A Scots Grey at Waterloo

A Scots Grey at Waterloo PDF Author: Gareth Glover
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1473894034
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
William Clarke of Prestonpans, Scotland, joined the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons, the Scots Greys, in 1803. Clarke had risen to the rank of sergeant by the time the regiment was ordered to Belgium on the news that Napoleon had escaped from Elba. Forming part of what became known as the Union Brigade, the Scots Greys played a key role in Napoleons defeat at Waterloo.The John Rylands Library, Manchester, recently acquired William Clarkes 600-page, handwritten memoir describing his enlistment and military career, the highlight of which was the Waterloo campaign, which he describes in unusual detail in the vernacular of the day, presented and annotated by the renowned historian Garth Glover.Thanks to this rare discovery, the reader can follow the movements of the Scots Greys at every stage of the action throughout the three days from Quatre-Bras to that climatic encounter on the Mont St Jean. Clarke naturally portrays the charge of the Union Brigade in dramatic and heroic terms, but he claims that the man who led the charge, Major General William Ponsonby, was killed by a musket ball and not cut down by French cavalry, as is usually stated, for recklessly charging too far.After the battle, Clarke was part of the Burial Party. He then graphically describes the sad scene as he does the trail of the defeated French army as the pursuing Prussians cut a merciless path on their way to Paris.A Scots Grey at Waterloo provides the reader with an exceptionally in-depth account of the actions of the cavalry at Waterloo that will mark this memoir out as one of the most significant to have been published in the last 200 years.

A Scots Grey at Waterloo

A Scots Grey at Waterloo PDF Author: Gareth Glover
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1473894034
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
William Clarke of Prestonpans, Scotland, joined the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons, the Scots Greys, in 1803. Clarke had risen to the rank of sergeant by the time the regiment was ordered to Belgium on the news that Napoleon had escaped from Elba. Forming part of what became known as the Union Brigade, the Scots Greys played a key role in Napoleons defeat at Waterloo.The John Rylands Library, Manchester, recently acquired William Clarkes 600-page, handwritten memoir describing his enlistment and military career, the highlight of which was the Waterloo campaign, which he describes in unusual detail in the vernacular of the day, presented and annotated by the renowned historian Garth Glover.Thanks to this rare discovery, the reader can follow the movements of the Scots Greys at every stage of the action throughout the three days from Quatre-Bras to that climatic encounter on the Mont St Jean. Clarke naturally portrays the charge of the Union Brigade in dramatic and heroic terms, but he claims that the man who led the charge, Major General William Ponsonby, was killed by a musket ball and not cut down by French cavalry, as is usually stated, for recklessly charging too far.After the battle, Clarke was part of the Burial Party. He then graphically describes the sad scene as he does the trail of the defeated French army as the pursuing Prussians cut a merciless path on their way to Paris.A Scots Grey at Waterloo provides the reader with an exceptionally in-depth account of the actions of the cavalry at Waterloo that will mark this memoir out as one of the most significant to have been published in the last 200 years.

Scotland Forever

Scotland Forever PDF Author: Iain Gale
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 0857908553
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 162

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Book Description
A colorful account of the part played by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in the Battle of Waterloo—and their contribution to victory over Napoleon. One of the most iconic incidents of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 was the charge of the Scots Greys, a crack cavalry regiment, into the heart of the French army. It was a moment of supreme daring and horse-riding skill, and Sergeant Ewart of the Greys succeeded in snatching one of Napoleon’s coveted eagle standards. However, it was also a military blunder. The Greys were quickly surrounded by enemy cavalry and cut to pieces. Of the regiment’s 442 officers and men almost half, 198, were killed or injured. In the end the battle was won by the British and their allies and the eagle of the French 45th regiment is now on show in Edinburgh Castle. Iain Gale brings the bare outline of this legendary military exploit to life, giving the stories of the men involved and reconstructing the prelude, the aftermath, life in the Greys and the Battle of Waterloo as a whole. It is a uniquely exciting story of courage and military tactics in the heat of war. “The reader is thrown headfirst into the chaos of the battle, truly evoking the great sense of the terror endured by the brave cavalry.” —Scottish Field

The Waterloo Roll Call

The Waterloo Roll Call PDF Author: Charles Dalton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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The History of the Second Dragoons

The History of the Second Dragoons PDF Author: Edward Almack
Publisher: London : [s.n.]
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 436

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Book Description


Grey's Ghosts: Men of the Scots Greys at Waterloo 1815

Grey's Ghosts: Men of the Scots Greys at Waterloo 1815 PDF Author: Stuart Mellor
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781902366524
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 124

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Book Description
This book is mainly a study of the individual men of the Scots Greys who fought at the battle of Waterloo, 18th June 1815. The word 'Ghosts' in the title refers to the hitherto, in many cases, unrecognised heroes whose courage and brave deeds are deserving of description and mention, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. This book is of interest to students of the Waterloo period and is of particular value and assistance to medal and military collectors of this era. Stuart Mellor's research has brought to light much new information. Included are: Biographical notes on all participants; Roll of Honour; Facsimile of the Official Medal Roll

Scottish Military Disasters

Scottish Military Disasters PDF Author: Paul Cowan
Publisher: Neil Wilson Publishing Ltd
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
A compilation of Scotland's failures on the battlefields of the world from Mons Graupius to Korea.

Words of Command

Words of Command PDF Author: Allan Mallinson
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 144817127X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 402

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Book Description
Once again, THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson captivates readers with an eminently readable piece of historical fiction. If you're a fan of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, you'll love this. 'The Matthew Hervey books have a way of getting under your skin...reveals a man who is very much of his time -and one to have beside you when riding into action.' - DAILY MAIL 'One for the fans, who will not be disappointed by Mallinson's winning combination of scrupulous research and derring-do...with the French in front and the Russians behind, Hervey's your man.' - THE TIMES 'Leaves the reader slavering for the next instalment.' -- ***** Reader review 'This is historical fiction at its very best.' -- ***** Reader review 'Such a pleasure to read a well written, well edited, well researched, readable piece of historical fiction.' -- ***** Reader review ****************************************************************** January 1830, and one of the hardest winters in memory... The prime minister, the Iron Duke, is resisting growing calls for parliamentary reform, provoking scenes of violent unrest in the countryside. Against this inflammable backdrop Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Hervey, recently returned from an assignment in the Balkans, takes command of his regiment, the 6th Light Dragoons. His fears that things might be a little dull are quickly dispelled by the everyday business of vexatious officers, NCOs promotions and incendiarists on the doorstep of the King himself. But it's when the Sixth are sent to Brussels for the fifteenth anniversary celebrations of the battle of Waterloo and find themselves caught up in the Belgian uprising against Dutch rule that the excitement really starts. Will Hervey be able to keep out of the fighting - a war that would lead, nearly a century later, to Britain's involvement in an altogether different war - while safeguarding his country's interests? Not likely!

The History of the 2nd Dragoons 'Royal Scots Greys'

The History of the 2nd Dragoons 'Royal Scots Greys' PDF Author: Edward Almack
Publisher: anboco
ISBN: 3736407688
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
In bidding farewell to this book before publication, I am most anxious to thank with hearty sincerity all those who, as past or present officers and friends of this historic regiment, have helped my efforts. There are two names above all that I must most particularly record— that of Colonel Coventry Williams, lately commanding the Greys, who has helped in so many details, though I can only particularly refer readers to pages 291, 292 and 293. Colonel Williams is the half-brother of Captain Williams, a portrait of whom, as he stands by his charger, I have been able to include in this volume, and who, as named by Kinglake (quoted on page 78), brought the Greys out of action at Balaclava. There, too, Kinglake refers to the anonymous officer whose Crimean recollections are given on pages 80 to 84. That officer has since died, and so, too, has Russell, the famous Times correspondent, with whom he was exchanging affectionate greetings. In the next place I must record my gratitude to Major Lindsay, who has shown the keen instinct native to the noble house of Crawford. His grandfather opened his famous record with this quotation from "Schir David Lyndesay of the Mont allias lyoun herauld king of Armes":—

The Face of Battle

The Face of Battle PDF Author: John Keegan
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1440673993
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description
John Keegan's groundbreaking portrayal of the common soldier in the heat of battle -- a masterpiece that explores the physical and mental aspects of warfare The Face of Battle is military history from the battlefield: a look at the direct experience of individuals at the "point of maximum danger." Without the myth-making elements of rhetoric and xenophobia, and breaking away from the stylized format of battle descriptions, John Keegan has written what is probably the definitive model for military historians. And in his scrupulous reassessment of three battles representative of three different time periods, he manages to convey what the experience of combat meant for the participants, whether they were facing the arrow cloud at the battle of Agincourt, the musket balls at Waterloo, or the steel rain of the Somme. The Face of Battle is a companion volume to John Keegan's classic study of the individual soldier, The Mask of Command: together they form a masterpiece of military and human history.

Those Terrible Grey Horses

Those Terrible Grey Horses PDF Author: Stephen Wood
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472813480
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and their antecedents have been involved in every major British campaign since the 17th century. On 18 June 1815, the Royal Scots Greys charged Napoleon's infantry columns, capturing the eagle of the French 45th Infantry. Napoleon is said to have commented of the regiment, 'Ah, ces terribles chevaux gris (those terrible grey horses)'. Today that eagle is the regimental badge of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Scotland's senior regiment and her only regular cavalry. Here Stephen Wood tells the story of glorious cavalry charges and terrifying tank battles, from the Western Front to the liberation of Basra. Stunning paintings bring the narrative to life while contemporary photography depicts both the horror and the compassion of modern warfare as witnessed by the officers and troopers of this unique regiment.