CHAPTER I
1794 to 1878
The story of the Pembroke Yeomanry begins with the French Revolution. By 1793 Republican France had conquered Belgium, and was threatening Holland. Public opinion in Britain had been outraged by the execution of King Louis XVI, and that year the armies of five countries took the field. France, led by Robespierre, replied by introducing mass conscription for the first time in history. Within the twelve months during which he headed the Committee of Public Safety, France had cleared her soil of invaders. Not only did the war seem likely to be a long one, but it began to hold some threat for those who had attacked her.
In Great Britain, those were the days of the Press Gang. Yet although the Navy must have men, military conscription was unheard of, nor would any Government have dared to propose it. The Regular Army depended solely upon volunteers, and only Militia service was compulsory. Each County had to provide a fixed quota of men for Home Defence. They served for three years, attending twenty-eight days training in each. Fines and imprisonment enforced attendance, although any man selected could hire a substitute. More was needed. On March 5th, 1794, Mr. Pitt outlined to the House of Commons various measures for strengthening the internal defences, using the expression ‘Yeomen Cavalry’ for the first time.
That month a plan was sent to all the Lord Lieutenants of Counties by the Government. It contained provision for the raising of ‘Bodies of Cavalry’ within particular districts or counties, to consist of gentlemen and yeomanry, or ‘such persons as they shall recommend’. The Officers were to receive commissions from the Sovereign, who would approve the Muster Rolls. The members would be required to find their own horses, but arms and accoutrements would be provided by the Crown. Training was to be authorised by the Lord Lieutenant, and either he or the High Sheriff could call upon them ‘for the suppression of riots or tumults within their own or adjacent counties.’ They were to be available in the event of invasion, and whenever embodied were to receive pay as cavalry and be subject to Military Law.
As a result, ‘Bodies of Cavalry’ were raised throughout the United Kingdom under the style of ‘Gentlemen and Yeomanry.’ Not backward in this. Lord Milford presided over a meeting of Pembrokeshire gentlemen in London on April 19th, and it was decided to raise a force to be known as the ‘Pembrokeshire Company of Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry.’ So the Regiment was born. Recruiting proceeded rapidly, for on July 17th John Campbell, Esquire, of Stackpole Court was writing that ‘I have the honour of enclosing to your Grace a return of the Gentlemen and Yeomen enrolled in my Troop of Cavalry upon a plan in conjunction with Lord Milford.’
The plan appears to have envisaged two Troops, each of fifty Officers and men, commanded respectively by Lord Milford and John Campbell. These became known as the Dungleddy and Castlemartin Troops. They were to be armed with swords and pistols, with an additional twelve carbines per Troop. The uniform was to consist of boots and white breeches, a blue coatee with buff collar, cuffs and lapels, and a leather helmet with a bearskin crest and turban of moleskin. This helmet was to be edged with white metal, bearing the words ‘Pembroke Yeomanry.’ In 1795 the Army List showed the following under the heading of ‘Gentlemen and Yeomanry, Pembroke’:—
Captain Richard Lord Milford, 17th July, 1794.
Captain John Campbell, 31st August, 1794.
Lieutenant Dudley Ackland, 31st August, 1794.
Cornet John Lloyd, 31st August, 1794.
There may have been other Officers than those listed, for Yeomanry units were not particularly punctilious over rendering returns in the early days. The same plan required the provision of one Sergeant per Troop to be paid for by the Government, the first of the Permanent Staff Instructors. In 1796 Captain Campbell was elevated to the Peerage under the style of Lord Cawdor of Castlemartin.
It is not easy to trace the first years of the Regiment’s history, but it seems that both Captains began recruiting from amongst their tenantry, with Lord Milford naturally concentrating upon Picton and the neighbourhood of Haverfordwest. Other units were being raised at the same time, notably the Pembroke Fencibles in the south of the County, and the Fishguard Fencibles, formed by William Knox of Llanstinan at his own expense and commanded by his son, Thomas. There was considerable local unrest, and in 1795 Colonel Knox marched his Fencibles to Haverfordwest to prevent colliers from Hook seizing a sloop loaded with butter for Bristol. During the following winter there had been disturbances in the Pembroke district because of the shortage of bread, and both the Pembroke Fencibles and the Castlemartin Troop had had to parade on market days. In 1797 all three units were to march against a much more formidable adversary.
In France the navies of Spain and Holland had been added to her own, and Hoche was in command of three armies which had little enough to do. The Directory had replaced the Committee of Public Safety, and included that great military planner, Carnot. By 1796 the invasion of Great Britain seemed feasible, and was planned as a three-pronged attack. Hoche, with 15,000 men was to land in Ireland; 5,000 men under Quantin were to land near Newcastle; Tate, with a mere 1,400 men was given Bristol as his objective, but bidden land in Cardigan Bay if it proved too hard a task. They believed that the Irish would welcome them, the northern cities of England to be seething with republicanism, and the Welsh to be sympathetic to their cause. Tate and his Legion Noire were to march across the country into Lancashire.
Hoche sailed from Brest on the 16th December, 1796, but he and Admiral Richery became seperated from their fleet, and were still missing when it arrived off Bantry Bay on the 21st. A tremendous gale prevented any landing, and the transports returned to France. General Quantin found his flat bottomed boats unmanageable in a rough sea, and put back to Dunkirk. Tate left Brest on the 16th February, 1797, failed to make headway against off-shore winds in the Bristol Channel, and on the 22nd was recognised as an enemy when rounding St. David’s Head. Having ascertained that Fishguard Port was defended—the Bombardiers at the Fort having fired a 9-pounder in salute when a ship entered wearing British colours—Admiral Castagnier landed him off Carreg Wasted Point that evening in a flat calm sea. The troops once disembarked, the Admiral and his four ships set sail for France. Two were unfortunate, meeting two of Lord Bridport’s frigates off Brest, and being forced to strike their colours after a running fight that lasted barely half-an-hour. One, the 40-gun frigate ‘La Resistance’, was subsequently to be added to the Royal Navy as H.M.S. ‘Fisgard’.
In Pembrokeshire the Fishguard Fencibles now consisted of four companies, with a total
of 235 rank and file, but only the Castlemartin Troop of the Yeomanry seems to have been strong enough to be effective. It numbered about fifty men, and on the evening of the 22nd it was fortuitously assembled, prepared for an early start next morning to attend the funeral of a comrade. The Pembrokeshire Militia was at Harwich, but the Cardiganshire Militia was on guard duty at Pembroke Dock, and the Pembroke Fencibles mustered over 100 men. In addition, there were sailors from Milford Haven.
Apart from the Fishguard Fencibles, all these troops were stationed in the south of the County, and most had to be ferried across the Haven: nevertheless, all had reached Haverfordwest by the morning of the 23rd. Commanded by Lord Cawdor, and taking with them two 9-pounder guns from the Revenue Cutter ‘Speedwell’, they marched on Fishguard, joined by Colonel Knox and his men who had fallen back from the town. In all, with volunteers, they numbered about 750. It seems strange that the Dungleddy Troop is not mentioned in any account, for Captain Lord Milford was present in his capacity as Lord Lieutenant, despite having surrendered the military command to a younger man. By five o’clock that afternoon the little force was within a mile of the port.
Tate does not appear to have been a particularly inspiring leader: an aging American who had fought in the War of Independence, and subsequently been forced to flee his country after raising troops in South Carolina to raid Spanish possessions in Louisiana. Nor were his men of anything like the same quality as the veterans of Hoche. Originally the landing would have proved a most useful diversion to the Irish and Newcastle ventures, yet now it seems that the Directory had little more in mind than a buccaneering raid by troops that were expendable. The Welsh had proved actively hostile, there had been skirmishing in the afternoon, and by nightfall Tate found his advance opposed by disciplined contingents of horse, guns and foot. Had his men proved more reliable he could have sacked Fishguard at least; as it was, he had moved a bare two miles inland. About eight o’clock that evening he sent his Second-in-Command, the ci-devant Baron de Rochemure, to seek terms.
Cardigan Bay.
5th of Ventose, 5th year
Sir, of the Republic.
The Circumstances under which the Body of the French troops under my Command were landed at this Place renders it unnecessary to attempt any military operations, as they would only tend to Bloodshed and Pillage. The Officers of the whole Corps have therefore intimated their desire of entering into a Negotiation upon Principles of Humanity for a surrender. If you are influenced by similar Considerations you may signify the same by the Bearer, and, in the mean Time, Hostilities shall cease.
Health and Respect,
TATE, Chef de Brigade.
To the Officer commanding His Britannick Majesty’s Troops.
It appeared that de Rochemure had been ordered to secure an undertaking that the British Government would ship their whole force back to France, which Lord Cawdor refused to consider. Instead he replied, claiming a superiority that he did not possess:—
Fishguard.
Sir, February 23rd, 1797.
The Superiority of the Force under my Command, which is hourly increasing, must prevent my treating upon any Terms short of your surrendering your whole Force Prisoners of War. I enter fully into your Wish of preventing an unnecessary Effusion of Blood, which your speedy Surrender can alone prevent, and which will entitle you to that Consideration it is ever the Wish of British Troops to show an Enemy whose numbers are inferior
My Major will deliver you this letter and I shall expect your detirmination by Ten o’clock, by your Officer, whom I have furnished with an Escort, that will conduct him to me without Molestation.
I am &c.,
CAWDOR.
To the Officer Commanding the French Troops.
The ruse was effective, and it may well be that distant gatherings of Welsh women in their traditional red cloaks deceived the French further into believing reinforcements had arrived. Tate agreed to surrender on any terms. On February 24th the Legion Noire obeyed the order to ‘open pans and shed priming’, and marched off to pile their arms on Goodwick Sands. It was not a particularly heroic action, but the speed with which the Pembrokeshire units took up position between the invaders and the port was very remarkable. They did all that was required of them, sealing off a force of twice their number in the Pencaer Peninsula, and then accepting their surrender when they refused to fight.
Again it becomes difficult to trace the history of the Yeomanry for several years, but in 1798 there were five Troops in the County. These appear to have been two Troops of Lord Milford’s from Haverfordwest and North Pembrokeshire, each of 40 privates; a further troop of 40 at Narberth, commanded by James Bowen; and Lord Cawdor’s two Troops of Castlemartin Yeomanry Cavalry, each of 50 men. In the Army List for 1799 the following names appear:—
Lieut Col. Commandant Richard Lord Milford
Captain John Lord Cawdor
Captain Charles Harries Sanxay
Lieut. Dudley Ackland
Lieut. Morris Williams
Lieut. Barnett Bowen Jordan
Lieut. James Bowen
Lieut. John Batchman
Lieut. Joseph Adams
Cornet John Lloyd
Cornet Thomas Mansell
Cornet John Rees
Cornet John Davies
Cornet Norris Williams
Cornet John Lort Phillips.
whilst in 1801 we find several Cornets promoted, a new Lieutenant in John Grant, and two new Cornets in Thomas Battine and Thomas Meyrick, both gazetted on 14th February, 1800. Lord Milford resigned his commission in 1799.
In March of 1802 the Peace of Amiens was signed, only to be followed by a renewal of war with France in May of the following year. As the Napoleonic War progressed, more troops were raised. The Pembroke Yeomanry seems to have reached its peak during the invasion scare of 1803 to 1805. It is still rather nebulous, for now we have the Independent Pembrokeshire Yeomanry Cavalry, apparently originating from the North Pembroke Troop after Captain Morris had obtained permission to raise a second Troop under his late Lieutenant, Captain John Rees. The Narberth Troop had been disbanded, but that same summer Sir Hugh Owen of Orielton obtained permission to raise two Troops, and another Troop was being raised by Captain Gwynn Gell Vaughan of Jordanstown. All five were formed into the new Regiment. Sir Hugh Owen was gazetted Lieut.-Colonel Commandant, with Major John Colby of Ffynone as his Field Officer, and the composition appears to have been:—
1st Upper Troop … … Captain Morris Williams
2nd Upper Troop … … Captain John Rees
1st Orielton Troop … … Captain John Price
2nd Orielton Troop … … Captain G. G. Vaughan
Mid Troop … … … Captain George Harris
Forming part of the Pembrokeshire Volunteer Legion, together with four Companies of Infantry and one of Artillery under command of Lieut.-Colonel Joshua Roch, the single Dungleddy Troop remained outside the new Regiment; so did the two Castlemartin Troops, now commanded by Captain Joseph Adams of Holyhead. In all there would seem to have been eight Troops of Yeomanry in the County, returning the following strengths in 1803:—
Dungleddy (1) … … 63
Castlemartin (2) … … 83
Pembrokeshire (5) … … 352
Total … 498
Their duties included coast watching, and the provision of mounted orderlies to light the warning beacons on the Prescelly Hills.
The threat of invasion was taken very seriously—had not the French already landed once at Fishguard unopposed ?—and the Yeomanry found the work arduous. Probably the Dungleddy Troop did more than their share of watching. On July 16th, 1804 Captain Roch is complaining that his Troop has been on vidette duty on Permanent Pay since November 5th of the previous year, their clothing getting bare and much worn from constant duty, yet clothing money having been issued twice only since they were formed in 1794. Not until December did they begin to get regular relief, with the Independent Pembrokeshire Yeomanry agreeing to take turns on the West Coast, and the Castlemartin Yeomanry to watch the South. On the 21st October, 1805, Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar destroyed Napoleon’s hopes of invasion.
Whitehall, 2nd April, 1806.
Lieut.-Col. Gordon. Sir,—
I am directed by Lord Gordon to acquaint you that the Independent Yeomanry Cavalry, and the Dungleddy Troop, have for a long period of time been assembled on permanent pay by alternate detachments for the purpose of performing vidette duty on a part of the coast of
Pembrokeshire, and I am to desire that you will move H.R.H. to favour Lord Spencer with his opinion how far it may be expedient in the present state of the country that this duty, which is attended with considerable expense should be continued.
I am, etc.,
J. Becket.
After 30 months duty, the Yeomanry was released from this wearisome routine.
Peace was ratified on 14th April, 1814, and brought many changes. In the winter of 1819 Robert Innis Ackland, Esquire, obtained permission to raise the Picton Troop of the Dungleddy Yeomanry. Both Troops were called out for two days in May, 1820, when Riots broke out in the neighbourhood of Haverfordwest. Then, on 13th September, 1821, the Picton Troop escorted King George IV through Pembrokeshire when a storm forced His Majesty to disembark in Milford Haven on his way home from Ireland. Meanwhile the Independent Pembrokeshire Yeomanry Cavalry gradually ceased to exist after the death of Sir Hugh Owen in 1809. In 1824 the Dungleddy and Pembroke Troops were united as the Dungleddy Yeomanry Cavalry under command of Captain Richard Bulkeley Phillips, numbering 112 All Ranks in the returns for 1825 and 1826. In 1827 the senior Corps of Pembrokeshire Yeomanry Cavalry was ordered to be disbanded after an existence of 33 years.
The Castlemartin Yeomanry mounted guard when the ‘Leda’ frigate of 38 guns was wrecked at the entrance to Milford Haven on 31st January, 1808, and in March Captain Adams was promoted Major. In April the establishment was fixed at:—
1 Captains
2 Lieutenants
2 Cornets
2 Quartermasters (Warrant Officers)
4 Sergeants
4 Corporals
2 Trumpeters
76 Privates
and this establishment remained in being for the next 12 years. Training was clearly taken seriously, for an order signed by Joseph Adams on 10th June, 1807, lays down fines ranging from a guinea to half-a-crown according to rank for failure to attend. In 1811 the Hon. John Campbell succeeded Major Adams in command, resigning in 1824. Three years later he was created Earl Cawdor and Viscount Ernlyn. A letter from Whitehall dated 24th February, 1824, appointed George Bowling as Captain Commandant. In January, 1827, both Troops marched to Fishguard, where a dangerous mob had collected to prevent the shipping of a cargo of corn. In July the Duke and Duchess of Clarence visited Pembroke Dockyard to launch a man-
of-war, and were provided with an escort.
Like the Dungleddy, the Castlemartin Yeomanry were ordered to disband at the end of 1827: unlike them, they declined to obey. They had reason to consider their refusal effective, for on January 11th, 1828, Lord Landsdowne wrote to the Lord Lieutenant, Sir John Owen:—
“As you have communicated the order of service without pay from Captain Bowling of the Castlemartin Yeomanry Cavalry, I am happy to be able to add that the Corps may be
continued, the individuals returned as effective, enjoying their present exemptions from the Militia Ballot and the Horse Duty, but remaining in all other particulars subject to the existing regulations.”
In 1830 the Yeomanry was still returning its full strength of NCOs and men. Towards the close of that year rioting broke out all over the Kingdom, and the Yeomanry was turned to again. Existing Corps were augmented, new units raised, and those who had served on without pay were again admissible to receive it. A further letter from Whitehall, dated January 27th, 1831, states that:—
“directions have been given to the War Office to issue the usual Pay and allowances to the Castlemartin Yeomanry Cavalry upon the application of Captain Bowling.”
Early in 1833 a third Troop was raised in the Hundred of Roose by William Charles Alien Phillips, Esquire, of St. Bride’s, who was appointed its captain. Sir John Owen presented kettle drums to the Castlemartin Yeomanry this year.
In 1839 the Rebecca or Turnpike Riots began, and appear to have had two main causes. Poor Relief in Wales was considered unfair, for although relief was granted, it had to be repaid when work was resumed. Also, parishes were too poor to maintain the roads, which were built by contractors who reimbursed themselves by establishing toll gates, often illegally close together. Bands of men roamed the country, burning down the offending gates. They
are said to have been clad in long white shirts, with faces blackened, and to have accompanied their moonlight wanderings with the blowing of horns and the firing of guns. Their motto was Genesis XXIV, verse 60:—
“And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.”
These disturbances found the Government at a disadvantage because the Glamorganshire and Carmarthenshire Yeomanry had been disbanded some 15 years previously, there had never been any Yeomanry in Cardiganshire and Brecknockshire, and only the three Troops of the Castlemartin Yeomanry existed to cover the whole of West Wales. The first incident took place at Efailwen on the Cardigan to Narberth road, when the newly erected turnpike gate and gate house were hacked down by an angry crowd. Several arrests were made, and two Troops of the Yeomanry rode to Tavemspite to maintain order during the trial.
In the winter of 1842 more serious Riots occurred in the neighbourhood of St. Clear’s, in Carmarthenshire, and the Yeomanry were on duty there by alternate Troops of about 50 each for twenty five days. Whilst they were guarding the Pwlltrays Gate, ‘Becca and her daughters’ succeeded in burning down a gate and toll house on the other side of the town. The Riots grew worse in January, 1843, spreading to the Counties of Glamorgan, Brecon and Cardigan. Marines arrived at Milford Haven from Chatham on January 20th, and on February 7th all three Troops of the Yeomanry were called out for active service with the Regular Forces, which included some Heavy Dragoons and Royal Artillery. They were released after 26 days duty.
On June 28th they were called out once more. ‘A’ (Pembroke) Troop was sent to Narberth, ‘B’ (Castlemartin) Troop to St. Clears, and ‘C’ (Haverfordwest) Troop to Lampeter. A
section of 12 men and an Officer, accompanied by a Magistrate, set out every night from Narberth in an endeavour to arrest the Rioters, but they never fell in with them and many gates and toll houses were destroyed. In Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire fights occurred with the Military, the Yeomanry playing their full part in restoring order, with the troopers going home in relays to attend to their agricultural duties. It is recorded that ‘A’ Troop set out with a Squadron of Heavy Dragoons on the night of October 11th for a mountain north of Maenclochog, the authorities having had word that ‘Rebecca would meet her children there at midnight.’ Although no meeting took place, conditions on the march were so bad that one of the Dragoon horses died, and two others had to be destroyed.
The end came on November 21st 1843, when William Owen, the ‘Lady Rebecca’ of the movement and twenty-five of her ‘daughters’ were committed for trial. A Government Commission having found the disturbances to be caused by a genuine public grievance, they were punished lightly. Despite this happy ending, it is notable that Major Bowling and his Yeomanry had been out for 171 days in suppressing the last outbreak, thus completing nearly 200 days on duty in the space of two years.
The Royal Yacht arrived in Milford Haven on August 14th, 1848 and a rumour that Queen Victoria would land caused the Yeomanry to be mustered. Before they could assemble the Prince Consort did come ashore. Sergeant Major Rees, the only man ready, rode alone to Bush Hill, where the Prince received him with great kindness and had a long talk with him. In 1852 Major Bowling retired after 28 years in command. It was largely due to his exertions that the Castlemartin Yeomanry had not been disbanded in 1827, and but for them it might now be numbered among the long forgotten Yeomanry Corps of the Napoleonic Wars. He was succeeded by Major Henry Leach of Corston, who had held a commission in the Scots Fusilier Guards, and had joined the Yeomanry in 1840. The following year a signal honour was bestowed upon the Yeomanry, announced in a letter to the Lord Lieutenant.
May 18th, 1853.
Sir,—
I have the honour to lay before the Queen the memorial of the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and privates of the Castlemartin Yeomanry Cavalry (which you transmitted to me)
and I have the satisfaction to inform you that Her Majesty is graciously pleased to approve of the Corps bearing the word ‘Fishguard’ on their standard and appointments.
I have the honour to be. Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Palmerston.
Sir John Owen, Bart, M.P.
Thus the Yeomanry became the first volunteer unit ever to receive a battle honour, and remains the only unit in the British Army to bear the name of an engagement upon British soil. In that year the strength was 161, every rank being filled up and there being eleven supernumerary privates. The Troop Commanders were :-
1st Troop Captain Bryant
2nd Troop Captain Thomas Mansell
3rd Troop Captain Seymour Alien.
The uniform worn by the Officers in 1854 was of the Light Dragoon pattern, and consisted of a dark blue hussar jacket, closely braided with silver braid, three rows of gilt ball buttons, and silver braided white collars and cuffs. The overalls were dark blue with a broad silver stripe. The head-dress was a blue cloth shako of medium height, with silver ornaments and Prince of Wales’ Plume surmounted by a white cock’s feather plume with red feathers showing underneath. The shako lines were silver, and crimson and silver barrel hussar sashes, with silver cross belts were worn The sword and sabretache slings, together with the sabretache, were of black leather, the latter having a silver Prince of Wales’ Plume with scroll and crown above. The Officers were also distinguished by silver shoulder scales.
In 1864 Major Leach died, after twelve years in command, and in May of that year Frederick Baron de Rutzen was appointed Major Commandant having first been gazetted as Cornet in 1847. On August 3rd, 1865, the Yeomanry had the honour of escorting Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, to Pembroke and Pembroke Dock and from thence to Tenby where he unveiled a statue of his late father, the Prince Consort. In 1867 a new guidon was presented to the Yeomanry It was of fawn silk, 33 ins. by 22½ ins., edged all round with a gold fringe. Embroidered on both sides was a representation of the Prince of Wales’ Plume, the Regimental device and the three scrolls on which were inscribed ‘Castlemartin Yeomanry’ and ‘Fishguard’. The tassels and cord for the head of the shaft were of gold lace. The shoulder belt was of blue cloth, lined with red leather and edged with ½ ins. gold lace. It was embroidered with oak leaves and acorns, and Prince of Wales Plumes, the letters ‘C.Y.’ surrounded by oak leaves, and underneath a scroll with the word ‘FIshguard’. Various accounts attribute this gift to the Countess of Cawdor Lady Litchfield, and Mrs. Leach. Today the original guidon hangs in Stackpole Court, the new guidon in the Officers’ Mess.
In 1871 came the end of the Prussian triumph over the French armies, which occasioned much thought in British military circles. As a result of reforms introduced by Mr. Cardwell, no Corps of Yeomanry was to have more than eight or less than four Troops, and those unable to raise a fourth Troop were to be disbanded. Captain Erasmus Gower, late of the 12th Lancers, raised the fourth Troop in the North Eastern and Dungleddy districts with Lieutenant W. F. Roch as his subaltern. Major Baron de Rutzen was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain John Leach was promoted Major by the same Gazette of February 21st. That year the Regiment was re-armed with Westley-Richards breech-loading carbines.
The uniform worn in 1871 was still of the Light Dragoon pattern, and consisted of a Light Dragoon shako, with silver ornaments, and red and white horsehair plumes for all ranks; a dark blue short jacket braided with silver cord for the Officers, and white cord for the men; and dark blue overalls with a single broad white stripe, the Officers’ stripes being silver. The belts and gloves were white, the Officers having silver laced sword and cross belts. The Officers horse furniture was ornamented by a blue cloth shabrack, edged with broad scarlet cloth (on which was embroidered the Prince of Wales’ Plumes and the word ‘Fishguard’) and scarlet-over-white charger plumes. In 1873 the rank of Cornet was abolished, and that of Sub-lieutenant substituted.
Thus, 80 years after the first Troop was raised in Pembrokeshire, we find a single, well tried Yeomanry Regiment of four Troops, bearing a unique battle honour, having ridden against the French at Fishguard, watched the coasts for Napoleon’s ships, and spent many
months preserving law and order. The Army List of 1874 shows the Officers to have been:—
Lieutenant Colonel FLSM Baron de Rutzen
Major John Leach
Captain Henry Leach
Captain Erasmus Gower
Captain Morgan J. Saurin
Captain Owen P. Scourfield
Lieutenant William Francis Roch
Lieutenant Charles EG Fisher
Lieutenant Charles Mathias
Sub-Lieutenant Marteine OM Lloyd
Sub-Lieutenant John FC Phillips
Surgeon Thomas H Rowe
In May, 1878, the Baron de Rutzen resigned his command of the Regiment after some 14 years, and in the same month Queen Victoria approved his appointment as its Honorary Colonel.