"A Most Terrifying Sight: The Royal Scots Greys ..." Topic

….and the Battle of Waterloo.

"The Royal Scots Greys were formed in the early 17th Century from the joining of three Scottish Dragoons regiments. Although they were a cavalry unit, they carried weapons similar to those used by infantry soldiers, including matchlock muskets, halberds, and pistols.

The origin of the name is unclear. Some claim that the name comes from the grey coats that were part of their original uniform. However, there is another theory that the name comes from the color of their horses. Although a 1693 inspection observed that they rode grey horses, this may simply have been down to the availability of grey horses…."

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Amicalement
Armand

My word. What a load of old cobblers'.

So, They charged once, were destoyed doing that (50% casualties) and gained eternal fame ?

That is well worth reading as an example of the quality of "history" one can be exposed to on line. It is written in the style of a young school child or perhaps an automated translation into English. Almost every sentence contains some factual error.

Lady Buttler's painting "Scotland Forever" probably made them more famous than anything else.

Loved the line about the Greys being kept back as supports to the Household and Union Brigades. Why was it called the "Union Brigade" again?

There is a much better write-up on Wiki. link

And they were involved in many more actions than the charge of the Union Brigade at Waterloo, such as the capture of the French Regiment du Roi colors at Ramilles in 1706, capture of the standard of the French Household cavalry at Malplaqeut in 1709, smashing the left wing of the Jacobites at Sheriffmuir in 1715, taking part in Lord Ligonier's cavalry charge at Lauffeld in 1747, covering the retreat of the Allied army at Bergen in 1759, etc., etc. They were even involved in a little fray with the rest of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava in 1854 which is celebrated in Lord Tennyson's other poem, "The Charge of the Heavy Brigade." link

Lady Butler's painting is rather famous. I have a Wilkinson Sword razor company print framed and hanging on my living room wall. Of course one can tell from my "nom de guerre" that I do like all things Scottish.

Jim

Glup!…

Amicalement
Armand

Thanks to Col C both for the longer entry and for the Tennyson; I'd read, years and years ago, that there was a companion-piece to the poem about the Charge of the Light Brigade, described as being "much less famous than it; it is also a far poorer poem". I now acknowledge the justice of that verdict, whatever the ironic intent, or no, of its last phrase.

Yes, it is not as good as "The Charge of the Light Brigade." But at least the Heavy Brigade prevailed in their engagement and "whupped up" on the Russian cavalry.

Jim

Certain advantages to Scarlett's charge, including -as far as I have read – that of riding uphill, a slight incline being comfortable for a horse. The absence of deployed Artillery, and that of a lunatic in command, must have helped too…

>> example of the quality of "history" one can be exposed to on line.

As garbage facts go these have been trotted out in [British] books of military 'lore' and history since the battle itself.

>>So, They charged once, were destoyed doing that (50% casualties).
Yep, nothing special or elite about them, and as for Brit generalship, any commander of cavalry apart from a few should have a minus 2 deduction for most actions!
d

The article is worthless. It makes me ashamed to think that is the type of garbage to be found on British military history websites. It is British isn't it?

BTW- after their famous charge- the survivors of the Greys reformed as a squadron and fought several more times against the French cavalry. They certainly fought on more as a formed unit than the remnants of d'Erlon's Corps who they had mowed down earlier.
The Greys and the rest of the Union Brigade survivors were still in line at the end of the day when the French Army collapsed and fled the field.

PS- Is there another charge in these wars where the French lost two eagles and had so much massive disruption caused to their principal force of infantry all in one go? There might well be but I can't recall it right now.

My favourite has to be
"The Greys returned to action during the Napoleonic Wars and played a significant role at the Battle of Waterloo."

Well not so much 'during the Napoleonic Wars' as 'at the very end of.'

Through no fault of their own, the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons on returning from the Continent in 1795 spent the rest of the Great French war in England, so that by 1815 a significant number of men in the ranks were from Nottingham and the English midlands.

@ReallySameSeneffeAsBefore: that's a really good way of "turning the tables", as it were. 'Nuff sed.

Terrifying Sight… (smile)

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Amicalement
Armand