Dragon Rampant: The Royal Welch Fusiliers at War, 1793-1815
"I never saw any regiment in such order," remarked the Duke of Wellington shortly before the battle of Waterloo, "it was the most complete and handsome military body I ever looked at." The object of the duke's admiration was the 23rd Regiment of Foot, the Royal Welch Fusliers and Dragon Rampant is the story of this famous fighting unit during the Great War with France, 1793-1815.
Based on rare and untouched memoirs and correspondence as well as new research, Dragon Rampant offers insights into how the British army, scorned by even its own countrymen, evolved into a professional force that would triumph over some of the greatest generals of the time.
Told largely in the words of the men of the Royal Welch Fusliers, the women who marched with them, and those who fought alongside them, Dragon Rampant is a saga of campaigns, battles and action on three continents, of short rations, shipwreck and disease. The reader will come to know such fighting men as the intrepid Drummer Bentinck, the eccentric Major Jack Hill, the long-serving Lieutenant John Harrison and, above all, the Welch Fusiliers' beloved commanding officer, the eight time wounded Colonel Henry Ellis, who led them in some of the bloodiest actions of the Napoleonic wars, only to fall in the last battle.
Dragon Rampant will appeal to those interested in the Napoleonic period, musket period warfare and the meaning and cost of courage.
320 pages • 6 x 9.25 inches • appendices • illustrated • index • May 2010 • 978-1-848325-51-7 • hardcover
Based on rare and untouched memoirs and correspondence as well as new research, Dragon Rampant offers insights into how the British army, scorned by even its own countrymen, evolved into a professional force that would triumph over some of the greatest generals of the time.
Told largely in the words of the men of the Royal Welch Fusliers, the women who marched with them, and those who fought alongside them, Dragon Rampant is a saga of campaigns, battles and action on three continents, of short rations, shipwreck and disease. The reader will come to know such fighting men as the intrepid Drummer Bentinck, the eccentric Major Jack Hill, the long-serving Lieutenant John Harrison and, above all, the Welch Fusiliers' beloved commanding officer, the eight time wounded Colonel Henry Ellis, who led them in some of the bloodiest actions of the Napoleonic wars, only to fall in the last battle.
Dragon Rampant will appeal to those interested in the Napoleonic period, musket period warfare and the meaning and cost of courage.
320 pages • 6 x 9.25 inches • appendices • illustrated • index • May 2010 • 978-1-848325-51-7 • hardcover
Reviews
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"This study of the 23rd Foot arose from Donald E. Graves’ biography of Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Pearson entitled Fix Bayonets! Being the Life and Times of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Pearson, 1781-1847 that was published in 2006 and after reading [Dragon Rampant] I will certainly search this [earlier book] out. …… [Dragon Rampant] is based on a rich regimental archive of correspondence, memoirs and other documentation which have been used by a writer with an expert eye and the ability to tell a coherent story within the larger political and social background of the period. This is often missing in other regimental accounts. …… [Dragon Rampant] stands out from most books published over the last 20 years or so. It is well researched and has a light conversational tone without the clutter of endless footnotes where interesting facts are hidden by less able writers. It does not glorify war but informs the reader of the actions of the 23rd Foot but the context to which they fought and died during the Napoleonic Wars. The [soldier’s] whole life is explored and not just the battles. Being a soldier was more about being transported by ship, in garrison and the unimaginable hardship of campaign. …… Each chapter is prefaced by the lyrics of contemporary soldier songs which is a lovely addition with the statue of the 23rd Foot as a watermark. Below is a summary of the chapters that shows the breadth of the book and the story of this fine old regiment. …… There are fine maps show[ing] clearly the campaigns and it is good that they are close to where the text discusses them. …… The excellent contemporary drawings in with the text are a very pleasing addition to the 16 pages of black and white plates in the centre of the book. Most of the characters that colour the book with the extracts from their diaries and memoirs are shown. .…This research is based firmly on diaries and period documents but they improve rather than distract from the strong narrative line. The easy-to-read and entertaining style is hard to put down makes this an accessible introduction to this fine regiment but the Peninsular War for the re-enactor and amateur historian alike."
Stephen Summerfield, The Napoleon Series, November 2010
"THE Royal Welch Fusiliers, the 23rd Regiment of Foot, have a long and splendid history dating back to 1689. Generations of the same family have worn the cap badge with pride. This book brings together 22 years of the regiment's history - the story of the titanic struggle with Napoleonic France, which ended with the battle of Waterloo in 1815. War is described largely in the words of the men fighting the battles. Donald Graves has an entertaining and engaging style of writing and has penned a diligently researched title that will be of interest to the military historian and those who served in the regiment."
Lt Col (Retd) Dawson Pratt, R Signals,
Soldier Magazine, August 2010 |
"No doubt, the world is filled with books on the battles of the Napoleonic Wars, [but] Donald Graves' latest really stands out. Focusing on the history of the famous 23rd Regiment of foot, Royal Welch Fusiliers, Graves introduces you to the officers and men of the unit and invites you to accompany them aboard ship, in garrison, through unimaginable hardship and as they attain astonishing victories over a 22 year period. Based firmly on diaries and period documents, it is written in such an easy-to-read and entertaining style that one has a hard time putting the book down. Thus, it is a must have for not only the armchair warrior, but the reenactor and historian alike."
Erik Goldstein, Curator of Mechanical Arts & Numismatics,
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation "Donald Graves, a prolific and respected author on military history, here recounts the story of the Fusiliers during the wars with France from 1793 to the battle of Waterloo … a saga of soldiering on three continents, from the West Indies to Walcheren, Albuera, Badajoz and Waterloo the Fusiliers were in the thick of action, suffering heavy losses and gaining much glory. …… The story Graves tells draws on the words of the soldiers, of the women who marched beside them and those who fought alongside them. He has derived the material from hitherto unused memoirs and correspondence … [and] adds his narrative in a characteristic easy style. The book is provided with maps, many figures in the text and some excellent photographs ……This is a lively account which deservedly holds the attention of the reader and which is well worth £25 a bargain price in these days."
Gordon Batho, The Historical Association Website,
1 September 2010 "The well written text is supported by a good use of quotes from letters and books written by members of the regiment, along with some useful maps and illustrations and a decent section of higher quality plates.... This is a high quality piece of work, and of great value as a regimental history, for students of the British army and for anyone interested in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars."
History of War Website
"Graves specializes in Napoleonic period warfare, and this study of the 23rd Foot rose from his biography of Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Pearson of that regiment, Fix Bayonets! He draws on the regiment's rich archive of correspondence, memoirs, and other documentation to let the men tell their story by and large, but also uses sources a little further afield in order to place the account within the larger political and social background of the period."
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