MEMOIRS OF THE TENTH ROYAL HUSSARS (PRINCE OF WALES’ OWN)

This is a very full history of one of the British Army’s elite cavalry regiments over two centuries, written by a former CO of the regiment just before the cavalry galloped out of the annals of war, pursued by the 20th century’s mechanisation of conflict. The 10th Royal Hussars were raised early in the 18th century, and saw their first action at the Battles of Falkirk and Culloden in putting down the 1745-46 Jacobite rebellion. In the Seven Years’ War with France, the 10th fought at the Battles of Minden, Warburg, Campen and Grebenstein. In the reign of George IIi the 10th became particularly fashionable, and George IV, when Prince of Wales, though a very non-military monarch, became its commander. (One of George’s favourites, the arbiter of fashion Beau Brummel, was briefly an officer of the regiment, though his career came to an inglorious end when he was thrown by his horse while parading at Brighton). In the Napoleonic Wars, the 10th faced the Emperor himself in Portugal, before taking part in the Corunna campaign under Sir John Moore. Returning to Iberia, the regiment fought in the battle of Vittoria under the Duke of Wellingortn, pursued the enemy into France, and took part in the battles of Orthez and Toulouse. In the battle of Waterloo, the 10th took a full part, charging the French Imperial Guard at the height of the battle. The 10th saw garrison duty in India before the outbreak fo the Crimean War in which it saw service during the siege of Sebastipol. The 10th Hussars took part in the Afghan Wars and the Suakim War in the Sudan, in which it saw action at the battle of El Teb. This history has many splendid illustrations, several in colour, and is accompanied by appendices listing the officers of the regiment and the sporting achievements of the 10th Hussars. This is a lively and colourful account of a British cavalry regiment at the height of its pomp