THE WAR HORSE.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
I picked up this image a while ago and thought it may be of interest on this thread. A contemporary aquatinted print by Colnaghi & Co., 23 Cockspur Street, London., printed 1st Dec 1813 entitled 'A PRIVATE of the 2D. or ROYAL NORTH BRITISH DRAGOONS (GREYS). It clearly shows the British Heavy Cavalry Troopers sword of the period i.e. the 1796 H.C. Troopers sword. This regiment, as you know, is more commonly known as the 'Scots Greys' and best known for their famous charge and capture of a French Eagle at Waterloo by Sgt., later Ensign Ewart as portrayed in the first painting in this thread.
Regards,
Norman.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi,
I picked up this image a while ago and thought it may be of interest on this thread. A contemporary aquatinted print by Colnaghi & Co., 23 Cockspur Street, London., printed 1st Dec 1813 entitled 'A PRIVATE of the 2D. or ROYAL NORTH BRITISH DRAGOONS (GREYS). It clearly shows the British Heavy Cavalry Troopers sword of the period i.e. the 1796 H.C. Troopers sword. This regiment, as you know, is more commonly known as the 'Scots Greys' and best known for their famous charge and capture of a French Eagle at Waterloo by Sgt., later Ensign Ewart as portrayed in the first painting in this thread.
Regards,
Norman.

Hello Norman,
At the famous charge they could do no more than canter into battle because of the rough ground but listen to it from the enemies viewpoint:

Quote" Even without attacking at a full gallop, the weight of the Scots Greys charge proved to be irresistible for the French column pressing Pack's Brigade. As Captain Duthilt, who was present with de Marcognet's 3rd Division, wrote of the Scots Greys charge:

Just as I was pushing one of our men back into the ranks I saw him fall at my feet from a sabre slash. I turned round instantly – to see English cavalry forcing their way into our midst and hacking us to pieces. Just as it is difficult, if not impossible, for the best cavalry to break into infantry who are formed into squares and who defend themselves with coolness and daring, so it is true that once the ranks have been penetrated, then resistance is useless and nothing remains for the cavalry to do but to slaughter at almost no risk to themselves.

This what happened, in vain our poor fellows stood up and stretched out their arms; they could not reach far enough to bayonet these cavalrymen mounted on powerful horses, and the few shots fired in chaotic melee were just as fatal to our own men as to the English. And so we found ourselves defenceless against a relentless enemy who, in the intoxication of battle, sabred even our drummers and fifers without mercy". Unquote.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[scinde]

Some years back, I had the pleasure of meeting Trevor Lancelot Perry, a retired Anglo-Indian Colonel of the Indian Army, who had moved to Australia after he left the Army. His earlier regiment was the 3rd Cavalry however, he had the honour of raising the 64th Cavalry ( 1966) which was the last regiment of the post 1947 Indian Army to be called "Cavalry".

During the small number of occasions when we met, we talked on the subjects of Shikar, swords and uniforms etc., but in line with the topic of this thread, he told me that one of the saddest days he remembered, was the occasion when they were all ordered out on parade to shoot their horses, which were by then superfluous to the needs of an armoured corps.

Such is progress.

Colonel Perry died in India whilst attending regimental reunion.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by scinde

Some years back, I had the pleasure of meeting Trevor Lancelot Perry, a retired Anglo-Indian Colonel of the Indian Army, who had moved to Australia after he left the Army. His earlier regiment was the 3rd Cavalry however, he had the honour of raising the 64th Cavalry ( 1966) which was the last regiment of the post 1947 Indian Army to be called "Cavalry".

During the small number of occasions when we met, we talked on the subjects of Shikar, swords and uniforms etc., but in line with the topic of this thread, he told me that one of the saddest days he remembered, was the occasion when they were all ordered out on parade to shoot their horses, which were by then superfluous to the needs of an armoured corps.

Such is progress.

Colonel Perry died in India whilst attending regimental reunion.

Salaams Scinde, That is an incredible vignette and how sad that must have been ..

Wikipedia has his details and I Quote" 64th Cavalry is an armoured regiment which is part of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army. After the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, a number of armoured regiments were raised for the Indian Army, of which 64 Cavalry was the first. However, it was the last to use the epithet of cavalry, all subsequent regiments were named armoured regiments instead. It was raised in Babina on 31 March 1966 by Lt Col Trevor Lancelot Perry, a former Indian Air Force pilot, with a class composition of Sikhs, Jats and Rajputs." Unquote.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[russel]

I don't have much to contribute here, other than to recommend:

The Medieval Warhorse - From Byzantium to the Crusades. Ann Hyland, 1996

Copies can be had fairly cheaply from the usual sources. It has been years since I read it, but I recall being rather impressed by the author's scholarship.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Sounds like an excellent reference...thanks. See https://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Warh.../dp/1856279901

[fernando]

Not so exciting as some fancy paintings but ... the real thing.
A photograph of a cavalry charge by the Moçamedes dragoons against the Cuamatas (Angola) in 1907.

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