Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 11.djvu/578

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. XL JUNE 12, 1909.

" Kingmaker," the sister of the unfortunate Earl of Warwick, the mother of Cardinal Reginald Pole, and as the victim in her old age of about the most brutal execution on Tower Hill in history, Margaret, Countess of Salisbury, occupies a prominent position in our English records. RONALD DIXON. 46, Marlborough Avenue, Hull.

See the ' Dictionary of National Biography ' vol. xlvi. where reference is made to Dug- dale's ' Baronage ' ; Sandford's ' Genealo- gical History ' ; Hall's ' Chronicle ' ; ' Let- ters and Papers of Henry VIII.' ; ' Cal. of State Papers, Spanish ' ; Lords' ' Journal,' i. 107 ; ' Correspondance Politique de MM. de Castillon et de Marillac.'

I am not aware that any life of this lady has been written.

F. E. R. POLLARD-TJRQTJHART. 31, Albemarle Street, W.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &a

The History of the Second Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys). By Edward Almack, F.S.A. (Alex- ander Moring. )

THE compilation of histories of celebrated regi- ments of the British Army by unofficial biographers is on the increase, and we have here an admirable description of the rise and progress of the 2nd Dragoons, a regiment which, as its motto " Nulli Secundus " indicates, is second to none, in history, gallantry and discipline in the field.

Thomas Dalzell of Binns was born about 1599, and seems to have taken part in the Rochelle expedition in 1628, as captain in the Earl Morton's regiment. Appointed by the King as General Major of Foot, he fought at Worcester on 3 Sept., 1651, was taken prisoner, and committed to the Tower, but eventually escaped to the Continent. Nothing daunted, he appeared off the northern coast of Scotland, and helped in the rebellion in the Highlands, but was compelled to flee to the Continent again. On 19 July, 1666, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief in Scotland ; and in 1678 he raised the first troops of a new regiment of Dragoons, the nucleus of the Royal Scots Greys.

From this period to the present day we have a fascinating account of the various wars and expeditions in which the regiment has been engaged, including Marlborough's campaigns. The Royal Scots Greys were successively engaged in the desperate battles of Blenheim, Ramilies, Oud_enarde, and Malplaquet, in which they greatly distinguished themselves. They also assisted in quelling the rebellion of the Old Pretender. An interesting description is given of the famous woman soldier " Mother Ross," or, as she was known in the ranks until her sex was discovered, Christian Davies.

The War of Succession gave the Royal Scots Greys further opportunities for distinguishing themselves, and about 24 June, 1742, the

regiment reached Dover en route for Flanders. A publication called ' The Champion ' records : " On Tuesday General Campbell's fine regiment of Scots Greys arrived in the Borough of South- wark on their march to Dover, where they are to embark for Flanders. They are fine hardy fellows, and want no seasoning, and made an appearance agreeable to all but the innkeepers." It is pro- bable that the last sentence refers to billeting, and is significant of the dislike with which this system of quartering troops has naturally been regarded by innkeepers. During this cam- paign the * regiment took conspicuous part in the momentous battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was signed on 7 Oct., 1748, and the Greys returned to England.

In 1793, the French Convention having declared war against England and atttacked Holland, four troops of the Greys embarked for that country, and, after taking part in several more or less important engagements, returned to England in 1795. On the escape of Napoleon from Elba the Greys again took the field, and formed part of Wellington's army at Waterloo. Not the least interesting things in connexion with this campaign are the various contemporary letters from officers engaged in the battle of Waterloo.

From Waterloo we pass to the Crimean cam- paign, in which the Greys were again engaged on active service. They took part in the charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava. An account of the battle by a soldier of the regiment makes thrilling reading ; we quote a passage which refers to the famous charge :

" I cannot attempt to describe to you the scene that ensued balls, shells, and rockets whizzing about one's ears. The men on the left and right of me were both killed on the spot. We hacked our way out of it as well as we could, but were obliged to leave the guns. Col. Yorke had his leg broken, and all the officers in the front rank were wounded. The Heavy Brigade have not lost many men ; but, sad to tell, out of about six hundred of the Light Brigade that went into the field, only four hundred came out ; but this is nothing to what the enemy suffered."

From the Crimea the scene passes to the South African campaign, 1899-1902. Those operations are, however, too recent to need comment.

Included in this volume are many interesting reproductions of ancient documents, and coloured prints of uniforms at different periods, together with a list of officers past and present, arranged in alphabetical order. We cannot speak too highly of the manner in which this ' History ' has been compiled, edited, and produced. Mr. Almack appears to have considered no trouble too great in order to produce a volume which would reflect credit not only on himself, but also on the regi- ment which it concerns. We may, however, point out that the author is at fault in his state- ment that the Royal Scots Greys do not join the rota for foreign service. This was a privilege originally shared by several other cavalry regi- ments, but now only applies to the three regiments of Household Cavalry. The Greys, although they have not yet served a period of service abroad other than active service, are on the rota, and in the ordinary course will take their turn with the rest of the Line Cavalry.