[6] The first issue of carbines to the regular Horse appears to have taken place in 1678; the Life Guards, however, carried carbines from their formation in 1660.--Vide the 'Historical Record of the Life Guards.'
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---- Equipped as Cuirassiers, and obtained rank as _Seventh Horse_ 3
1702 Three Troops return to England, and proceed to Holland 17
---- Covering the Sieges of Venloo, Ruremonde, Stevenswaert, and Liege --
1703 Skirmish near Haneff; and covering the Sieges of Huy and Limburg 18
1704 Three Troops from Ireland to Holland --
1705 Forcing the French Lines at Helixem and Neer-Hespen --
---- Siege of Lisle, and Action at Wynendale 27
1710 -------------------- Douay, Bethune, Aire, and St. Venant --
1711 Forcing the French Lines at Arleux --
1717 Facings changed from Buff to Full Green 35
1751 Description of the Clothing and Standards --
1788 Title changed to _Fifth Dragoon Guards_ 40
---- Retreat through Holland to Germany 45
---- Actions at Arklow, Ballycarnen, and Gorey --
---- ---------- Vinegar Hill and White Hills 47
1804 Styled the _Fifth, or Princess Charlotte of Wales's Regiment of Dragoon Guards_ --
1814 Advances through the Pyrenees into France 67
1817 Proceeds to Scotland, and from thence to England --
1821 Returns to Scotland, and embarks for Ireland 74
1830 Reviewed by King William IV. at Windsor 76
The Standard of the Regiment to precede 1
The Capture of the Bavarian Standards at the forcing of the French Lines in 1705 to face 24
The Fifth Dragoon Guards at the Battle of Salamanca to face 60
"SALAMANCA," "VITTORIA," "TOULOUSE," "PENINSULA."
[Illustration: FIFTH (THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S) REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS.]
In the early periods of the history of this country a standing army was unknown; but as the kingdom increased in arts, sciences, and manufactures, and as national institutions, established upon sound principles, assumed an important character, a regularly organized military force was found necessary to protect the interests of society, and to guard colonial possessions; and when the other nations of Europe have from time to time augmented their standing armies, it has been found necessary to make similar additions to the regular force of Great Britain. After the Restoration in 1660, the army of the Commonwealth was disbanded, and a body of household troops, with a few garrison companies, were considered sufficient; but the acquisition of additional possessions, the ambitious designs of foreign potentates, and internal commotions in the kingdom, have occasioned numerous additions to be made to the regular army. It was one of the last mentioned causes, which, in the year 1685, gave rise to the formation of the corps which is the subject of this memoir, and which now bears the title of the FIFTH, OR PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS.