The Waterloo Roll Call
1821. K.H. He was 2nd son of Edward Disbrowe, of Walton-upon-Trent,
co. Derby, by Lady Charlotte Hobart, youngest dau. of George, 3rd
Earl of Buckinghamshire. Col. G. Disbrowe d. about 1875.
EXTRA AIDE-DE-CAMP.
Ens. Augustus Cuyler, 2nd Ft. Gds.
Bn. 14th Aug., 1796. 2nd son of Gen. Cornelius Cuyler, who was
created a Bart. in 1814; lt. and capt. same regt. 1817; lt.-col. h.
p. 1826.
* * * * *
MAJOR-GENERAL.
Sir James Kempt, K.C.B., W.
Bn. in Edinburgh about 1764. Son of Gavin Kempt, of Batley Hall,
Hants. Entd. army 1783. A.D.C. to Abercromby in Holland. Accompanied
Sir Ralph to the Mediterranean and served as his A.D.C. and military
sec. until that Gen.’s death. Served under Lord Hutchinson in Egypt
in similar position. Commanded a brigade in the 3rd division in the
Pa. Received the gold cross with three clasps; G.C.B. for Waterloo;
Gov. Nova Scotia; Gov.-Gen. Canada; Master-Gen. of the Ordnance;
Col.-in-Chf. 1st Foot, 7th Aug., 1846. D. in London 20th Dec., 1854,
leaving £120,000 in personalty.
AIDE-DE-CAMP.
Capt. the Hon. Charles Gore, 85th Foot.
Bn. 1793. Began his career in 6th Regt. Foot. Exchanged to 43rd
Regt. Joined this regt. in the Pa. 1811, and was one of the storming
party of Fort San Francisco, at the investment of Ciudad Rodrigo.
A.D.C. to Sir Andrew Barnard at Salamanca, and in a similar capacity
to Sir J. Kempt at Vittoria and subsequent battles. Accompanied
Kempt to Canada in 1814, and returned just in time to fight at
Waterloo, where he had three horses shot under him. Son of Arthur
Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran, by his 3rd wife, Eliz. Underwood. G.C.B.;
K.H.; Gen. and col. 6th Foot; Lt.-Gov. Chelsea Hospital. M. 1824
Sarah, dau. of Hon. James Fraser of Nova Scotia, and had issue. D.
4th Sept., 1869.
MAJOR OF BRIGADE.
Capt. Charles Eeles, 95th Foot, K.
Brother of Lt.-Col. Wm. Eeles, K.H., who d. in command of 1st Batt.
Rifle Brigade in 1837.
* * * * *
MAJOR-GENERAL.
The Hon. Sir William Ponsonby, K.C.B., K.
Lost his life at Waterloo from being badly mounted. Whilst leading a
cavalry charge against the “Polish Lancers” his horse stuck in a
heavy ploughed field and was unable to extricate itself. “He took a
picture and watch out of his pocket and was just delivering them to
his A.D.C. to give his wife when the lancers were on him.” Both
Ponsonby and his companion were immediately killed by the Polish
cavalry, who, later in the day, were almost annihilated by the Heavy
Brigade which Ponsonby had commanded. He was 2nd son of Wm., 1st
Baron Ponsonby, of Imokilly, co. Cork, by Hon. Louisa Molesworth,
4th dau. of F.-M. Viscount Molesworth. M. 20th Jan., 1807, Hon.
Georgiana Fitzroy, dau. of Charles, 1st Baron Southampton, and had a
son, born posthumous, 6th Feb., 1816, who succeeded as 3rd Baron
Ponsonby.
AIDE-DE-CAMP.
Lt. B. Christie, 5th Dn. Gds.
Braithwaite Christie was promoted capt. in 5th D.G. 3rd July, 1817,
and in 1824 was senior capt. in the regt. He d. at Belmont 23rd
Sept., 1825. He was 3rd son of Adl. Alexander Christie of Baberton
(2nd son of Archibald Christie of Stenton), by Eliz., dau. of Adl.
Richard Braithwaite.
EXTRA AIDE-DE-CAMP.
Maj. D. Evans, 5th W.I. Regt.
Afterwards the celebrated Sir De Lacy Evans of British Legion and
Crimean fame. Bn. at Moig, Ireland, 1787. Educated at the Military
Academy, Woolwich. Gained distinction in the Par. War by
volunteering for storming parties. Served in the American War of
1812. Fought at Bladensburg, where Gen. Ross gained fame for himself
and his descendants. At Washington, with a very small force of
infantry, De Lacy Evans captured the Congress House. Was engaged at
Baltimore and New Orleans, and returned in time for Waterloo, where
he had two horses shot under him. Commanded British Legion in Spain
1835–7 and 2nd division in Crimea. G.C.B., and was decorated with
various Spanish orders; was also a Grand Officer of the Legion of
Honour; Col.-in-Chf. 21st Fusiliers 1853. D. 9th Jan., 1870. Bd. in
Kensal Green Cemetery, M.I. See Appendix.
MAJOR OF BRIGADE.
Maj. T. Reignolds, 2nd Dns., K.
Doubtless was the officer mentioned above as being with Sir W.
Ponsonby when he was killed, as there were none of that Gen.’s
A.D.C.s killed at Waterloo. He left orphan children to whom a pens.
was granted.
* * * * *
MAJOR-GENERAL.
Sir John Byng, K.C.B.
Youngest son of George Byng, of Wrotham Park, Middx. (grandson of
George, 1st Viscount Torrington), by Anne, dau. of Wm. Connolly, of
Castletown, Ireland. Twice received the thanks of Parliament for his
eminent services in the Pa. and at Waterloo, and an augmentation to
his arms for himself and his descendants by royal grant. G.C.B.;
G.C.H.; K.M.T.; K.S.G.; P.C.; F.-M., Oct., 1855; Col.-in-Chf. 29th
Foot; Governor of Londonderry and Culmore. M. 1st Miss Mackenzie,
and had issue; m. 2ndly, 1809, Marianne, 2nd dau. of Sir Walter
James Bart., and had issue. Created Baron Strafford in 1835, and
Earl of Strafford in 1847. D. 3rd June, 1860.
AIDE-DE-CAMP.
Capt. H. Dumaresq, 9th Foot, W.
Fought in 13 battles during the Par. War. Also at the sieges of
Burgos and Badajoz, and assaults on forts of Salamanca. On the two
former occasions served as a volunteer with the Engineers, and on
the latter was again a volunteer; being foremost in the assault of
that redoubt, he received from the officer commanding at Vittoria
convent the terms of his capitulation, which document he delivered
to Lord Wellington. Was a lt.-col. after nine years’ service (so
gazetted in June, 1817). Was shot through the lungs at Hougoumont,
but, being at the time in charge of a message to Wellington, he went
on to the Duke and delivered it. Ball never extracted. D. in New
South Wales 5th March, 1838, age 46, whilst holding the post of
manager of the Australian Agricultural Co. He was a native of
Jersey. M. 19th Aug., 1828, Eliz. Sophia Danvers, and left issue.
MAJOR OF BRIGADE.
Capt. Wm. Stothert, 3rd Ft. Gds., K.
In 1814 this officer was sev. wnded. in the attack on
Bergen-op-Zoom. The only family bearing this name, that the Editor
has been able to trace, came from Kirkcudbrightshire.
* * * * *
MAJOR-GENERAL.
Sir Denis Pack, K.C.B., W.
Only son of the Very Rev. Thos. Pack, Dean of Ossory, by Catherine,
dau. and heiress of Denis Sullivan, of Berehaven, co. Cork. Five
times received the thanks of Parliament for his military services.
Was one of the most dashing leaders of a brigade in the Par. War.
“He was scarred with wounds and covered with glory.” Commanded the
71st Regt. at Buenos Ayres when that city was retaken by the
Spaniards, and was sev. wnded. and taken prisoner. When he escaped
from prison, Pack was appointed to the command of a provisional
battalion stationed at Colonia. His fidgety and irascible temper
somewhat tried those who had to serve under him. One morning there
appeared written in chalk on the door of a barn the following
distich:—
“The devil break the gaoler’s back
That let thee loose, sweet Denis Pack.”
For his services at Waterloo he was made Col.-in-Chf. of the York
Chasseurs. M. 10th July, 1816, Lady Eliz. Beresford, youngest dau.
of George, 1st Marquis of Waterford, and had issue. His 2nd son was
Lord Beresford’s heir, and assumed the surname of Beresford. Sir
Denis d. 24th July, 1823.
AIDE-DE-CAMP.
Maj. E. L’Estrange, 71st Foot, K.
Edmund L’Estrange was a hero in every sense of the word. He was
eldest son of Capt. Anthony L’Estrange of the 88th Regt.—one of the
Irish representatives of the ancient family of Le Strange, of
Hunstanton, co. Norfolk. Was A.D.C. to Sir Denis Pack in the Par.
War, and his especial gallantry, on several occasions, attracted the
notice of Wellington. Made a brevet maj. at the early age of 26. His
right leg was shattered by a round shot at Waterloo, and he died
soon after suffering amputation. Had he lived, a great future was in
store for him. A pension was granted to his mother whom he had
supported.
MAJOR OF BRIGADE.
Bt.-Maj. Chas. Smyth, 95th Foot, K.
Bn. 8th Jan., 1786. Distinguished himself in the Par. War, and was
promoted brevet maj. in 1815. D. from wounds received at Quatre
Bras. 4th son of the Rt. Hon. John Smyth, of Heath Hall, near
Wakefield, by Lady Georgiana Fitzroy, eldest dau. of 3rd Duke of
Grafton.
* * * * *
MAJOR-GENERAL.
Lord Edward Somerset, K.C.B.
Commanded the 4th Lt. Dns. in the Par. War. In the first Cavalry
charge at Waterloo, Lord Edward Somerset lost his cocked hat, and
went to the charge bare-headed. On his return, whilst looking for
his hat, a cannon-ball took off the flap of his coat and killed his
horse. He donned a Life Guard’s helmet and wore it during the
battle. Bn. in 1776. 4th son of Henry, 5th Duke of Beaufort. M.,
1805, Louisa, youngest dau. of 2nd Visct. Courtenay. G.C.B., K.T.S.
Col.-in-Chf. 4th Lt. Dns. 1836. D. 1st Sept., 1842, leaving issue.
AIDE-DE-CAMP.
Lt. H. Somerset, 18th Hussars.
Afterwards Lt.-Gen. Sir Henry Somerset, K.C.B. and K.H. Col.-in-Chf.
25th Foot. Bn. 30th Dec., 1794. Eldest son of Lord Charles Somerset,
by 4th dau. of Visct. Courtenay. M., 1st April, 1817, Frances, dau.
of Adml. Sir H. Heathcote, and had issue. Served in the first Kaffir
War, and was afterwards C.-in-C. at Bombay. D. 15th Feb., 1862,
leaving issue.
* * * * *
MAJOR-GENERAL.
Sir John Lambert, K.C.B.
2nd son of Capt. Robert Lambert, R.N. (2nd son of Sir John Lambert,
2nd Bart.), by Catherine, dau. of Edward Byndloss, of Jamaica.
Succeeded to the command of the British troops before New Orleans,
in Jan. 1815, on the deaths of Generals Pakenham and Gibbs, who
nobly fell whilst heading an attack on the “Crescent City.” The
disorganised state of the British troops, and the utter
impracticability of forcing the American entrenchments, induced
General Lambert to retreat, which he was able to do without meeting
with any opposition, having captured Fort Bowyer. With their natural
love of exaggeration, the Americans magnified both their victory and
our defeat:—
“The English had ten thousand,
Jackson only one;
But what was that to Jackson
When him they turned their backs on?”
By a forced march from Ostend, Lambert’s brigade arrived at Waterloo
just as the battle was commencing. G.C.B. Col.-in-Chf. 10th Foot,
1824. M., 19th Oct., 1816, a dau. of John Mount, of Brocklehurst, in