23rd Regiment of Light DragoonsD
| Rank in the | |||||
| LIEUT.-COLONELS. | Regiment. | Army. | |||
| 1 | John, Earl of Portarlington | 6 | Apr. | 1809 | Col., 4 June, 1814 |
| MAJORS. | |||||
| 2 | John Mervin Cutcliffe, W. | 2 | Sept. | 1813 | |
| 3 | Peter Augustus Lautour | 6 | Jan. | 1814 | 20 May, 1813 |
| CAPTAINS. | |||||
| 4 | Charles Webb Dance, W. | 9 | Apr. | 1807 | |
| 5 | Philip Zachariah Cox | 15 | Mar. | 1810 | |
| 6 | John Martin | 8 | Feb. | 1813 | |
| 7 | Thomas Gerrard, W. | 1 | July, | 1813 | Maj., 1 Jan. 1812 |
| 8 | Roderick M’Neil | 19 | Jan. | 1815 | 1 Dec. 1814 |
| 9 | Henry Grove | 19 | Apr. | 1815 | Maj., 1 Jan. 1812 |
| 10 | James Maxwell Wallace | 20 | Apr. | 1815 | 22 Oct. 1807 |
| LIEUTENANTS. | |||||
| 11 | George Dodwell | 25 | Apr. | 1805 | |
| 12 | Ant. Bolton | 16 | Oct. | 1806 | 19 Dec. 1805 |
| 13 | Stephen Coxens, K. | 17 | Nov. | 1808 | |
| 14 | Charles Tudor | 14 | Mar. | 1810 | 26 Oct. 1808 |
| 15 | John Banner | 15 | Mar. | 1810 | |
| 16 | John Lewes | 4 | Mar. | 1813 | |
| 17 | Cæsar Bacon | 14 | Oct. | 1813 | |
| 18 | Brabazon Disney, W. | 15 | Sept. | 1814 | 5 Aug. 1813 |
| 19 | Robert Johnson | 20 | Oct. | 1814 | |
| 20 | Thomas B. Wall, W. | 9 | Feb. | 1815 | |
| 21 | H. Hill, Adjt. | 5 | Apr. | 1815 | |
| 22 | George Wm. Blathwayt | 4 | May, | 1815 | |
| CORNET. | |||||
| 23 | Wm. Hemmings | 6 | Apr. | 1815 | |
| PAYMASTER. | |||||
| 24 | Thomas Dillow | 31 | Jan. | 1809 | |
| QUARTERMASTER. | |||||
| 25 | Joseph Crouchley | 15 | Feb. | 1810 | |
| SURGEON. | |||||
| 26 | Samuel L. Steele | 20 | Apr. | 1809 | 12 Nov. 1803 |
| ASSISTANT-SURGEON. | |||||
| 27 | H. Cowen | 4 | Aug. | 1808 | |
| VETERINARY SURGEON. | |||||
| 28 | John Ship | 3 | Apr. | 1806 | |
| Blue. Facings crimson. Lace silver. | |||||
Notes
D. Raised in 1794 as the 26th Lt. Dragoons. Re-numbered “23rd” in 1802. Made Lancers in 1816. Disbanded in Jan. 1818.
1. The star of the Dawsons was not propitious on the morning of the 18th June, 1815. Whilst one brother had been sent to the rear on the evening of 17th June as officer in charge of the baggage guard of 18th Hussars, the eldest brother, John Dawson, 2nd Earl of Portarlington, had betaken himself that same evening to Brussels or elsewhere. The consequence of this step was that “on the morning of Waterloo, by an unfortunate mistake, he was prevented from joining his regiment in time to command it in the brilliant exploits it performed on that memorable day.” His anguish was extreme. He joined the 18th Hussars, and served with Sir H. Vivian’s brigade in the destructive and successful charge made by that corps towards the close of the battle. In this charge Lord Portarlington had a horse shot under him. No one who knew this nobleman doubted his courage for a moment, but his absence from duty on such an occasion necessitated his retirement from the 23rd Dgns. in Sept., 1815. The Prince Regent showed much kind feeling for Portarlington, and did his best to uphold the unfortunate officer in the eyes of the world. Lord Portarlington purchased a half-pay ensigncy in 86th Foot 21st Oct., 1821. Became lieut. on h. p. 10th Sept., 1825. Capt. h. p. 9th Aug., 1831. This rank was a curious anomaly, as his lordship’s name had been retained in the Army List as a “colonel” ever since Waterloo, and he was also awarded the Waterloo medal. But the one misfortune of his life was ever before him, and the remorse from knowing that he alone was the author of it weighed upon him to such an extent that he took to dissipation, lost a large fortune, and d. at a humble lodging in an obscure London slum, 28th Dec., 1845. In early life he had served in the Pa., and was present at the battle of Talavera. He d. unm.
2. Commanded the regt. at Waterloo in the absence of Lord Portarlington, and was severely wounded early in the day. Bt.-lt.-col. and C.B. Promoted lt.-col. of this regt. 28th Sept., 1815. Placed on h. p. in 1818 on the reduction of his regt. D. in 1822. He belonged to the Devonshire family of this name (Cutcliffe, of Damage), the head of which bears the Christian name of “Mervyn.”
3. Younger son of Joseph François Louis de Lautour, who came of an old Alsatian family, for many years a banker at Madras. Served in the Pa. with the 11th Lt. Dgns., and specially distinguished himself at El Bodon. On 7th Sept., 1812, when in command of a squadron of 11th Dgns., he attacked and took prisoners a company of French artillery near Valladolid. At Waterloo he succeeded to the command of the above regt. early in the day, and later on, same day, to the command of the brigade. C.B., and K.H., and bt. of lt.-col. Placed on h. p. 25th Jan., 1818. Afterwards Gen. and Col.-in-Chf. 3rd Lt. Dgns. M. Cameron, dau. of John Innes, of Cowie, and had issue. D. at Bromley 11th Jan., 1856.
4. Promoted capt. 20th June, 1816, and appointed maj. 2nd Life Gds. 24th July, 1816. Bt.-lt.-col. 27th March, 1817. Exchanged to h. p. with Maj. Roderick M’Neil, 19th July, 1822. Had been knighted by George IV. in the previous August. D. 13th Nov., 1844.
5. On h. p. 1817. M., 17th Feb., 1817, Louise, youngest dau. of Adm. Sir Albemarle Bertie, Bart. D. 24th Jan., 1811.
6. Afterwards lieut.-col. unattached. Living 1842.
7. 3rd son of Thos. Gerrard, of Gibbstown, co. Meath. Bn. 9th Dec., 1779. H. p. 1818. Lt.-col. h. p. 1821. M., 18th March, 1831, Letitia, dau. of Rev. George Garnett, of Williamston, co. Meath, and had issue. D. 7th April 1836.
8. Afterwards maj. 2nd Life Gds. Bt.-lt.-col. 17th Jan., 1822. Lt.-col. 91st Foot 16th July 1841–1842. D. as gen. in Oct., 1863.
9. On h. p. 1818. Bt.-lt.-col. 1821.
10. Afterwards Sir James Maxwell Wallace, K.H., Col.-in-Chf. 17th Lancers. Son of John Wallace, of Greenock, N.B., by a dau. of Robert Colquhoun. Bn. 1785. Served at the Cape of Good Hope as cornet 21st Lt. Dgns., and saw much service in Caffraria, 1812. On the 16th June, 1815, was appointed orderly officer, by Wellington’s permission, to Gen. Count Dornberg, and following day acting brig.-maj. Was twice m. His 2nd wife (in 1836) was the widow of Sir Alexander Don, Bart., of Newton Don, N.B. D. 3rd Feb., 1867, aged 82.
11. H. p. 30th May, 1816. Living in 1846.
12. Lieut. 3rd D.G. 3rd Aug., 1818. Adjt. 6th Nov., 1823. Capt. 11th Foot 3rd Aug., 1826. Serving in 1830.
13. Son of Ebenezer and Anne Coxens, to whom a pension of £80 per annum was granted in 1815.
14. H. p. 25th Jan., 1818. Living in 1846.
15. Capt. 93rd Highlanders 21st Nov., 1828. In 1836 he wrote a reply in The United Service Magazine to Col. Gawler’s Crisis of Waterloo, of which more hereafter. D. 24th Dec., 1837.
16. H. p. 25th Jan., 1818. Living in 1830.
17. H. p. 25th Jan., 1818. Major, unattached, 10th Jan., 1837. Living in 1860. Served previously in 11th Lt. Dns.
18. Son of Thos. Disney, of Rock Lodge, co. Meath. Capt. 67th Foot 8th Apr., 1816. H. p. 25th July, 1817. Exchanged to Rl. Fusiliers 22nd Apr., 1819. Major 3rd March, 1825. Lt.-col. 31st Aug., 1830, unattached. D. in Dublin 15th March, 1833.
19. H. p. 25th Jan., 1818. Living in 1830. Called “Johnston” in Army List for 1830.
20. Capt. h. p. 81st Foot 16th May, 1822. Appointed Sub-Inspector of Militia in the Ionian Islands, 30th May, 1829.
21. Reduced with the regt. in Jan., 1818.
22. The representative of Wm. Blathwayt, Secretary at War to King William III., and Clerk of the Privy Council to no less than four English Sovereigns. G.W. Blathwayt, of Dyrham Park, Chippenham, was bn. 25th Feb., 1797. M. 21st Jan., 1822, Mary Anne, dau. of the Rev. T. Agmondisham Vesey, and had issue. In 1851 he was a lieut.-col. on the retd. list. D. 14th May, 1871.
23. Lieut. 17th Aug., 1815. H. p. 93rd Highlanders 25th Mar., 1817. Capt. 25th Borderers 19th Sept., 1826. Serving in 1830.
24. Reduced with the regt. in Jan., 1818.
25. Reduced with the regt. in Jan., 1818. Living in 1830.
26. D. or left the regt. in 1816.
27. Surgeon to 41st Foot 8th June, 1820. Serving in 1824. Out of the regt. in 1825.
28. H. p. Jan. 1818. D. at Hackney, 1834.