British Royal Horse Artillery Companies and the Men Who Led Them – 1793 To 1815

By Steve Brown

Note: Although not a separate regiment in this period, the RHA companies (troops) have been summarised independently of the ‘marching battalions’ as they effectively formed a separate de facto battalion for administrative purposes.

Regimental History

 
Colonels Commandant (Royal Regiment of Artillery)

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – A Troop (‘Chestnut Troop’)

Note: Attached to the Light Division throughout the Peninsula War, the Chestnut Troop was probably the best-known and finest battery in the British Army at the time; its commander, Hew Ross, went on to found the School of Gunnery and Royal Artillery Institution; he was the first Royal Artilleryman to become a Field Marshal.

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – B Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – C Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – D Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – E Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – F Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – G Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – H Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – I Troop

The hardest working battery in the British Peninsula army; famous for their charge through French cavalry at Fuentes d’Onoro (led by Lieutenant William Norman Ramsay).

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – K Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – L Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – M Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – 1st Rocket Troop

Stations, Combats & Troop Commanders – 2nd Rocket Troop

Careers of Senior Officers (officers who were attached to RHA; shown as highest rank attained in regiment in the period)

Colonel James Pattison

Major in RA 1 January 1759; Lieutenant-Colonel 23 October 1761; Colonel Commandant 25 April 1777; Major-General 19 February 1779; Lieutenant-General 28 September 1787; General 26 January 1797; died London 1805.

Colonel Vaughan Lloyd

Born Wales 1736; Major in RA 1 December 1782; Lieutenant-Colonel 17 January 1793; Colonel 6 March 1795; commandant of Woolwich garrison 1797; Major-General 1 January 1798; Colonel Commandant 14 October 1801; Lieutenant-General 1 January 1805; General 4 June 1814; died 1817.

Colonel Sir Thomas Blomefield, Bart.

Born Kent 1744; served in North America 1776 to 1777, taken POW at Saratoga; Inspector of artillery 1780; Major in RA 25 September 1793; Lieutenant-Colonel 5 December 1793; Inspector of Royal brass foundry 1797; Colonel 12 November 1800; Major-General 25 September 1803; Colonel Commandant 1 June 1806; CRA at Copenhagen 1807; Baronet 3 November 1807; Lieutenant-General 25 July 1810; subsequently General 19 July 1821; died 1822.

Colonel Robert Lawson

Major in RA 5 December 1793; Lieutenant-Colonel 30 August 1794; Colonel 25 December 1801; Major-General 25 April 1808; Colonel Commandant 1 February 1808; Lieutenant-General 4 June 1812; died 1816.

Colonel John Macleod

Brigade-Major of RA 4 April 1783; Deputy Adjutant-General of RA 27 March 1795 (until 1820); Major 6 March 1795; Lieutenant-Colonel 21 August 1797; Colonel 20 July 1804; Major-General 25 October 1809; CRA at Walcheren 1809; Colonel Commandant 1 May 1814; Lieutenant-General 4 June 1814; subsequently Director-General of RA 16 April 1827.

Colonel William P. Smith

Major in RA 25 April 1796; Lieutenant-Colonel 8 January 1799; Colonel 20 July 1804; died Leith 1806.

Lt. Col. Sir Francis Whitworth

Major in RA 17 January 1798; Lieutenant-Colonel 2 October 1799; died London 1805.

Colonel Sir Edward Howorth, K.C.B.

Born Herefordshire 175?; served in North America 1777; served in Ireland 1798; Major in RA 16 July 1799; Lieutenant-Colonel 18 April 1801; Colonel 29 December 1805; CRA in Peninsula April to December 1809; and again May 1810 to July 1811; Major-General 4 June 1811; Lieutenant-General 12 August 1819; Colonel Commandant August 1821; died Surrey 1827.

Colonel John Harding

Major in RA 12 April 1802; Lieutenant-Colonel 12 September 1803; served at Copenhagen 1807; Colonel 28 June 1808; CRA in Peninsula August 1808 to January 1809; died Woolwich 18 June 1809.

Colonel George Cookson

Born Hampshire 1760; served in West Indies 1781 to 1786; served in Flanders 1793; served in Egypt 1801; Major in RA 12 September 1803; Lieutenant-Colonel 27 July 1804; CRA in Ireland 1804; CRA in Hanover 1805; served at Copenhagen 1807; served in Peninsula October 1808 to January 1809; served in Walcheren 1809; Colonel 17 March 1812; Major-General 4 June 1814; retired from active service 1815; subsequently Lieutenant-General 22 July 1830; died Surrey 1835.

Lt. Col. George William Dixon

Major in RA 20 July 1804; Lieutenant-Colonel 2 March 1805; brevet Colonel 4 June 1813; subsequently Major-General 12 August 1819; died 1836.

Colonel Sir Hoylett Framingham, K.C.B.

Born Norfolk 1763; served in North America 1781 to 1784; served in West Indies 1785 to 1795; Major in RA 20 July 1804; Lieutenant-Colonel 29 December 1805; commanded RHA in Peninsula April 1809 to June 1811; wounded at Talavera; CRA in Peninsula July to December 1811; brevet Colonel 4 June 1813; Colonel 20 November 1814; subsequently Major-General 12 August 1819; died Cheltenham 1820.

Colonel Hon. Sir Benjamin Bloomfield

Born Ireland 1768; Major in RA 1 June 1806; Lieutenant-Colonel 3 December 1806; ADC to King 1811 to 1814; brevet Colonel 20 February 1812; Major-General 4 June 1814; also Chief Equerry and Chief Marshal to the Prince of Wales, Private Secretary to the King, Keeper of the Privy Purse, and Receiver of the Duchy of Cornwall; subsequently Lord Bloomfield in 1825; commander of Woolwich garrison 1826; Lieutenant-General 22 July 1830; died Ireland 1846.

Lt. Col. Sir George Adam Wood, C.B., Kt.

Born London 1767; served in Flanders 1793 to 1795; served in West Indies 1795 to 1798; Major in RA 24 July 1806; Lieutenant-Colonel 1 February 1808; served in Peninsula August 1808 to January 1809; served at Walcheren 1809; brevet Colonel 4 June 1814; ADC to Prince Regent 1814; CRA in Netherlands 1814; CRA in Waterloo campaign and Army of Occupation; subsequently Colonel 1820; Major-General May 1825; died London 1831.

Lt. Col. George Bulteel Fisher

Born Northampton 1764; Major in RA 3 December 1806; Lieutenant-Colonel 28 June 1808; CRA at Lisbon April 1809 to November 1812; CRA in Peninsula December 1812 to May 1813; brevet Colonel 4 June 1814; subsequently Colonel 1820; Major-General May 1825; commandant of Woolwich 1827; died 1834.

Major Charles Godfrey

Major in RA 28 June 1808; retired on half-pay 7 May 1811.

Major Alexander Duncan

Served in Corsica 1794; served in Egypt 1801; Major in RA 17 November 1809; CRA at Cadiz April 1810 to September 1812; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 6 March 1811; killed in the accidental explosion of the powder magazine at Seville 29 September 1812.

Lt. Col. Thomas Downman, C.B.

Served in Flanders 1794 – taken POW; served in West Indies 1798 to 1800; commanded B Troop in Peninsula November 1808 to January 1809; Major 22 January 1810; commanded RHA in Peninsula April 1811 to November 1813; Lieutenant-Colonel 17 December 1812; subsequently Colonel 2 August 1825; ADC to King 1825; died 1852.

Lt. Col. Henry Eveleigh

Served in West Indies 1795 to 1797; commanded C Troop in Peninsula November 1808 to January 1809; Major 8 May 1811; Lieutenant-Colonel 20 December 1814; subsequently Colonel 8 August 1825; died Isle of Wight 1854.

Major Nathaniel Foy

Born 1773; Major in RA 21 March 1813; died Woolwich 23 March 1817.

Lt. Col. Sir Augustus Simon Frazer, K.C.B.

Born Dunkirk 1776; served in Flanders 1794; served in Helder 1799; CRA in Buenos Ayres 1807; commanded I Troop in Peninsula November 1812 to April 1813; commanded RHA in Peninsula April 1813 to April 1814; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 21 June 1813; Lieutenant-Colonel 20 December 1814; commanded RHA in Waterloo campaign; brevet Colonel 18 June 1815; died Woolwich 1835.

Lt. Col. Hon. William Henry Gardner

Brevet Major 4 June 1811; Lieutenant-Colonel 30 December 1814.

Major Alexander Macdonald, C.B.

Served in Cape of Good Hope 1805; wounded at Buenos Ayres 1807; served in Peninsula June 1809 to December 1811; again in Peninsula May 1812 to April 1814; Major 20 December 1814; attached to allied armies in France 1814; on artillery staff and wounded at Waterloo; subsequently Lieutenant-Colonel 29 August 1825; died 1856.

Captain Sir Robert William Gardiner, K.C.B.

Born Scotland 1781; Captain in RA 12 October 1804; served in Hanover 1805; served in peninsula August 1808 to January 1809; again in Peninsula June 1810 to January 1813; brevet Major 12 April 1812; commanded E Troop in Peninsula January 1813 to April 1814; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 3 March 1814; commanded E Troop in Waterloo campaign; subsequently Lieutenant-Colonel 30 December 1828; Colonel 1839; Governor of Gibraltar 1848; died Surrey 1864.

Captain Robert Bull, C.B.

Born Stafford 1778; served in West Indies 1796 to 1798; Captain in RA 28 June 1805; commanded I Troop in Peninsula August 1809 to November 1812; brevet Major 31 December 1811; commanded I Troop in Waterloo campaign; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 18 June 1815; subsequently Major 3 July 1823; Lieutenant-Colonel 8 August 1825; retired 1834; died Bath 1835.

Captain Sir John May, K.C.B.

Captain in RA 1 June 1806; served at Copenhagen 1807; served in Peninsula March to June 1809; Brigade-major to RA in Peninsula July 1809 to March 1812; brevet Major 6 February 1812; Assistant Adjutant-General to RA in Peninsula April 1812 to April 1814; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 27 April 1812; served on staff in Waterloo campaign; commanded H Troop after Waterloo; died London 1847.

Captain James Webber-Smith, C.B.

Born 1778; Captain in RA 1 June 1806; served in Walcheren 1809; commanded F Troop in Peninsula February 1813 to April 1814;  brevet Major 4 June 1813; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 21 September 1813; commanded F Troop in Waterloo campaign (Capt. Parmenter was unavailable); subsequently Lieutenant-Colonel 8 August 1825; Lieutenant-General 1851; died Brighton 1853.

Captain Sir Hew Dalrymple Ross, K.C.B.

Born Scotland 1779; served in Ireland 1798; Captain in RA 21 July 1806; commanded A Troop in Peninsula June 1809 to April 1814; wounded at Badajoz and Foz d’Aronce; brevet Major 31 December 1811; brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 21 June 1813; commanded A Troop in Waterloo campaign; subsequently Lieutenant-Colonel 29 July 1825; Major-General 1841; Lieutenant-General 1851; General 1854; Field Marshal 1868; died London 1868.

Captain Alexander Cavalié Mercer

Born Yorkshire 1783; served in Buenos Ayres 1807; Captain in RA 30 December 1812; commanded G Troop in Waterloo campaign; subsequently Major 12 August 1819; Lieutenant-Colonel 1835; Colonel 1846; General 1865; died Exeter 1868.

Captain Edward Charles Whynyates

Born Devon 1782; Captain in RA 26 January 1813; brevet Major 18 June 1815; commanded 2nd Rocket Troop and wounded in Waterloo campaign; subsequently Colonel and commander of RHA at Woolwich; died Cheltenham 1865.

Captain William Norman Ramsay

Born Scotland 1781; served in Egypt 1801; served in Peninsula with I Troop August 1809 to February 1814; Captain in RA 17 December 1813; brevet Major 22 November 1813; commanded H Troop at Waterloo – killed in action.

Sources:

War Office. Army Lists 1796 to 1815. London: various years.

Duncan, Francis. History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. 2 volumes; London: John Murray, 1879.

Kane, John. List of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Greenwich: Elizabeth Delahoy, 1815.

McKenna, Michael G. The British Army – And Its Regiments and Battalions. West Chester, Ohio: The Nafziger Collection. 2004.

Reid, Stuart. Wellington’s Officers, Volume 1. Leigh-On-Sea: Patrizan Press, 2008.

Park, S.J. and Nafziger, G.F. The British Miltary – Its System and Organization 1803-1815. Cambridge, Ontario: Rafm Co. Inc. 1983.

Philippart, John. The Royal Military Calendar, or Army Service and Commission Book. London: A.J. Valpy, 1820.

The Napoleon Series – Peninsula Roll Call. September 2009.

Wikipedia. September 2009. Various pages.

Placed on the Napoleon Series: May 2010

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