13th Light Dragoons


Allan Thomas Maclean



A. T. Maclean joined up in January1810 as an Ensign in the 2nd West India Regiment but when the 13th embarked for Portugal in March of that year he sold out and bought a cornetcy to be with them. He caught up with them in August and was engaged in every battle to the end of the Peninsula War. He was thanked by Sir John Byng for his conduct in the Pyrenees in August 1813 and by Sir Henry fane for his behaviour at the crossing of the Garve d'Oleron before the battle of Orthes. The portrait shows him wearing a medal for the War, with six clasps. The other medal is his Waterloo medal where, it seems he was lucky to be, as the records show that he was wounded and captured at Conches, 13th March 1814.
Maclean was a captain in 1818 and a Major in 1830. He became Lieutenant Colonel in 1834, commanding the regiment for 11 years. Promotion continued up to the rank of Major-General. He was appointed Colonel of the regiment 12th November 1860. His tenure lasted 8 years during which time the 13th Light Dragoons became the 13th Hussars.
The portrait shows him in scarlet jacket and dark blue trousers all with gold lace and fittings.(see Spooner print).


13th Light Dragoons: Colonels | Regimental details


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by Stephen Luscombe