Edward Almack - The History of the 2nd Dragoons Royal Scots Greys

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

Lady Butler

"Scotland for Ever."

By kind permission of the Artist, and by arrangement with the proprietors of the Copyright, Messrs. S. Hildesheimer & Co. Ltd.

[Pg iv]
[Pg v]

" Ane Account deu be Thomas Dalzell of bins for his fathers funerall, to George Porteous the 2 of Sept 1685. "

In bidding farewell to this book before publication, I am most anxious to thank with hearty sincerity all those who, as past or present officers and friends of this historic regiment, have helped my efforts. There are two names above all that I must most particularly record(i.) that of Colonel Coventry Williams, lately commanding the Greys, who has helped in so many details, though I can only particularly refer readers to pages to 84. That officer has since died, and so, too, has Russell, the famous Times correspondent, with whom he was exchanging affectionate greetings. (ii.) In the next place I must record my gratitude to Major Lindsay, who has shown the keen instinct native to the noble house of Crawford. His grandfather opened his famous record with this quotation from "Schir David Lyndesay of the Mont allias lyoun herauld king of Armes":

"Who that antique stories reads
Consider may the famous deeds
Of our nobil progenitours;
Which should to us be right mirrours,
Their virtuous deedis to ensue,
And vicious living to eschew."

The fact is that to hold the King's commission in the Royal Scots Greys inspires a host of chivalrous thoughts and memories. Picture the simple pride shown in the laconic words quoted on page to 74. Here are letters from Francis Charlton Kinchant, who received his commission on 18th January, 1815, and was killed at Waterloo. After writing to a friend accounts describing how zealously he was learning to practise the art of war, he goes on: "The regiment is without doubt the best and the most crack cavalry corps in the service. I don't think there is a private in it under 5 feet 11 inches." The next personal allusion, describing the uniform of the corps, is to his own father: "Our dress altogether is extremely rich and consequently costs lots of money. The Court dress coat alone is 40 guineas. It is covered with lace from head to foot. The jackets are handsome, but they cost 15. 15. each. Every other part of the equipment is equally as expensive. In fact we make a most dashing appearance. I should like much to meet the old Buck at Bath or Clifton. I do not think he would know his hopeful son."

It is interesting to identify the noble Colonel James Gardiner, killed at Preston Pans, as an officer in the Greys. Of course the regiment has always held a peculiarly interesting position. For instance, it does not join the ordinary rota for foreign service. It shares with a very few the privilege of having a special honorary Colonel-in-chief.

Before writing of Sir Thomas Dalyell, the first colonel of the regiment, I wish to thank most cordially Mrs. Cornwall Dalyell of The Binns, who most kindly allowed photographs to be taken of the manuscripts of (and relics pertaining to) Sir Thomas Dalyell himself.