an immense amount’. The total loss to the French at the end of this campaign was estimated at the time at five million pounds. From 17 Dec the troops fought hard to hold off the French during embarkation. Lieutenant Ironmonger of the 2nd Battalion remained with the guard at the dockyard gates long after the Spanish troops were withdrawn, and was brought safely off by Captain Edge of the ‘Alert’.

Corsica, Feb 1794 - July 1796

The army sailed to Elba where a campaign against Corsica was organised.The 2nd Battalion landed there on 5 Feb 1794. They sustained serious casualties in the early stages. San Fiorenzo was besieged and captured on 17 Feb, in which the grenadier company of the Royal Regiment was prominent. In April a naval action forced the capitulation of Bastia, and the British then proceeded with the siege of Calvi. The task of storming the town and fortress in the height of summer, was fraught with difficulty as the defenders were determined and their defences well prepared. The siege is famous for Nelson being blinded in one eye during the bombardment of Fort Mozello. It started on 19 June and lasted 52 days. The casualty list was not recorded but three officers of the Royal Regiment were wounded in the course of the siege. The battalion remained at Calvi until July 1796. From there they went to Gibraltar to pick up a draft of men, and then sailed to Portugal in Sir John Jervis’s fleet for a posting at Cascaes. They returned to England in 1799.

Map Of Haiti 1789

Jamaica and San Domingo (Haiti)

While the 2nd Battalion were fighting in the Mediterranean, the 1st Battalion suffered in the Caribbean. They had been in Ireland throughout the 1780s but on 20 Jan 1790 embarked at Cork for Jamaica.They were commanded by Major Justly Watson Green and had a strength of 349 effectives. In 1794 they were sent, division by division, to San Domingo, also called Saint Dominigue, now called Haiti, the French controlled western side of Hispaniola, today shared with the Dominican Republic.

Unrest and Conflict in San Domingo

The Revolution in France led to political friction on the island. The French planters were monarchists and did not look favourably on the arrival of pro-revolutionary troops and commissioners in 1792. They sought the help of the British and in September 1793 a force of 677 men commanded by Lt-Colonel John Whitelocke landed and occupied the fortress of Mole St Nicholas. Troops began to arrive from Jamaica, including the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment which had been strengthened by a draft of men from the 10th Regiment so that they were now 381 men. They did not sail as a complete battalion but were sent in four divisions.

Fort L’Acul, 19 Feb 1794

The first action they saw was on 19 Feb 1794, at Fort L’Acul on a hill 6 miles from Leogane. This was carried out by light companies of the 13th, the 49th and the 1st Battalion. Captain Christopher Morshead, in command of the Royals Light Company, was badly wounded but carried on, only to be killed in an explosion. Captain-Lieutenant Hutchinson and 3 men were wounded. Four more companies of the battalion arrived from Jamaica at the end of February, posted to Mole St Nicholas on the northern peninsula, but within a month 19 of them were sick with what was called the black vomit. These companies included Captain Clayton Cowell who was later to take over command of the battalion. Another division of the battalion was sent straight to Archahaye, and the last division, under lieutenant John Puxley added 60 men to the Mole garrison.

Bombarde, 1 May 1794

But the Mole St Nicholas was now in danger because, in mid April the German settlement of Bombarde, only 12 miles away, declared their support for the Republicans. The decision was made to attack Bombarde, with 200 grenadiers from the battalion and the 13th, 20th and 49th, as well as some black and Mulatto troops.

On the evening of 30 April they set off and arrived near Bombarde at 3am on 1 May. A recce established that it was a triangular fort protected by a palisade and a ditch. Major Spencer of the 13th who led the attack was a brave commander but not clever. He failed to realise that the German garrison was on the alert and their sudden volley of musket fire sent most of the men fleeing. The officers and the few remaining grenadiers were now unsupported and had to retire in confusion. Lieutenant Urquhart and Ensign Garstin of the Royals with some of their grenadiers got as far as the ditch before retreating, but because it was dark both officers became lost in the tall prickly growth. Urquhart and 17 men were captured by the Germans, later released in June, while Gartsin and 7 men were lost for 2 days. Overall, the casualty figures for the attack were 16 killed and 26 taken prisoner. Six of the killed were from the Royal Regiment. Five others of the grenadier company were wounded.

L’Acul and the Blockhouse, 2 May 1794

The next day the post at L’Acul came under attack from more than 1,000 black Republicans. The Light Company of the Royals was in an adjacent blockhouse which was also attacked. The enemy made 3 attempts but were forced to retreat after the men sallied forth with bayonets attached. In May 1794 the battalion was split between Archehaye, the Mole and Leogane (which included L’Acul). A large proportion of the men were sick, the most unhealthy place being Leogane. Only 18 officers of the battalion were fit for duty, another 12 were either sick or elsewhere.

The Capture of Port Au Prince and Fort Bizzoton, May 1794

On 19 May reinforcements arrived, commanded by Major-General John Whyte. There were 3 battalions but 250 of them were sick. However, the increase in manpower meant that the capital of San Domingo, Port au Prince could be secured. Men of the 22nd and 41st Regiments captured the outpost Fort Bizzoton. The work of the British regulars appeared to be done, leaving the ‘brigands’ to be dealt with by local troops. But the concentration of troops in Port au Prince resulted in a severe outbreak of yellow fever. The Royals had 137 men stationed there, of which 90 fell sick and of them 44 died.

Toussaint l’Ouverture

Another action that involved the Royal Regiment was at St Marc where the black leader Toussaint Louverture lured Colonel Thomas Brisbane and most of the troops out of the town so that the mulattoes could take control. Amongst the remaining troops were 29 men of the Royals, most of them sick. They took refuge in a small fort on 6 September and held out for two days, until Colonel Brisbane relieved them. Fighting continued for two weeks until Louverture was forced to retreat.

The Siege of Fort Bizzoton, 5 Dec 1794 - 26 Mar 1795

The last battle fought by the battalion was a successful defence of Fort Bizzoton near Port au Prince, beginning on 5 Dec. Lieutenant John Clunes of the Royals commanded a small garrison there. He was wounded in the siege but remained in command. The attacks continued for a few months and it wasn’t until March 1795 when the enemy erected a battery that four companies of grenadiers sallied out of Port au Prince and stormed the enemy guns on the 26th. The casualties from this action were 45 killed and wounded. Sgt Donaldson of the Royals was killed and Lt Spencer and 7 men were wounded. Spencer was wounded again in December 1796 when a blockhouse exploded, killing Lt Thomas Watts.

The Battalion leaves San Domingo, 23 Feb 1797

The 1st Battalion Royal Regiment left San Domingo on 23 Feb 1797. They comprised Lieutenant-Colonel Green, one captain, 5 lieutenants, the surgeon and his mate, 51 sergeants, 12 drummers and 96 rank and file. Thirteen officers had died on the island, only two of them in combat. Most had died of disease in Port au Prince.

Landing at Aboukir

During the British advance towards Alexandria they fought at Mandora on 13 March losing 4 men killed and 21 wounded. At Alexandria the battalion was in the centre, and when the French attacked the British positions in front of the town, the battalion held firm in the face of heavy fire at close quarters. This battle on 21 March cost them 4 officers wounded, 9 men killed and 69 wounded. It then took part in the successful advance and occupation of Cairo and returned to Alexandria which fell to the British after several months siege. In this siege they lost a sergeant and 7 men.

‘The much to be regretted circumstance which happened during the time it was in garrison at [Gibraltar] is not noticed in this work, as the compiler did not consider himself justified in entering upon a subject of so delicate a nature, without being fully acquainted with all the particulars connected with it.’

The troops were then sent to capture Tobago, and detachments were sent to defend Antigua and Trinidad. The 1st Battalion, by this time had reached the West Indies and were reinforced with fit troops from the 2nd battalion which then sailed home.

Volcano on St Vincent

The West Indies 1801 - 1812

The 1st Battalion had returned from San Domingo in 1797, severely reduced in number. They recruited in Scotland and were once more sent to the West Indies, in 1801, commanded by Lt-Colonel Nicholson. They, together with the 64th, 68th and 1st West India Regiment, captured St Martins Island on 24 March. They also took part in the capture of St Croix and St Thomas with the 11th and the 2nd West India Regiment. Other colonies, including Demerara on the South American mainland, were captured, and then in 1810 fifty men of the battalion, commanded by Captain Lynch, were detached for the invasion of Guadeloupe. This was achieved with the loss of 3 men killed and 12 wounded.

Volcanic Eruption, 1 May 1812

In April 1812 the 1st Battalion were ordered to embark for Quebec, via Barbados. They were commanded by D Stewart and consisted of 5 companies stationed at Demerara (Guyana) and another 5 at Tobago and Berbice. They were officially referred to as the Royal Scots from 1812. They set sail on 24 April, but on 1 May, as they neared Barbados, the volcano of Mount Soufriére on St Vincent erupted. Although the eruption was 100 miles to the west it caused total darkness which lasted for 6 hours and covered the decks and rigging in a layer of ash. They stopped at Barbados and resumed the voyage on 24 June, arriving at Quebec on 6 August.

Sackett’s Harbour and Sodas, May & June 1813

The regiment was at Quebec until early September when they moved to Montreal and then stationed at Fort Chamblée on the River Sorel. Their strength was 1,094, commanded by Lt-Col Gordon. Their task was to defend Lower Canada against American incursions. On 29 May a detachment of 25 men and two sergeants were part of a force sent to attack insurgents at Sackett’s Harbour. In this action 2 men were killed, 7 wounded and one taken prisoner. On 20 June, two companies led by Lt-Col Gordon, having travelled by boat from Kingston, attacked a strong enemy position at Sodas. They destroyed buildings and removed a quantity of stores but 3 men were killed and a sergeant and 3 men were wounded. There was more skirmishing throughout the summer at Four-Mile Creek involving 7 companies of the Royal Scots.

Fort Niagara, 19 Dec 1813

In the battle at Fort Niagara on 19 Dec 1813, Lt-Col Gordon commanded a battalion company which was sent unsuccessfully against a defensive position on the heights of Lewiston. This was carried out with the 41st Regiment but they had to retreat when the assault failed. The grenadier company of the Royal Scots, led by Captain E P Bailey were a central part of the capture of Fort Niagara itself which resulted in the loss to the Americans of guns and stores as well as four armed ships.

Black Rock & Buffalo, 29 Dec 1813

Five companies under Lt-Gordon crossed the river Niagara on 29 Dec and stormed American gun batteries at Black Rock and Buffalo. They then set about burning and laying waste on the frontier as far as Fort Niagara. This was not without a heavy cost in casualties; 2 corporals and 13 men were killed, 3 sergeants and 27 men wounded, and 6 men missing. In a General Order the Deputy Adjutant General, J Harvey praised the battalion, saying,

‘Lieutenant-General Drummond thanks the troops for their exertions and expresses his admiration of the valuable qualities which they have displayed in the course of that short but severe service, in which they have cheerfully borne the absence of almost every comfort, and the rigours of a climate for which they were far from being properly prepared. The immediate reward of their gallant conduct, the Lieutenant-General trusts, will be felt in the repose which they have so well earned for themselves by depriving the enemy of all the means of present annoyance. The more remote recompense of their exertions will be found in the approbation of their King and country.’

This points out how the men must have suffered in the cold of a Canadian winter wearing, probably, the same uniforms that must have been so uncomfortable in the Caribbean heat. The ‘recompense’ must have raised a wry smile when it was announced.

Longwood, 4 March 1814

The light company was stationed at Longwood when a report was received that Canadian militia troops under Captain Caldwell had observed a large force of Americans in a strongly entrenched position fortified with log breastworks. The light companies of the Royal Scots and the 89th regiment led by Captain Basden of the 89th set out at daybreak on 4 March to reinforce Caldwell’s militia. The position was assaulted from the front, with flanking movements by both the Canadians and some Indians. The attack lasted an hour and a half but was unsuccessful in that the Americans were not dislodged, and heavy casualties were incurred; Captain David Johnstone was killed as well as one sergeant and 9 men. Lieutenant Angus Macdonald was wounded along with two sergeants and 37 men. A bugler was taken prisoner.

Chippewa, 5 July 1814

The most costly battle, in terms of casualties, occurred at Chippewa on 5 July 1814. The 1st Battalion was stationed at Fort George on 1 June. On 5 July the light company and 5 battalion companies went to Chippewa and fought against a superior force of Americans. The result was a defeat for the battalion. The losses were; Captain E P Bailey, 5 sergeants and 71 men killed. Captains Bird and Wilson were severely wounded and captured. Lt-Col Gordon was wounded as well as 7 other officers. Twelve sergeants and 132 men were also wounded. Five sergeants and 72 men were missing, presumed captured.

Niagara Falls, 26 July 1814

Yet one more battle took place in this district that caused further heavy casualties. On 25 July three companies set out from Fort George, crossed the river Niagara, and marched to Lewiston. There they successfully defeated the enemy and removed their stores and equipment. They then recrossed the river at Queenston and marched towards Niagara Falls. They linked up with their other companies who had come from Fifteen-Mile Creek. A battle ensued at Lundy’s Lane, lasting from 5pm until half-past midnight. The Americans were defeated on this occasion and retreated to Chippewa. Lieutenant W Hemphill, 3 sergeants, a drummer and 48 men were killed or missing. Three officers, 4 sergeants and 93 men were wounded. Three officers were captured; Lieuts Clyne, Lamont and Fraser. Divisional General Orders singled out the battalion for praise: ‘The admirable steadiness of the Royal Scots under Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, at several very critical points and movements, claim the Lieutenant-General’s particular notice.’

Storming Fort Erie

Explosion at Fort Erie, 14 Aug 1814

In August 1814 the battalion was posted to the area of Fort Erie, pitching camp not far from the fort. On 10 Aug there was a severe confrontation that caused the death of Lieutenant Gregor McGregor and 3 men, with 9 men wounded. On 14 Aug the battalion was split up for simultaneous attacks on the enemy lines at Fort Erie and at Snake Hill. The fort was assaulted, but mines were detonated by the enemy causing the death of one officer, Capt Torrens, and 32 men. Two sergeants and 37 men were maimed and wounded. The survivors had to retreat from the position.

Fort Erie, 17 Sep 1814

There was constant fighting for the rest of August and September. On 9 Sep an officer and two men were killed. On 17 Sep the main battle occurred which lasted 5 hours. The Americans made a sortie from Fort Erie but they were checked by the Royal Scots, the 89th Regiment and the Glengarry Light Infantry. The losses to the battalion were once more very heavy. Two sergeants and 22 men were killed or missing. The CO, Lt-Col Gordon was wounded but died of his injuries on 25 Sep. Lieutenant Rutledge was severely wounded and died a few hours later. Thirty other men were wounded. This was the last major battle fought by the regiment in the North American campaign. They sailed from Quebec at the end of May 1815 and arrived at Portsmouth on 17 July. The authorities were quick to acknowledge the sacrifice made by the 1st Battalion Royal Scots and awarded the battle honour NIAGARA on 19 May 1815. This honour was shared by 7 other regiments; the 6th, 8th, 41st, 82nd, 89th, 100th and the 23rd Light Dragoons. The 103rd and 104th also had this honour but were disbanded soon afterwards.

Voyage to India, 1807

The 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment had come home from the West Indies in January 1806 and were stationed in Hastings, with a strength of only 500. Two more battalions of the Royals were raised in 1804 and stationed at Bexhill. So when an order arrived that the 2nd Battalion were to sail to India, they increased their strength to 1,000 by simply stripping the new battalions of 500 of their men. The reason for the sudden mobilisation was a mutiny of native troops at Vellore and the need to reinforce the British regiments there. The battalion, under the command of Lt-Col A Stewart, marched to Portsmouth and embarked on 17 April 1807. The first leg of the voyage lasted 5 months. They landed at Prince Edward Island on 18 Sep, a remote island 1,000 miles south of the African continent. It was so unhealthy there that in two months they lost around 100 men from sickness, having suffered almost no illness on the voyage. They continued their trip to India and landed at Madras in December. The following account of the battalion’s hard service in India is taken from Major Wetherall’s Historical Account which is based on first-hand knowledge, being an officer of the battalion at the time.

Mahrattas and Pindaris, 1813 - 1817

The first few years were uneventful, although in 1811 they were ordered to Java but the expedition was cancelled, ‘to the inexpressible regret of all’. Then in July 1812 there was the ‘disagreeable service’ of quelling a mutiny at Quilon. In April 1813 the right wing of the regiment served on a field force in the southern Mahratta country for a whole year. The battalion were stationed at Hyderabad when, in November 1814, they joined a field force at Ellichapore commanded by Brigadier-General John Doveton to act against the Pindaris who were ravaging central India. Fighting against these mounted gangs lasted until late 1817 when the problem was deemed to have been dealt with.

Battle of Nagpore, 16 Dec 1817

The Marquis of Hastings, Governor General of India from 1813 to 1823, appointed Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Hislop to carry out operations against Scindea, a powerful Mahratta ruler who had taken upon himself a mission to rid the country of the East India Company.

Battle of Nagpore

The army was in seven divisions, and the 2nd Royal Scots were split up; the flank companies served in the first Division while the battalion companies served in the second Division under Brigadier-General Doveton. This meant that the two major battles, at Nagpore and Maheidpoor, both involved elements of the regiment (titled Royal Scots, as from 1812). Doveton received an urgent call for help from the British Resident at Nagpore in November 1817. The troops stationed there under the command of Colonel Hopeton Scott had managed to hold off repeated attacks by vastly superior numbers at Seetabuldee on 26 Nov but were finally saved by the 6th Regiment of Madras Light Cavalry.

When Doveton’s division arrived on the scene on 16 Dec, there were signs that the Rajah of Nagpore would accede to demands to surrender his guns and disperse his troops, but such was the lack of trust in the Rajah’s intentions that battle lines were drawn up in preparation. The eight companies of the Royal Scots were divided amongst three brigades, each being placed with artillery and battalions of native infantry. Facing them was a Mahratta army of 21,000 of which 14,000 were mounted men. There were also several batteries of guns, and 40 elephants. The Rajah did surrender one gun battery but his men began to fire on Doveton’s right hand brigade. The infantry were sent in to attack the remaining batteries and neutralise them. The enemy’s right battery was seized, followed by the centre battery. The 6th Madras Native Light Cavalry and Horse Artillery concentrated on the enemy left and after a sharp fight the battery on that side was captured. Forty-one guns were captured from the battlefield as well as 23 more in a nearby depot. The pursuit of the enemy went on for 5 miles. The army lost 141 killed and wounded of which the Royal Scots lost 9 men killed and 26 wounded.

The Siege of Nagpore City, Dec 1817

The battle of Nagpore had taken place in the area in front of the fortified city but there were still 5,000 of the Rajah’s armed men inside for its defence. There was a half-hearted peace offer from the city but it was not taken seriously, and the siege began on the 19th Dec. A battery was prepared opposite the Jumma Durwazza Gate and the next day another battery 300 yards away. The defenders negotiated new terms but this was again ignored, and yet one more battery prepared. On the 23rd Dec the arch of the main gate was brought down and three simultaneous assaults were planned against three breaches in the walls. Each assault was to be carried out by a company of the Royal Scots together with native infantry, the one against the main gate was led by Lieutenant Bell who had served in the Peninsula with the 3rd Battalion. Sadly he was killed in the assault which proved to be harder than expected as the breach was not accessible enough. Similar problems applied to the other assaults which, together with the accurate musket fire of Arab marksmen from the walls, forced withdrawals in each case. However, the defenders realised that the besiegers were determined and once more negotiated a peaceful end to the siege. On 1 Jan 1818 the defenders marched out of Nagpore without surrendering their weapons, most of them heading for Mulleygaum where the battalion were later required to fight them once more. Casualty figures for the eight companies of the battalion, commanded by Lieut-Col Fraser, that fought at the siege of Nagpore between the 19th to the 24th Dec was one officer and 10 men killed, 2 sergeants and 49 men wounded. The battle honour for NAGPORE was awarded to the Royal Scots on 26 Feb 1823, the only regiment of the British Army to have this honour.

Maheidpore, 22 Dec 1817

While the eight battalion companies of the 2nd Royal Scots were fighting at Nagpore, the grenadier and light companies under Captain Hulme were allotted to the first Division of the Deccan Field Force commanded initially by Brigadier-General Sir John Malcolm. They marched from Jaulnah on 11 Oct and on 30 Nov crossed the river Nerbuddah in flat-bottomed boats. They reached Peepleea on 8 Dec, camping at Oojein, and advanced on 22 Dec towards Maheidpore where Holkar, the Mahratta leader was based. Holkar’s army was deployed along the other side of the river Seeprah which Malcolm’s force had to cross. This was accomplished with some difficulty as the enemy artillery, 800 yards distant, fired on them as they waded over. The Royal Scots flank companies were tasked with attacking the enemy left flank and a derelict village on a low hill. This attack was carried out in a steady but determined way that inspired the Indian troops. It was also an act of ‘desperate service’ because the enemy artillery were firing shrapnel which caused horrific injuries. A bayonet charge forced Holkar’s infantry to retreat but his gunners continued their deadly cannonade. The village was abandoned by the enemy and they were pursued to their camp which was attacked by the Royal Scots causing a retreat across the river. The Field Force was victorious but had suffered 778 killed and wounded. The 2nd Bn Royal Scots flank companies lost one officer (Lt Donald McLeod), one sergeant and 7 men killed; 2 officers, 4 sergeants, one bugler, and 27 men wounded or maimed. The Commander-in-Chief, Sir Thomas Hislop issued a General Order that contained this:

“The undaunted heroism displayed by the flank companies of the Royal Scots, in storming and carrying at the point of the bayonet the enemy’s guns on the right of Lieutenant-Colonel Scot’s brigade, was worthy of the high name and reputation of that regiment. Lieutenant McLeod fell gloriously in the charge; and the conduct of Captain Hulme, Captain McGregor, and of every officer and man belonging to it, entitles them to his Excellency’s most favourable report and warmest commendation.”

Despite the fact that only the two flank companies were involved, the Royal Scots were awarded the battle honour MAHEIDPORE on 26 Feb 1823. One other European regiment earned this honour, the 102nd Madras Regiment employed by the East India Company, later, in 1881, to be the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

Fort Talnier, 28 Feb 1818

Fort Talnier

The army was combined with the Bombay army at Taul on 30 Dec 1817 and was initially ordered to attack Asseerghur but plans were changed and they instead marched to one of Holkar’s strongholds, Fort Talnier. They camped on the bank of the river Taptee, on 27 Feb 1818 and sent a summons for surrender to the Killedar, the commander of the fort. The response was discouraging so the siege began on 28 Feb. There was only one entrance to the fort but it involved going through five successive gates ‘communicating by intricate traverses’. The artillery made little impression on the outer gate but after further unsuccessful peace talks, a storming party was organised, led by Major Gordon and made up of the flank companies of the Royal Scots and of the 102nd Madras Regiment, and some pioneers. They managed to get through an opening in the damaged outer gate under a covering fire. Once inside they attempted to blow up the gate to allow guns in to blast the next gate. Access was gained through the other gates and the party was joined by Lieutenant-Colonel McGregor-Murray. He and Major Gordon together with a few grenadiers stood at the 5th gate hoping to hold talks with the Killedar. But it was almost impossible to talk against the noise of battle going on around them. They managed to get through, and to show peaceful intention, Colonel Murray kept his sword sheathed. He was followed by Major Gordon and 3 men, and as soon as they were inside, they were set upon. All were cut to pieces but Murray fell back badly wounded. A grenadier managed to prevent the gate from closing and two officers pulled Colonel Murray clear. A concentration of musket fire through the opening forced the defenders back. The storming party rushed through led by Captain P. McGregor who was killed in the fighting. The army took possession of the fort and took their revenge for the vicious attack. The Killedar was hanged that same evening. Lieutenant John McGregor found his dead brother and was wounded as he tried to protect the body from further cuts.

Pursuit of the Peishwah

In March 1818 the forces were reorganised so that the 2nd Battalion was split in half. Five companies, including the grenadier and light companies were sent to Hyderabad while the other five joined General Doveton’s field force. Lieutenant-Colonel Fraser was CO of this wing, and command of two companies of the battalion was given to Captain Joseph Wetherall on whose Historical Account this narrative is based.

Doveton’s objective was the pursuit and capture of Bajee Rao, the Peishwah, leader of the Mahrattas. It was reported, on 18 Mar, that he and his army were approaching Jaulnah so a brigade of infantry, cavalry and artillery, containing 3 companies of the battalion, force-marched there, only to find that the enemy had changed direction. The brigade worked hard to catch up with the Peishwah and were only a day’s march behind when they had to return to Jaulnah for supplies. They had a much needed rest after suffering extreme hardship on the march, and coping with the disappointment of not catching up with the enemy. The 5 companies were further split up so that three of them continued with the pursuit until 26 June by which time the Peishwah had surrendered.

Operations in Candeish, April 1818

The two companies that were removed from the pursuit were sent on operations in the Candeish region. Under the command of Lt-Col McDowell, an EIC officer, the force consisted of a battalion of the 13th Native Infantry, 3 companies of the Madras European Regiment, 5 companies of pioneers, some irregular mounted troops, a company of foot artillery with a battering train of two 18 and two 12 pounders, two mortars, four howitzers and some field guns. The 2 companies of the Royal Scots were commanded by Lieutenant Bland. They laid siege to all the forts in the region that were hostile to the British administration. The first was Unkye on the Candeish Ghats, then Rajdeir and Inderye where some casualties were incurred. The siege of Trimbuck, however, was more difficult. It was a well defended ‘impregnable’ hill fort and took longer than the previous attacks, surrendering finally on 25 April. The Royal Scots companies had 10 men wounded in the siege. The capture of this enemy stronghold was a significant event that enabled the remaining forts, 17 in all, to be more easily neutralised.

Siege of Mulleygaum, May - June 1818

McDowell’s force continued on 29 April with the objective of capturing the fortress of Mulleygaum. This was considered to be the strongest pocket of enemy resistance in the Candeish region. The fort was defended by an outer ditch 25 ft deep and 16 ft wide. The walls were very high with an inner wall of ‘superior masonry’. The defenders were Arab, the same men who had been allowed to leave Nagpore with their weapons on 1 Jan 1818. The siege guns were located at different places around the fort, at a distance of 400 yards. On 18 May the enemy made a sortie to interrupt the preparation of the batteries, but it was repulsed. The next day the bombardment commenced and after much activity, breaches were made in both the inner and outer walls. A storming party of 50 men of the Royal Scots was sent in, commanded by Lt Bland. At the same time two other assaults were to be made, one of which contained 25 men of the battalion under Lt Orrock. All these assaults failed as the breaches were not accessible and the musket fire from the defenders was too effective.

The batteries were relocated and more guns and mortars sent for. The reinforcements contained four 18 and two 12 pounders and six mortars. During the course of the renewed bombardment the fort’s magazine was blown up causing a huge breach in the inner wall. This was enough to convince the Arab defenders that they stood no chance of winning. The surrender took place on 13 June after a siege of 25 days. McDowell’s force had lost 5 officers and 170 killed or wounded. The two companies of the Royal Scots lost 5 men killed, and one ensign, one sergeant and 12 men wounded.

Asseerghur, 18 Mar - 9 April 1819

The battalion was hoping to rest at Jaulnah during the monsoon, albeit under canvas, but on 7 Aug 1818 they were called to Nagpore along with the usual artillery train. The ‘hardships and privations’ suffered by the men can barely be imagined in the heavy rain and mud-filled roads. They camped at Ellichapoor on 3 Sep and could not move until 21 Dec. Nine days later the 5 companies of the Royal Scots were relieved of their duty with the column and sent back to Jaulnah. However, they had little time to recover from their ordeal because they were ordered to escort an artillery train to Boorhaunpoor in preparation for the siege of Asseerghur. They reached there on 1 Mar 1819.

Infantry, cavalry and artillery concentrated and camped at Neembolah, 7 miles from the fortress. The first phase of the siege involved securing the pettah of Asseer, a walled village near the base of the hill. The fortress itself was at the top, with two lines of defence. The hill is 750 feet high with almost perpendicular slopes. The upper wall was honeycombed with loopholes from which the defenders could fire in relative safety. Access to the lower walls was well protected by strong gateways and flanking works. ‘Infinite labour and great skill had been employed in rendering this naturally strong position almost impregnable, and which indeed it might justly be considered if properly defended.’

Asseerghur 1818

The 5 companies of the Royal Scots selected for the attack on the pettah were under the command of Captain Joseph Wetherall, the author of the regimental history. Also in this force were the flank companies of the 30th, the 67th, the Madras Eurpoean Regiment and 5 companies of a Native Infantry Regiment, as well as sappers and miners. The whole force was commanded by Lt-Col Fraser of the Royal Scots. The 18th March was the day chosen for the start of the attack, and the men were paraded at midnight. Their officer, Captain Wetherall, giving us an insight into army life in India at that time, commented on the men’s readiness, writing in the Historical Account:

‘it is only an act of justice to state that such was the soldier-like feeling and esprit de corps of the men (after they were made acquainted, by the commanding officer, with the duty that lay before them) that on their falling in with their companies in the camp at Neembolah, at 12 o’clock on the night of the 17th, there was not one individual amongst them in the least intoxicated, although nearly two thirds of them were “sons of St Patrick”. This is saying a great deal, for in no part of the world is drunkenness, unfortunately, carried to a greater excess by the British soldier than in India, where the facility of procuring spirits is so great that the most abstemious men are too often converted into drunkards.’

The assault party approached via a nullah, and when near enough charged at the gate, forcing an entry. The enemy were caught unawares and it was easy enough to take possession of the pettah. A pursuit then pushed the enemy up to the outer walls of the fortress. Only a few sections of the Royal Scots were able to lead this chase, together with some men of the 30th and 67th. The enemy rallied when they saw that they were followed by only about 25 men, and charged down on them. But a determined bayonet charge changed their minds. The soldiers then came under fire from the walls and were forced to retreat, having lost one man killed and two officers and 11 men wounded.

A bombardment with heavy guns created a breach on the evening of 19 Mar. This was followed by a sortie from the fort which gained the pettah and the main street. In the fighting Lt-Col Fraser was shot in the head and died instantly, but soon afterwards the defenders were driven off. On 21 Mar a disaster occurred when the bombardment began. A pile of 130 barrels of gunpowder stored in the rear of the battery was somehow ignited and caused a huge explosion blowing debris 600 yards and killing 36 men and injuring 66 others.

On the 29th March a breach was made in the lower wall of the fort causing the enemy to relinquish that level and withdraw to the upper fort. The army took possession and moved guns up to construct batteries to threaten the walls of the upper fort. As well as these closely placed guns, there was strenuous work going on pulling heavy guns uphill onto elevated and commanding locations at a distance from the fort, but within range for the mortars and howitzers (24 and 18 pounders). This was the result of extraordinary exertions and herculean labour on the part of the British soldiers. On 31 Mar reinforcements arrived; 2,200 native troops and 22 more heavy guns. The amount of ordnance firing unremittingly at the fort was tremendous and unnerving for the defenders.

On 6 April the Killedar, Jeswunt Roa Lar, sued for peace but he had lost control of his men, and hostilities continued until 8 April when the bombardment was ceased. Early on the morning of 9 April the garrison of 1,200 men surrendered and exited the fort, relinquishing their arms. They had lost 43 men killed and 95 wounded. The casualties of the British and Indian army were 11 European officers, 4 native officers killed or wounded. Of the other ranks 95 European, and 213 native NCOs and men were killed or wounded. The 5 companies of the Royal Scots lost 7 more killed or wounded, on top of the casualties of the 18th Mar when the pettah was attacked at the start of the siege, losing one man killed and 11 wounded (including Lt Bland). Their most notable loss was their CO Lt-Col Fraser. According to Lt-Colonel Blacker’s ‘Mahratta War’,

‘The whole force of all arms, European and native, assembled against Asseerghur, amounted to about 20,000 men; the ordnance of all calibre, amounted to 61 guns, and 40 mortars and howitzers; 119 guns and howitzers, of various sizes, were mounted on the works; some of the guns were of immense calibre, one a 384-pounder!’