Historical Record of the Third, or Prince of Wales' Regiment of Dragoon Guards: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1838

In Short

Created by Royal Warrant in 1685, the regiment designated successively as the Fourth Horse and the Third Dragoon Guards serves as a primary instrument of Crown and Parliament across one hundred and fifty years of European warfare. Richard Cannon’s official record chronicles the unit's shifting establishments, its rigorous transitions from heavy horse to dragoon guards, and its steadfast participation in major conflicts from the campaigns of Marlborough and Wellington to home service during periods of domestic unrest. It survives as a dense, factual archive of military administration, gallantry in action, and institutional continuity.

The Story

The narrative opens in 1685 with the formation of the Fourth Horse under the Earl of Plymouth, stepping directly into royal service during the reign of James II. Early duties involve court escorts in London, encampments on Hounslow Heath, and navigating the political tensions as commanders are replaced with men favorable to the Crown. With the accession of William III, the regiment crosses to the Continent to join the wars against Louis XIV, participating in the maneuvers around Namur and the fierce engagement at Steenkirk.

As the seventeenth century turns into the eighteenth, the regiment becomes an integral component of the Duke of Marlborough’s army. It endures winter quarters in Dutch Brabant and marches into historic battlefields, taking a decisive role at Ramilies where its squadrons break the Spanish and Bavarian Horse Guards. Through the sieges of Lille, Tournay, and Bouchain, the regiment shares in the triumphs and frustrations of the continental campaigns until the peace of Utrecht brings a temporary halt to hostilities in 1714. Returned to England, the regiment experiences reductions in its establishment and shifts through various northern and southern quartering stations.

Decades of domestic garrison duty follow, interspersed with structural reorganizations, until the outbreak of the Seven Years' War and later conflicts draw the regiment back to active continental service. At Corbach in 1760, the unit undertakes a critical charge to stem a triumphant enemy advance, covering the retreat of the allied army at heavy cost. Years of home service in Manchester, Coventry, Scotland, and Sussex occupy the late eighteenth century, alongside detachments sent to Portsmouth for royal reviews.

The nineteenth century ushers in the Peninsular War under Arthur Wellesley. The regiment crosses into Spain, fights with distinction at Talavera de la Reyna, and endures the grueling marches and counter-marches across Portugal and Badajoz. Following further engagements and the final surrender of French forces after Toulouse, the regiment embarks for England in 1814. The narrative closes in 1838 following subsequent service in Ireland and England, leaving a legacy defined by steadfast discipline under Marlborough and Wellington.

How It Unfolds

• The foundation and early service — Established in 1685, the regiment marches to London to assist the Life Guards and undertakes revenue escort duties while encamped on Hounslow Heath under the Earl of Plymouth.
• Continental deployment under William III — The regiment crosses to Flanders in 1691 to join the forces fighting Louis XIV, participating in maneuvers near Namur and the attack at Steenkirk.
• The triumph at Ramilies — Moving with Marlborough's army in May 1706, the regiment charges the right flank of the enemy at Ramilies, shattering the Spanish and Bavarian Horse Guards in a decisive encounter.
• The clash at Corbach — Confronting a superior force of French dragoons and artillery in July 1760, the regiment uses its broadswords to arrest the enemy torrent and protect the allied retreat.
• The Peninsular advance — Crossing the frontier into Spain in 1809, the regiment fights at Talavera, earns royal permission to bear the honor on its standards, and endures the privations of the campaigns under Wellington.
• Return and final stationing — After the abdication of Napoleon and the conclusion of foreign hostilities, the regiment embarks for England, undergoes reductions, and concludes its official record in 1838 from quarters in Ipswich.

The People

• The Earl of Plymouth — Serves as the regiment's original colonel and trusted confidant of James II until his death in November 1687, after which the command passes to men aligned with royal policy.
• Sir John Fenwick — Assumes the colonelcy in 1687 as a zealous supporter of the Crown, bringing a background of loyal service and prior conflict in the Netherlands.
• Lieutenant-General Cornelius Wood — Commands the regiment through demanding continental campaigns until his death in 1712, which is occasioned by a fall from his horse.
• Field-Marshal Wade — Takes command of the regiment in 1717 during a period of prevalent Jacobin principles, later directing Highland road construction and commanding forces during the 1745 Scottish rebellion.
• Sir William Payne — Enters the army in 1776, takes command of the regiment in 1796, and leads the British cavalry under Wellesley at the battle of Talavera.

In Its Own Voice

The FOURTH HORSE formed part of a reinforcement sent to the British army on the Continent; and, after landing at Williamstadt in North Brabant, they marched to Flanders, and went into village cantonments.

This passage marks the regiment's initial departure for continental warfare under William III to oppose the expansion of France.

The foaming squadrons of the FOURTH HORSE rushed upon the Spaniards and Bavarians, and, with one tremendous shock, broke their ranks in pieces!

This exclamation captures the sudden violence and decisive momentum of the cavalry charge during the battle of Ramilies.

The loss of the regiment on this proud occasion was thirty-five men and thirty-four horses; with one man and two horses wounded.

This stark accounting records the human and equine cost paid by the unit during the hard-fought engagement at Corbach.

What It's Really About

The volume investigates the institutional evolution of the British military through the administrative biography of a single mounted corps. It argues that the reliability and tactical efficacy of the army depend upon unbroken traditions of discipline, lineage, and administrative oversight. Beneath the chronicle of marches and engagements lies a persistent inquiry into how professional military bodies reconcile the demands of dynastic politics, domestic peacekeeping, and foreign war. The text addresses the transition from heavy horse units designed for shock combat to more versatile dragoon guards capable of adapting to modern warfare without forfeiting their martial heritage.

Why Read It Today

Readers drawn to rigorous military history, genealogical research, or the unvarnished mechanics of historical record-keeping will find substantial value here. Reading it feels like sitting in an archive, turning pages of royal warrants, casualty lists, and dry logistical entries that occasionally flare into vivid accounts of battlefield chaos. It offers no psychological introspection or narrative flourishes; instead, its power rests on its absolute fidelity to official documentation. The primary difficulty lies in its relentless cataloging of personnel changes, station shifts, and establishment numbers, which can test the patience of a casual reader. Yet, for those who persevere, the text preserves the authentic texture of soldiering across centuries, illuminating the immense human labor required to sustain a regiment through plague, fatigue, and cannon fire.

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