Scots Greys
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The Scots Greys was the unofficial and later official name of a dragoon regiment of the British Army from 1678 until 1971, when they amalgamated to form The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys).
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Regimental name changes
The regiment's history began in 1678, when three independent troops of Scots Dragoons were raised. In 1681 these troops were regimented to form The Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons, numbered the 4th Dragoons in 1694. They were already mounted on grey horses by this stage and were already being referred to as the Grey Dragoons. In 1707 they were renamed The Royal North British Dragoons (North Britain then being a common name for Scotland), but were already being referred to as the Scots Greys. In 1713 they were renumbered the 2nd Dragoons, as it was established that only one regiment of English dragoons had existed prior to their creation. In 1877 their nickname was finally made official when they became the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys), which was inverted in 1921 to The Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons). They kept this title until 2nd July 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers.
Motto
The Scots Greys had the motto "Second to none". It referred to their seniority in the British Army and their fighting prowess. Their official motto, however, was Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (No one provokes me with impunity). They were distinctive as the only cavalry regiment to wear bearskins instead of helmets.
Battle honours
The regiment has many battle honours from Blenheim in 1704 through to the Second World War. Their most famous engagement took place at Waterloo on 18 June 1815.
The charge at the Battle of Waterloo
At about 1.30pm the second phase of the Battle of Waterloo opened. Napoleon launched d'Erlon's corps against the allied centre left. After being stopped by Picton's Peninsular War veterans, D'Erlon's troops came under attack from the side by the heavy cavalry commanded by Earl of Uxbridge including Major General Sir William Ponsonby's Scots Greys.
The shocked ranks of the French columns surrendered in their thousands. During the charge Sergeant Ewart, of the Greys, captured the eagle of the French 45th Ligne. The Greys charged too far and, having spiked some of the French cannon, came under counter-attack from enemy cavalry. Ponsonby, who had chosen to ride one of his less expensive mounts, was ridden down and killed by enemy lancers. The Scots Greys lost: 102 killed, 97 wounded, with the loss of 228 horses - from the 416 who started the charge.
"Ces terribles chevaux gris! Comme il travaillent!" (Those terrible grey horses, how they strive!) - Napoleon
The charge of the Scots Greys in the picture "Scotland Forever!" by Lady Butler in Leeds City Art Gallery famously depicts the event and inspired the slow-motion shots of the charge in the film "Waterloo" directed by Sergei Bondarchuk in 1970. This engagement also gave the Scots Greys their cap badge, the eagle itself.
External links
- The British Army's web page on The Royal Scots Dragoons Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (http://www.army.mod.uk/armcorps/scots_dg/index.html)
- Official site of the Royal Scots Dragoons Guards (http://www.scotsdg.com)
- www.regiments.org The Royal Scots Greys (http://www.regiments.org/milhist/uk/cav/D02rsg.htm)
- www.scotsatwar.org.uk The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (http://www.scotsatwar.org.uk/army/regiments/dragoons.html)
- Scottish Military Historical Society: The Royal Scots Greys Lineage page (http://www.btinternet.com/%7Ejames.mckay/rsg.htm)
- Early history of the Scots Greys, Excerpt from the Navy and Army Illustrated 15 January 1897 by G F Bacon (http://www.regimental-art.com/history_greys.htm)
- What ever happend to Sergeant Charles Ewart (http://www.napoleonic-alliance.com/articles/scotsgreys.htm)
- The Battle of Waterloo as seen by an ordinary British cavalryman (http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/529/)