MEMOIRS OF THE TENTH ROYAL HUSSARS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8071, 14 January 1892, Page 2

MEMOIRS OF THE TENTH ROYAL HUSSARS.

COIXKCTXD AND ARRANGED BY COLOKEIi

H. S. IjIDDEL.

This extremely handsome volume, from which we are allowed by the author, Colopel Liddell, and the publishers, Messrs Longman 9, to give various illustrations, is an exhaustive histpry of this famous cavalry regiment. It is by no means a dry record of regimental work, for Colonel Jbiddell has wisely introduced into it many episodes and anecdotes illustrative of the daily life of the regiment, "Much of the hi3tory of the Tenth is bound up with the history of the country. Much of its social life is connected with names well known to the public. Its cam' paigns. and the changes which have taken place from time to time in its organisation, dress, and accoutrements, are identical with those of many other regiments." So the book (though the price' is stifflsh) should be acceptable beyond the Immediate connection of the regiment. The book is handsomely illustrated by coloured plates and engravings. This part cf the work has been admirably done by Mr Oscar Norie. The History of TEca Regiment. Tlie 10th Regiment of Dragoons, now bearing the distinguished title of "The Prince of Wales's Own Royal Hussars," is pne of the regiments of cavalry which were raised at the close of the first year of the reign of Georg« I. Since that period it has seen much and varied service, and although it has inscribed on its ineicnia only the historical names of " Peninsula," ".Waterloo," *' Sebasvtopol," " AU fe Afghanistan, 1878-79,* and "Egyfc, 1884," other famous victories and military operations'in which it took part iufght> justly be added to the list of those the regU nient thusl officially bears, as appears in; the course of the memoirs. ' v Beau Brummjbll. During 1795 an Officer was appointed to the regiment who, although it cannot be .said that he earned a military, reputation, yet he achieVed such a remarkable notoriety by his peculiarities, follies, and eccentricities that & memoir of the Tenth might perhaps*'be considered by some incomplete unless hid name found a place in it, Captain Grqnow,' in his " Reminiscences and Recollections," mentions Beau Brummell as follows :—■" Amongst the jcurUiup, freaks of fortune there is none more remarkable in my memory than the sudden appearance in the highest and best society in London of ,<a J young man whose antecedents warranted a much less conspicuous career. I refer to the famous Beatf Brummell. He was endowed with a handsome person, and distinguished himself at Eton as the beet scholar, the bescTboatman, :&nd the beat cricketer, and, more than all,-he was supposed to po3- ■■ seesthe comprehensive excellences that are represented by the familiar name of good . . .' • He tnade many friends among the scions 6f good families .... and. bw reputation reached a circle over which' reigned., the celebrated Duchess of [Devonshire; . . . . At last the Prince of Wales sent for Brummell, and was so much pleased with hie manner and appearance, that he gave him a commission in his own regiment, the 10th Hussars. Unluckily, Brummell, soon after joining his regiment, was thrown from* his horse at a grand review at Brighton, when he broke, his classical Roman nose. This misfortune, however, did hot affect the fame of the Beau, and, although his nasal organ had undergone a slight transformation, it was forgiven by his admirers, since the rest of his person remained intact. •' Geobge IV.: Colonei* When the health of King George 111. become seriously affected, and the death of his favourite daughter, Princesa Amelia, greatly aggravating his disease, it became necessary to form a Regency. Accordingly, in February. 1811, the Prince of Wales was appointed Regent of the United Kingdom. Upon this his.Royal Highness, on the 6th of March, was pleased tQ.confer, in the name and On oehalf of his Majesty, the designation " Royal! , vpon his t regiment, 4 irect i n K that in future it should be called "The 10th, the Prince of Wales's Own Royal Regiment o£ Hussars." At the eauie time the facings of the uniform were changed itpttL yellow to led. " The regiment remained stationed at Brighton for two years—namely, from May 16, 1810,. until May 16,18L2. As his Royal Highness took up his residence during the summer,' months at the Pavilion, he saw a. gre,at deal of the Tenth, often taking command of the regiment in person in the field. Hβ also honoured the officer* by constantly inviting them to participate in the hospitalities of the Pavilion and to loin in the sports and amusements ia which he engaged. Brighton will never see such picturesque, Watteau-like groups again as those which were presented by the Prince's Court as* it sallied forth from the Pavilion for the evening promenade on the Steyne, the ladies with the high headdresses and spreading "peacock tails," and the two "Manners'," Sir Bellingham Graham, Colonel?; Mellish and Leigh, all of the Tenth, as their esquires. Iα those days the Prince made Brighton and Lewes races* the gayest scene of the year in Ens land. The J? avHion was full of guest*, and she Steyne was crowded with all the rank and fashion from London. Lord Foley and Colonel Mellish, two of the great supporters of -the turf, were looked to for all the best racing information of the day. The Prince himself would make his appearance in the crowd later, dressed in a green jacket, a white hat, and light nankeen, pantaloons and shoes, distinguished by his high-bred manners and handsome person. TSe was generally accompanied by the Duke of Bedford, Lord Jeraey, Charles Wyndham, Shelley, Brumraell, Mr Day and Churchill. At Waterloo.

; It is well knowa how Napoleon's last charge failed, and how with more- and more fresh battalions he strore eagerly to incite the .. Imperial Guard to renewed efforts. Then it was that the Duke at la?t foußd himself enabled to become the assailant. Knowing that hie left was protected by the Prussians, and that he had the Brigade, under Vivian, fresh and ready at hand, ne without a moment's hesitation launched tbem against the; cavalry near La Belle Alliance. a. The: charge va« as successful as it was daring.! The best description of the part taken by the Tenth in this memorable charge is' found in Siborne. About ths Umifobm. ■ In the year 18HFthie ** Army List" shows gold lac© on the uniforms for the-first: tin»e, and tne-drese of the 10th Hoasara; was as follows.:—" A shako, larger in cir-i cumf erenee at the top than at the bottom, made of Ted cloth, with an upright feather or plume and gold lace. Pelisse blue, with; black fur. Jacket blue, and cross loops, and olivets in gold ; blue facings. Girdle,! crinrsoir-and gold. ' Trousers. I 'blue, with; doable gold stripe." In 1820 the shakos were changed to blue, and the chin belt; now" worn by 't|ie officers appeared for the first time.* ,> A ~" --'■*■' t

! iteopard skins were also carried on the saddles of officers,' and shell "ornaments were intio.lueedoo the. bridles, breastplates, and cruppers : and, although they were part of the kit of an officer of hussare in they do not appear to have been brbaght.into universal use nntil this time, bat only worn on special occasions. The Death of Geohoe in. Iα consequence of the death of his Majesty King George lIL, which took place at' Windsor on the 2yth of January, 1820, and the accession of the Prince Begpnt to fehe throae as Georjfe IV., a vacancy in the command of the 10th rfiassars as a matter of coarge ensued. The colonelcy had been now held by hi* Royal Highness for nearly four-and-twenty years. - He bad been placed at the head of the 10th Hussars as commandant in ■ He was appointed colonel Iα July, 1798, and he continued In command through hi* Begency, maJdag la aja ■ .--•■•-..•... ■ ■■ ■ ■■~ ■ • * *

twenty yearjs* service with the regiment. Thus, from his earliest years the Prince had been associated with the Tenth, and he never ceased to evince the warmest interest in its welfare. His Royal Highness was succeeded as colonel of the rogltneut by Lieuteuant - General Charles Vane, Lord Stewart, G.C.8., afterwards Marquie of Londonderry. In the order conferring the appointment, dated the 3rd 1820, it was directed that the title o£ the regiment should continue to be "The 10th, or the Prince of Wulea's Own Royal Regiment of Hussars." A Famous Meuber of the Rsgimknt. When the 10th Hussars were quartered* at Cahir a subaltern joined the regiment who was a man so remarkable iv every way. and especially for the genialicy and kindness of his disposition, that his old comrades wduld <Jdn9tde'r these memoirs incomplete if Edward Hartogp was not specially mentioned In them. A giant in height land strength, he had also a greac share of mental quic&ness and power, as well as many accomplishments. He was an excellent musician and possessed of a .SBiendid voice. He was known as one of the most daring riders and best heavyweights that ever crossed country in Ireland. He constantly hunted hounds himself, and hie stentorian •' holloas," full of mnsic,- will never be forgotten by those who heard them. After leaving the army hebe«»me Master of the Kilkenny Hounds, in which county he showed great sport and unbbuhded hospitality, and was beloved by all, rich aud poor. His great power and flue hands made him so good a whip that few moro competent coachmen ever mounted a box, and he was devoted to all other forms of sport with hound and and gun by flood and field. H© served for some yearn on the per*onal staff of Lord Spencer in Ireland, and afterwards on that of Lord Nortbbrook, GovernorGeneral of India. His health, broken by the Indian climate, prevented him from remaining in the service, aud he died at a comparatively early age, a man who had all the personal qualifications to attain distinction in his profession, but to whom the fitting Opportunity was denied. Talbntinb Bjlkkr. Colonel Baker introduced the "reaimental oall" into the 10th Hussars, which is in use at the present time (1890). It was taken from the opening movement In the " Song of the Hugenot Soldiers," from the opera of " The Hugenots," About the same time a custom which still prevails in the regiment was iaitiated by Colonel V. Biker—the playiug- of two hymns by the band every evenlug between the first and second post of watch-setting, followed by " God. Save the Queen." This has been carried out since 1806, wherever the Tenth 'ifcay have*been, in quarters, in camp, on active service, or on board ship. Colonel Baker : commanded the 10th Hussars from the 30th March, 1830, till the 26th March, IS7S. Within three years from hie appointment to the command, of the lOth Hussars it again had the extinguished honour of seeing a Prince of Wales assume the position of its full colonel, and there can be no doubt that much of the'success in command* with Colonel V. Baker, owed in the flrat instance to hia own abllitv. and energy, was secured to him by fcneencoarajgepneat and assistance of his Royal Hlgnfiess. ' * At Tel-el-Kebir. Many individual acts of gallantry migb lje recorded of tnia, dayVbut one of whuh special mention w0.9 made was the coij dUCt'of Private Hiyea, a bandsman in; the lObb. Hussars. This man, who was skilled as a ptrgilist, being annoyed" during action with ■ the ; difficulty of approaching Ills active aud lithesome adversaries, dismountedl from his horse, and attacking a group of Arabs knocked them down with his fists and. then again mounted. Thia soldier was afterwards thanked by General Graham for his courage, and the following year had tho honour of .receiving from her Majesty's own hands at Windsor Castle the Distinguished Service Mall Gazette.