Chapter 16 of 32 · 2677 words · ~13 min read

CHAPTER XV

FIRST BATTALION.—THE HISTORY AND PRESENT DESIGNATION OF THE COMPANIES.

IN the beginning of the year 1757, the Regiment consisted of nineteen companies, with four field officers. On the 2nd April four additional companies were added, giving a total of twenty-four companies, inclusive of the Cadet Company.

But there was no organization in existence corresponding to the Battalion, or present Brigade, system. The number of company officers was very great, being no less than 140 at the end of 1756; and as there were only four field officers, the prospect of promotion to the younger men was very disheartening. By introducing the Battalion system, and dividing the companies in some way which should give an excuse for an augmentation in the higher ranks, stagnation would be less immediate, and discontent among the junior ranks postponed. Charles, Duke of Marlborough, being then Master-General, approved of this change, and the Regiment was on the 1st August, 1757, divided into two Battalions, each having three field officers, and a separate staff. The strength of the Regiment, after this change had been introduced, was as follows:—

No. of Companies, 24:—

One Colonel-in-Chief, and one _en seconde_ 2 Field Officers 6 Captains and Captain-Lieutenants 48 Subaltern Officers 117 Chaplain 1 Medical Officers 3 Bridge-master 1 Adjutants 2 Quartermasters 2 Gentlemen Cadets 48 Non-commissioned Officers 322 Gunners 460 Matrosses 1472 Drummers and Fifers 47 ———— Total 2531 ————

The recruiting of Battalions was always carried on by means of parties scattered over England and Scotland, but the men so obtained were liable to be transferred to other Battalions, whose wants might be greater. This system, which still obtains, prevents, and perhaps wisely, any great Battalion, or Brigade _esprit de corps_. The real _esprit_ should be for the Regiment first, and then for the Battery. The organization, by whatever name it may be called, which links a certain number of Batteries together for special purposes, has never been allowed the official respect which is paid to the Battalion system in the Infantry. In the absence of such respect, and in the knowledge that the men who might receive their instruction in one Brigade or Battalion were liable to transfer to another, immediately on the completion of their drills, is to be found the reason why both in the days of Battalions and Brigades there has been no _esprit_ found strong enough to weaken that which should exist in every Artilleryman's mind for his Regiment at large, instead of for a detail of it. At the same time, the transfer system can be carried to an injurious extent. The instruction of recruits is more likely to be thorough, if the instructor feels that he himself is likely to retain under his command those whom he educates. The consciousness that the "_Sic vos non vobis_" system is to be applied to himself must diminish to a certain extent his zeal in instruction. And therefore while no one should be allowed to imagine that his own Battery or his own Brigade is to be considered before the Regiment at large, there can be no doubt that the Depôt system for feeding the Regimental wants is far less cruel than that by which volunteers are called, or transfers ordered, from one portion of the Regiment to another.

The establishment of the 1st Battalion varied very much with the signs of the times. Before the Peninsular War, its greatest strength was in 1758, the year after its formation, when it consisted of 13 companies, and a total of 1383 of all ranks. In 1772, it fell to 8 companies, with a total of 437; but during the American War of Independence, it reached a total of 1259, divided into 11 companies. After the peace of 1783, it was again reduced, falling to a total of 648, in ten companies. During the Peninsular War, the average strength of the Battalion was 1420, the number of companies remaining the same; but as only one company of the Battalion served in the Peninsula, its increased numbers were evidently intended to assist in feeding the companies of other Battalions. After Waterloo it was greatly reduced, and for the next thirty years, its average strength was 700, in 8 companies. In 1846, it rose to a total of 842, and on the outbreak of the War with Russia, in which no fewer than five companies of the Battalion were engaged, further augmentations took place, the totals standing during the war as follows: in 1854, 1208; in 1855, 1336; and in 1856, 1468.

The names of the various Captains who have successively commanded the companies of the 1st Battalion, down to the introduction of the Brigade system, and the new nomenclature in 1859, are given in the following pages, as far as the state of the Battalion Records will admit. The list of the various military operations in which they were severally engaged is also given; and the names which the companies received at the reorganization referred to. It has been thought advisable to give this now in a short but complete form, but in studying the various campaigns, the services of the companies alluded to will occasionally receive more detailed notice.

It is to be remembered that the history of these companies is the legitimate property of the Batteries, which represent them. It is hoped that the publication of their antecedents in this way will not merely interest those in any way connected with them, but will create a feeling of pride which will materially aid discipline, and check negligence. It is believed that with such a past to appeal to as many of the Batteries will find they have, a commander will find a weapon in dealing with his men more powerful than the most penal code, for in each line there seems to be a voice speaking from the dead, and urging those who are, to be worthy of those who have been.

No. 1 COMPANY, 1st BATTALION, Now "F" BATTERY, 9th BRIGADE.

1809 Expedition from Jamaica to Saint Domingo.

1854 Expedition to Crimea, and siege of Sebastopol.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── List of Captains who have successively commanded the Company, as far back as can be traced, down to introduction of Brigade System, in 1859. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1757 Captain Robert Hind. * * * * * 1779 Captain David Scott. 1788 Captain S. P. Adye. 1790 Captain William Cuppage. 1790 Captain John Rogers. 1796 Captain Wiltshire Wilson. 1797 Captain George F. Keohler. 1801 Captain Thomas Franklin. 1805 Captain Thomas B. P. Hardy. 1814 Captain Sir Hy. Onslow, Bart. 1817 Captain John Taylor. 1821 Captain George Cobbe. 1829 Captain George J. Belson. * * * * * 1841 Captain Lewis E. Walsh. 1842 Captain C. B. Symons. 1848 Captain J. W. Collington. 1851 Captain George Graydon. 1856 Captain George Colclough. 1859 Captain S. Freeling. 1859 Captain J. F. Pennycuick.

No. 2 COMPANY, 1st BATTALION, Now "B" BATTERY, 1st BRIGADE.

1793 Siege of Valenciennes. 1793 Battle of Lincelles on 18th August. 1794 Battle of Cambray on 24th April. 1794 Battles of Ostend on 5th May. 1794 Battle of Tournay on 10th, 18th, and 22nd May. 1797-1801 Detachments of the Company served on board the Bombs. 1804 Ditto. 1805 Expedition to Hanover.

1807 Siege of Copenhagen. 1809 Battle of Talavera on 27th July. 1810 Battle of Almeida on 27th August. 1812 Siege of Burgos on 20th October. 1813 Siege of Saint Sebastian. 1855 Expedition to Crimea, and siege of Sebastopol from June 1855.

1782 Captain Edward Abbott.

1782 Captain Thomas Hosmer. 1793 Captain Jesse Wright. 1793 Captain George Glasgow. 1794 Captain James Winter. 1795 Captain Henry Shrapnel.

1803 Captain Josh. W. Tobin. 1807 Captain John May. 1815 Captain James Lloyd. 1819 Captain John Chester.

1825 Captain John C. Petley.

1834 Captain Charles Dalton.

1834 Captain John W. Spellen. 1836 Captain P. W. Lawlor. 1838 Captain Thomas R. Cookson. 1839 Captain George Charleton. 1840 Captain Hugh Morgan. 1843 Captain W. W. D'Arley. 1851 Captain J. R. Domvile. 1852 Captain F. A. Campbell. 1855 Captain H. P. Newton. 1858 Captain G. H. A. Forbes.

No. 3 COMPANY, 1st BATTALION, Now "7" BATTERY, 2nd BRIGADE.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Battles, Sieges, and other Military operations in which this Company has been engaged. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1779 Taking of Saint Lucia. 1779 In the Island of Grenada; a Detachment taken prisoners. 1793-1795 A Detachment served with the Army on the Expedition to Holland. 1797-1801 Detachments of this Company served on board the Bombs. 1801 Taking of Madeira. 1809 Expedition from Jamaica to Saint Domingo. 1855 Expedition to Crimea, and siege of Sebastopol, from June, 1855.

No. 4 COMPANY, 1st BATTALION, Now "3" BATTERY, 5th BRIGADE.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Battles, Sieges, and other Military operations in which this Company has been engaged. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1759 Battle of Minden. 1796 General Doyle's Expedition to the Isle of Dieu on the French coast. 1804 Detachments served on board the Bombs.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── List of Captains who have successively commanded the Company, as far back as can be traced, down to introduction of Brigade System, in 1859. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── * * * * * 1759 Captain David Hay. 1781 Captain Alexander Dickson. 1781 Captain Jesse Wright. 1793 Captain Thomas Hosmer. 1795 Captain Archibald Roberton. 1802 Captain Robert Lawson. 1802 Captain Thomas Downman. 1804 Captain H. M. Farrington. 1820 Captain Thomas J. Harrison. 1820 Captain Henry Light. 1821 Captain James P. St. Clair. 1822 Captain Henry Light. 1823 Captain Thomas Van Straubenzee. 1826 Captain Charles E. Gordon. 1839 Captain W. H. Bent. 1846 Captain George Sandham. 1852 Captain R. Blackwood Price. 1854 Captain Barclay Lawson.

No. 5 COMPANY, 1st BATTALION, Now "4" BATTERY, 13th BRIGADE.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Battles, Sieges, and other Military operations in which this Company has been engaged. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1759 Battle of Minden. 1793 Siege of Valenciennes. 1793 Battle of Lincelles. 1794 Battle of Cambray. 1794 Battle of Ostend. 1794 Battles of Tournay. 1797-1800 Detachment served on board the Bombs. 1799 Expedition to the Helder. 1801 Battle of Alexandria, and other actions in Egypt.[18] 1805 Expedition to Hanover. 1858 India during the Mutiny.

_N.B._—This Company formed part of the Army of Occupation in France, 1815-1818.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── List of Captains who have successively commanded the Company, as far back as can be traced, down to introduction of Brigade System, in 1859. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1758 Captain William Phillips. 1759 Captain George Charleton. 1766 Captain Griffith Williams. 1779 Captain Alexander J. Scott. 1779 Captain Francis Downman. 1781 Captain Jesse Wright. 1782 Captain Thomas Brady. 1782 Captain Alexander Dickson. 1782 Captain Richard Chapman. 1783 Captain James Frost. 1783 Captain John D. Goll. 1790 Captain James Winter. 1795 Captain William Mudge. 1794 Captain William Borthwick. 1802 Captain George B. Fisher. 1803 Captain George Scott. 1803 Captain William Leake. 1803 Captain Turtliff Boger. 1806 Captain John Dyer. 1812 Captain Richard Jones. 1814 Captain Stephen Kirby. 1815 Captain William Lloyd. 1825 Captain Alfred Thompson. 1828 Captain Jno. W. Spellen. 1834 Captain Charles Dalton. 1844 Captain Alexander Tulloh. 1849 Captain G. J. L. Buchanan. 1854 Captain John Desborough.

No. 6 COMPANY, 1st BATTALION, Now "6" BATTERY, 2nd BRIGADE.

## actions in which it was engaged cannot be traced with precision.

1855 Expedition to Crimea, and siege of Sebastopol, from June, 1855.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── List of Captains who have successively commanded the Company, as far back as can be traced, down to introduction of Brigade System, in 1859. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── * * * * * 1771 Captain David Standish. 1780 Captain Thomas Brady. 1782 Captain Francis Downman. 1790 Captain John Smith. 1795 Captain George Scott. 1796 Captain Robert King. 1802 Captain Francis Rey. 1808 Captain Charles H. Godby. 1815 Captain William Lloyd. 1815 Captain Stephen Kirby. 1819 Captain William Cleeve. 1826 Captain Christopher Clarke. 1828 Captain Hassel R. Moor. 1838 Captain John R. Hornsby. 1840 Captain Henry Stanway. 1846 Captain Francis Dick. 1851 Captain G. J. Beresford. 1852 Captain Henry Aylmer. 1854 Captain A. F. F. Lennox.

No. 7 COMPANY, 1st BATTALION, Now "4" BATTERY, 5th BRIGADE.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Battles, Sieges, and other Military operations in which this Company has been engaged. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1776 Action on Lake Champlain, in America. 1794 Battles of Cambray, Ostend, and Tournay. 1797 Detachments of this Company served on board the Bombs. 1799 Expedition to the Helder. 1801 Battle of Alexandria.[19] 1807 Siege of Copenhagen. 1815 Surrender of Guadaloupe.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── List of Captains who have successively commanded the Company, as far back as can be traced, down to introduction of Brigade System, in 1859. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── * * * * * 1763 Captain John Carter. 1768 Captain William Gostling. 1779 Captain Thomas Hosmer. 1780 Captain Stephen P. Adye. 1782 Captain Edward Abbott. 1788 Captain C. F. Scott. 1788 Captain David Scott. 1791 Captain George Wilson. 1794 Captain George Bowater. 1799 Captain John Lemoine. 1802 Captain Andrew Schalch. 1803 Captain Percy Drummond. 1803 Captain Benjamin Fenwick. 1804 Captain George Forster. 1805 Captain Oliver Fry. 1805 Captain Charles Egan. 1806 Captain James P. Cockburn. 1813 Captain Richard S. Brough. 1822 Captain J. W. Kettlewell. 1832 Captain Forbes Macbean. 1837 Captain H. G. Jackson. 1840 Captain R. W. Story. 1847 Captain Hon. R. F. Handcock. 1848 Captain Henry A. Turner. 1855 Captain H. P. Newton. 1855 Captain F. A. Campbell.

No. 8 COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, Now "A" BATTERY, 11th BRIGADE.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Battles, Sieges, and other Military operations in which this Company has been engaged. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1759 Battle of Minden. 1796 Surrender of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice. 1796 Taking of Saint Lucia. 1803 The next capture of the above Islands, &c. 1809 Capture of Martinique. 1810 Surrender of Guadaloupe. 1815 Surrender of Guadaloupe. 1855 Expedition to Crimea, and siege of Sebastopol. 1858 East Indies during the Mutiny.

_N.B._—At the reduction in 1819, the Men of a company of the 10th Battalion were drafted into this company.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── List of Captains who have successively commanded the Company, as far back as can be traced, down to introduction of Brigade System, in 1859. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1759 Captain Forbes Macbean. 1780 Captain Thomas Blomefield. 1785 Captain William Grant 1794 Captain John Arbuthnot. 1796 Captain Lawrence H. Newton. 1803 Captain John Sheldrake. 1804 Captain Charles Keane. 1813 Captain Edward C. Whinyates. 1813 Captain William N. Ramsay. 1814 Captain George Jenkinson. 1814 Captain Henry Light. 1815 Captain George Cobbe. 1819 Captain T. A. Brandreth. 1828 Captain James Fogo. 1841 Captain R. G. B. Wilson. 1843 Captain J. M. Savage. 1852 Captain D. W. Pack Beresford. 1854 Captain A. F. Connell, who held the command until the introduction of Brigade System.

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Footnote 18:

By General Orders of 31st October and 1st November, 1803, the Officers, non-commissioned Officers, and Men of this Company were permitted to wear the "Sphynx" and "Egypt," on their Regimental Caps; but the distinction was a personal one, and not granted to the companies to be perpetuated.

Footnote 19:

By General Orders of 31st October, and 1st November, 1803, the Officers, non-commissioned Officers, and Men of this Company were permitted to wear the "Sphynx," with "Egypt," on their Regimental Caps; but the distinction was a personal one, and not given to the companies to be perpetuated.