Historical Record of the Second, or Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot / Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in the Year 1661, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1837

Horse-Guards, 16th May, 1801.

The recent events which have occurred in Egypt have induced His Majesty to lay his most gracious commands on His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, to convey to the troops employed in that country His Majesty's highest approbation of their conduct; and at the same time His Majesty has deemed it expedient, that these his gracious sentiments should be communicated to every part of His Army, not doubting that all ranks will thereby be inspired with an honourable spirit of emulation, and an eager desire of distinguishing themselves in their country's service.

Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes the successes that have attended the exertions of his troops in Egypt, to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but his Majesty desires it may be most solemnly and most forcibly impressed on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of Order, Discipline, and Military System, which has given its full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circumstances of peculiar difficulty.

The illustrious example of their Commander cannot fail to have made an indelible impression on the gallant troops, at whose head, crowned with victory and glory, he terminated his honourable career; and His Majesty trusts that a due contemplation of the talents and virtues, which he uniformly displayed in the course of his valuable life, will for ever endear the memory of Sir Ralph Abercrombie to the British Army.

His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief having thus obeyed His Majesty's commands, cannot forbear to avail himself of this opportunity of recapitulating the leading features of a series of operations so honourable to the British Arms.

The boldness of the approach to the coast of Aboukir, in defiance of a powerful and well-directed artillery,—the orderly formation upon the beach, under the heaviest fire of grape and musketry,—the reception and repulse of the enemy's cavalry and infantry,—the subsequent charge of our troops, which decided the victory, and established a footing on the shores of Egypt, are circumstances of glory never surpassed in the military annals of the world!

The advance of the army, on the 13th of March, towards Alexandria, presents the spectacle of a movement of infantry through an open country, who, being attacked upon their march, formed, and repulsed the enemy; then advanced in line for three miles, engaged along their whole front, until they drove the enemy to seek his safety under the protection of his entrenched position. Such had been the order and regularity of the advance!

Upon the 21st of March, the united force of the French in Egypt attacked the position of the British Army.

An attack, begun an hour before daylight, could derive no advantage over the vigilance of an army ever ready to receive it. The enemy's most vigorous and repeated efforts were directed against the right and centre. Our infantry fought in the plain, greatly inferior in the number of their artillery, and unaided by cavalry.

They relied upon their discipline and their courage. The desperate attacks of a veteran cavalry, joined to those of a numerous infantry, which had vainly styled itself Invincible, were everywhere repulsed: and a conflict the most severe terminated in one of the most signal victories which ever adorned the annals of the British nation!

In bringing forward these details, the Commander-in-Chief does not call upon the Army merely to admire but to emulate such conduct. Every soldier who feels for the honour of his country, while he exults in events so splendid and important in themselves, will henceforth have fresh motives for cherishing and enforcing the practice of discipline, and by uniting, in the greatest perfection, order and precision with activity and courage, will seek to uphold, and transmit undiminished to posterity, the Glory and Honour of the British Arms.

Nor is a less useful example to be derived from the conduct of the distinguished Commander who fell in the field.

His steady observance of discipline,—his ever watchful attention to the health and wants of his troops,—the persevering and unconquerable spirit which marked his military career,—the splendour of his actions in the field, and the heroism of his death,—are worthy the imitation of all who desire, like him, a life of honour and a death of glory.

By Order of His Royal Highness
The Commander-in-Chief,

Harry Calvert,
Colonel and Adjutant-General.

Note.—The 10th, 80th, 86th, and 88th Regiments proceeded from the East Indies, overland, under the orders of Major-General David Baird, to join the Army in Egypt.

His Majesty's Ship Audacious,
18th January, 1809.

The irreparable loss that has been sustained by the fall of the Commander of the Forces, Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, and the severe wound which has removed Lieutenant-General Sir David Baird from his station, render it the duty of Lieutenant-General Hope to congratulate the Army upon the successful result of the action of the 16th instant.

On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered.

These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position or of numbers he may employ, there is inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that knows not how to yield,—that no circumstances can appal,—and that will ensure victory when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.

The Lieutenant-General has the greatest satisfaction in distinguishing such meritorious services as came within his observation, or have been brought to his knowledge.

His acknowledgments are in a peculiar manner due to Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck, and the brigade under his command, consisting of the 4th, 42nd, and 50th regiments, which sustained the weight of the attack.

Major-General Manningham, with his brigade, consisting of the Royals, the 26th and 81st regiments, and Major-General Warde, with the brigade of Guards, will also be pleased to accept his best thanks for their steady and gallant conduct during the action.

To Major-General Paget, who, by a judicious movement of the reserve, effectually contributed to check the progress of the enemy on the right, and to the 1st battalion of the 52nd and 95th regiments, which were thereby engaged, the greatest praise is justly due.

That part of Major-General Leith's brigade which was engaged, consisting of the 59th regiment under the conduct of the Major-General, also claims marked approbation.

The enemy not having rendered the attack on the left a serious one, did not afford to the troops stationed in that quarter an opportunity of displaying that gallantry which must have made him repent the attempt.

The piquets and advanced posts, however, of the brigades under the command of Major-Generals Hill and Leith, and Colonel Catlin Craufurd, conducted themselves with determined resolution, and were ably supported by the officers commanding these brigades, and by the troops of which they were composed.

It is peculiarly incumbent upon the Lieutenant-General to notice the vigorous attack made by the 2nd battalion of the 14th regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolls, which drove the enemy out of the village, of the left of which he had possessed himself.

The exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, Quarter-Master General, and of the other officers of the General Staff, during the action, were unremitted, and deserve every degree of approbation.

The illness of Brigadier-General Clinton, Adjutant-General, unfortunately deprived the army of the benefit of his services.

The Lieutenant-General hopes the loss in point of numbers is not so considerable as might have been expected: he laments, however, the fall of the gallant soldiers and valuable officers who have suffered.

The Lieutenant-General knows that it is impossible in any language he can use to enhance the esteem, or diminish the regret, that the Army feels with him for its late Commander. His career has been unfortunately too limited for his country, but has been sufficient for his own fame. Beloved by the Army, honoured by his Sovereign, and respected by his country, he has terminated a life devoted to her service by a glorious death, leaving his name as a memorial, an example, and an excitement to those who shall follow him in the path of honour, and it is from his country alone that his memory can receive the tribute which is its due.

(Signed) John Hope,
Lieutenant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Horse-Guards, 1st February, 1809.

The benefits derived to an army from the example of a distinguished commander do not terminate at his death: his virtues live in the recollection of his associates, and his fame remains the strongest incentive to great and glorious actions.

In this view, the Commander-in-Chief, amidst the deep and universal regret which the death of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore has occasioned, recalls to the troops the military career of that illustrious officer for their instruction and imitation.

Sir John Moore from his youth embraced the profession with the feelings and sentiments of a soldier;—he felt that a perfect knowledge and an exact performance of the humble but important duties of a subaltern officer are the best foundations for subsequent military fame; and his ardent mind, while it looked forward to those brilliant achievements for which it was formed, applied itself, with energy and exemplary assiduity, to the duties of that station.

In the school of regimental duty he obtained that correct knowledge of his profession so essential to the proper direction of the gallant spirit of the soldier; and he was enabled to establish a characteristic order and regularity of conduct, because the troops found in their leader a striking example of the discipline which he enforced on others.

Having risen to command, he signalised his name in the West Indies, in Holland, and in Egypt. The unremitting attention with which he devoted himself to the duties of every branch of his profession obtained him the confidence of Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and he became the companion in arms of that illustrious officer, who fell at the head of his victorious troops in an action which maintained our national superiority over the arms of France.

Thus Sir John Moore at an early period obtained, with general approbation, that conspicuous station in which he gloriously terminated his useful and honourable life.

In a military character obtained amidst the dangers of climate, the privations incident to service, and the sufferings of repeated wounds, it is difficult to select any one point as a preferable subject for praise: it exhibits, however, one feature so particularly characteristic of the man, and so important to the best interests of the service, that the Commander-in-Chief is pleased to mark it with his peculiar approbation—

The life of Sir JOHN MOORE was spent among the
Troops.

During the season of repose, his time was devoted to the care and instruction of the officer and soldier; in war he courted service in every quarter of the globe. Regardless of personal considerations, he esteemed that to which his country called him, the post of honour, and by his undaunted spirit and unconquerable perseverance, he pointed the way to victory.

His country, the object of his latest solicitude, will rear a monument to his lamented memory, and the Commander-in-Chief feels he is paying the best tribute to his fame by thus holding him forth as an Example to the Army.

By Order of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief.

Harry Calvert,
Adjutant-General.

The following Regiments composed the Army under Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, at Corunna, on the 16th January, 1809.

Horse Guards, 18th August, 1809.

The Commander-in-Chief has received the King's commands to notify to the Army the splendid victory obtained by His Troops in Spain, under the command of Lieutenant-General the Right Honourable Sir Arthur Wellesley, on the 27th and 28th of last month, at the Battle of Talavera de la Reyna.

His Majesty is confident that His Army will learn with becoming exultation that the enemy, after escaping by a precipitate retreat from the well-concerted attack with which Sir Arthur Wellesley, in conjunction with the Spanish Army, had threatened him on the 24th of July, concentrated his force, by calling to his aid the corps under the French General Sebastiani and the garrison of Madrid, and thus reinforced, again approached the Allied Army on the 27th of July; and on this occasion, owing to the local circumstances of its position, and to the deliberate purpose of the enemy to direct his whole efforts against the Troops of His Majesty, the British Army sustained nearly the whole weight of this great contest, and has acquired the glory of having vanquished a French army double their numbers, not in a short and partial struggle, but in a battle obstinately contested on two successive days, (not wholly discontinued even throughout the intervening night,) and fought under circumstances which brought both armies into close and repeated combat.

The King, in contemplating so glorious a display of the valour and prowess of His Troops, has been graciously pleased to command that his Royal approbation of the conduct of the Army serving under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley shall be thus publicly declared in General Orders.

The Commander-in-Chief has received the King's commands to signify in the most marked and special manner the sense His Majesty entertains of Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley's personal services on this memorable occasion, not less displayed in the result of the battle itself than in the consummate ability, valour, and military resource with which the many difficulties of this arduous and protracted contest were met and provided for by his experience and judgment.

The conduct of Lieutenant-General Sherbrooke, second in command, has entitled him to the King's marked approbation. His Majesty has observed with satisfaction the manner in which he led on the Troops to the charge with the bayonet—a species of combat which, on all occasions, so well accords with the dauntless character of British soldiers.

His Majesty has noticed with the same gracious approbation the conduct of the several General and other Officers—all have done their duty; most of them have had occasions of eminently distinguishing themselves, the instances of which have not escaped His Majesty's attention.

It is His Majesty's command that His Royal approbation and thanks shall be given in the most distinct and most particular manner to the Non-Commissioned Officers and Private Men. In no instance have they displayed with greater lustre their native valour and characteristic energy; nor have they on any former occasion more decidedly proved their superiority over the inveterate enemy of their country.

Brilliant, however, as is the victory obtained at Talavera, it is not solely on that occasion that Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley and the Troops under his command, are entitled to His Majesty's applause. The important service effected in an early part of the campaign by the same Army, under the command of the same distinguished General, by the rapid march on the Douro, the passage of that river, the total discomfiture of the enemy, and his expulsion from the territory of one of His Majesty's ancient and most faithful Allies, are circumstances which have made a lasting impression on His Majesty's mind; and have induced His Majesty to direct, that the operations of this arduous and eventful campaign shall be thus recorded, as furnishing splendid examples of military skill, fortitude, perseverance, and of a spirit of enterprise calculated to produce emulation in every part of His Army, and largely to add to the renown and to the military character of the British nation.

By Order of the Right Honourable General Sir David Dundas, Commander-in-Chief.

Harry Calvert,
Adjutant-General.

The following Regiments were engaged at the Battle of Talavera de la Reyna, on the 27th and 28th July, 1809: viz.

* These two Battalions were formed on the 1st of February, 1809, and consisted of detachments which had been left in Portugal, belonging to the Regiments composing the division of the army, which had marched into Spain under the orders of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore.

The English Regiments of Foot had formerly a Colour to every Company[37]. They were afterwards formed into Three Divisions on the same principle as the Continental Armies, viz., Two wings of Musketeers, and a Centre Division of Pikemen. Each Division had a Stand of Colours, that it might act separately. The Swedish Infantry were formed in this manner, by Gustavus Adolphus, and were copied by Marshals de Turenne and Montecuculi.

This mode of formation was, however, changed during the reign of Queen Anne, when the general adoption of Bayonets took place, and, the Division of Pikemen being discontinued, the Third Colour became unnecessary, and was consequently laid aside.

The Queen's Royal Regiment had originally a Colour to every Company, and after the year 1688 it had Three Stand of Colours, in common with other Regiments: it happened, however, that the Third Colour was retained in possession by the Queen's Royal until 1750, probably from the long absence of the Regiment on Foreign Service, it having embarked in 1730 for Gibraltar, where it remained until 1749.

A belief had thus been induced that the Queen's Royal Regiment had been permitted, AS A DISTINCTION, to carry Three Colours, as appears by a Letter from General Robert Donkin, who entered the Regiment as an Ensign in 1747, and served in it until 1759. He states,—"On our marching over Island Bridge into Dublin duty in 1750, the Third Colour was, by order of General Fowke (then Colonel of the Regiment), taken out of my hand, furled, and never flew since. The men grumbled exceedingly. I felt myself hurt at being deprived of an honour no other Corps then enjoyed."

With a view of establishing Uniformity throughout the Army in the Colours, Clothing, and Appointments of the several Regiments,—a Warrant, dated 1st July, 1751, was issued by King George II., for regulating the Clothing, Standards, Colours, &c., of Regiments of Cavalry and Infantry. By this Warrant it is directed that—

"The King's or First Colour of every Regiment is to be the Great Union throughout;"—and that, "The Second Colour is to be the Colour of the Facing of the Regiment, with the Union in the Upper Canton."

At this period the Facing of the Queen's Royal Regiment was Sea-Green, which was the original Facing of the Corps.

It is further directed, in the same Warrant, under the head of "Devices and Badges of the Royal Regiments, and of the six old Corps," as follows:—

"Second Regiment, or, The Queen's Royal Regiment."

"In the Centre of each Colour, the Queen's Cypher on a red ground, within the Garter, and Crown over it: in the Three Corners of the Second Colour, the Lamb, being the ancient badge of the Regiment."

A subsequent Warrant was issued on the 19th December, 1768, by Command of His Majesty King George III., prescribing "Regulations for the Colours, Clothing, &c., of the Marching Regiments of Foot." This Warrant contains the same directions as that of 1751 regarding "the First and Second Colours of Regiments," and "the Devices and Badges of the Royal Regiments and of the Six Old Corps." The Facing of the Queen's Royal Regiment was, at this period, changed from Green to Blue.

Neither of the Royal Warrants above mentioned contains any Authority for the Queen's Royal Regiment bearing a Third Colour.

The foregoing Statement shows, therefore, that, although the Third Colour so long remained in possession of the Queen's Royal Regiment, after other Regiments had laid it aside, it had been erroneously considered that this Regiment had a peculiar privilege of carrying Three Stand of Colours.

To correct this error, and to maintain uniformity throughout the Army, His Majesty has recently directed "that no Regiment shall, under any circumstances whatever, display a Third Colour;" and the following Letter, dated 14th August, 1835, has been addressed, by His Majesty's Special Command, to Lieutenant-General the Right Honourable Sir James Kempt, G.C.B., as Colonel of the Second, or Queen's Royal Regiment, by the Adjutant-General of the Forces, dated

Horse Guards, 14th August, 1835.

Sir,
By desire of the General Commanding in Chief, I have the honour to make the following Communication to you, for your information and guidance; viz.:

The 5th Foot having, at Malta, preferred a Claim to the distinction of bearing a Third Stand of Colours, Major-General Sir Frederick Ponsonby referred the Case for Lord Hill's consideration, and his Lordship immediately submitted it to the King.

His Majesty at once disallowed this claim, and, at the same time, inquired whether a similar claim had been made and admitted in the case of any other Regiment.

Lord Hill mentioned the case of the Queen's Royal, and fully explained the grounds upon which the distinction of a Third Stand of Colours had, so recently, been conferred upon that Corps; when His Majesty was pleased to decide, that no Regiment in His Majesty's Service should be permitted to display a Third Colour, under any circumstances whatsoever,—and to command that His Majesty's said decision should be notified to you.

The King, however, expressed to Lord Hill His Majesty's earnest hope that you, and the Queen's Royal collectively, would regard this decision, not as a mark of His Majesty's forgetfulness of the uniformly high character of the Regiment, but solely as a proof of His Majesty's determination to establish uniformity in this (as in every other) respect throughout the Army.

His Majesty was graciously pleased to observe, that it was impossible for him to render more manifest the high estimation in which he held the character of the Queen's Royal, than by transferring an Officer of your reputation to the Colonelcy of it, from that of one of the most gallant and distinguished Regiments in the Service; viz., the 40th.

The King was further pleased to observe, that if it were wished upon your part, and upon the part of the Queen's Royal, that the Third Colour should be retained and preserved, His Majesty would not insist upon its being actually withdrawn; but, in making that observation, His Majesty expressly ordered, that on no account should the Third Colour ever be displayed in the Ranks of the Regiment.

Lastly, His Majesty was pleased to Command, that this Letter should be entered in the Regimental Record, as well as in the Standing Orders of the Queen's Royal.

I have, &c.,
John Macdonald, A. G.

South-Street, 19th August, 1835.

Sir,
I have had the honour to receive your Letter of the 14th Instant, signifying to me, by desire of the General Commanding in Chief, that His Majesty has been pleased to decide, that no Regiment in His Majesty's Service shall be permitted to display a Third Colour under any circumstances whatsoever; and that, consequently, the Third Colour now in possession of the Queen's Royal shall not, from henceforth, be displayed in the Ranks of the Regiment.

I will, without delay, transmit a Copy of your Communication to the Officer Commanding the Queen's Royal in India, for his information and guidance, with Orders to enter the same in the Regimental Record, as well as in the Standing Orders of the Corps, in obedience to His Majesty's Commands; and I am persuaded, that the Officers and Men of the Queen's Royal, although thereby deprived of a distinction which the Regiment has for some time enjoyed, will, nevertheless, feel as I do, highly gratified by the very gracious terms in which His Majesty has been pleased to direct his decision upon the subject to be communicated to me.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) James Kempt.

To the Adjutant-General.

N. B. In a printed description of the Colours of every Regiment, published in 1684, no mention is made of the Queen's Regiment having the privilege of carrying an additional Colour.

The following is an extract from D'Auvergne's History of the Campaign in Flanders in 1693, relating to the Battle of Landen:—

"'Tis certain that we have taken from them (the French) Nineteen Colours and Thirty-seven Standards, which, considering the proportion of Forces, is more than they gained from us, particularly as to the Number of Colours; for besides that the French had double our number of Foot, their Battalions never have but Three Colours at the most in each;—our Brandenburg and Hanover Foot have as many Colours as there are Companies in every Battalion, insomuch that some Battalions have a dozen;—and, therefore, it is more for us in proportion to have taken Nineteen Colours from them, than if they had taken Fifty from us."

MEMOIR OF SIR HENRY TORRENS.

The following Memoir of the services of Major-General Sir Henry Torrens is inserted, not only with the view of recording his merits as an officer, but of showing to the army and to the public one of the many instances in which the talents of an active and enterprising officer were duly noticed and rewarded by the King, and by His late Royal Highness the Duke of York, as well as by other illustrious commanders of the army:—