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Military art prints of the Battle of
Dettingen by leading military artists, published by Cranston Fine Arts,
the military print company.
The Battle of Dettingen, fought on the
27th June 1743, was the major battle of the war of the Austrian
succession, the British main allies were the Austrian army and Hanoverian,
but most of the fighting was done by the British troops who suffered over
800 casualties in the battle of Dettingen
The battle of Dettingen in 1743, was not very
creditable to the tactical skill of either side. Mismanagement on the part
of the French neutralised the disadvantages under which the Anglo-Austrian
army laboured, in getting itself shut in by an opposing force far superior
in numbers. It was only owing to the great steadiness and the splendid
qualities of the English soldiers that the French were badly defeated,
though the advantage could not be pushed right home.
Lord Stair, who was in command of the Allied
army, was not a military genius by any means. Although he had with him
some 40,000 soldiers, English, Austrian and Hanovarian, and could be
opposed at the largest computation by not more than 60,000 French, he
allowed himself to be completely outmanoeuvred and out generalled by
Noailles, the French General. Indeed so stupendous was the Earl of Stair's
blunders that his army was neatly cut off both from their own magazines
and from all sources of supply. The situation of the army was in truth
very critical at the time when King George arrived from Hanover. The
soldiers were on half rations; the horses destitute of forage: Lord Stair
and the Hanovarian General at daggers drawn; sickness and death had
decreased the strength of the troops by 3,000 men. But in spite of their
dangerous position and the disadvantages under which they were labouring,
the troops were full of spirit and most eager to fight. It was determined
to fall back on the reinforcements, which in their turn had become cooped
up in Hanau, and on 27th June George II took command of the army. They had
not gone far when it became apparent even to Lord Stair, that it was a
question of cutting a way through the French lines or being themselves cut
up.
At that moment when everything looked so
black, the standing luck of the British Army did not desert it. During the
temporary absence of the French General, his nephew, de Grammont, full of
zeal and impetuosity, ordered his troops to advance, believing that the
force before him was only an easily exterminated part of the allied army.
This movement was carried out in such a manner as to compel the French
batteries which were doing so much cruel damage to suspend their fire,
lest it should injure their own side. As the French advanced, King George
horse ran away and very nearly carried him into the middle of the enemy's
line, but was stopped just in time. When the King dismounted he said
"Now I'm on my legs I'm sure I shall not run away". He led the
right of the infantry line into action in the most gallant manner
possible, waving his sword and shouting loudly " Now boys. Now for
the honour of England, fire and behave bravely, and the French will soon
run!"
Marshal de Noailles on his return from the
other side of the river Mayn, found no efforts he could make would
retrieve his fortunes, so he gave the order to retreat. the retreat
speedily became a rout. The Allies spurred on by victory and the knowledge
that the king was at their head, and inspired by his presence and
exertions, fell upon the French and slew them to the extent of about
5,000.
The 3rd and 4th troops of the Life Guards together with one troop of
the Horse Grenadier, formed a brigade under the Earl of Crawford, Colonel
of the 4th troop, and held the post of honour in the centre of the British
line. Crawford, being gold-stick-in-waiting, of course had charge of the
King's person. George gave his gold stick a vast amount of trouble, for he
exposed himself as freely as any of his men. A trooper of the Life Guards
wrote home a most vivid account of the battle as he saw it. For five hours
the Guards were exposed to the fire of the enemy's cannon; that was before
de Grammont's rashness caused the latter to cease. The Colonel was
wounded, the Brigade-Major's leg was shot off, and the Captain
"wounded terribly by a fireball." He goes on to say "My
Lord Crawford led us on and behaved like a true Son of Mars, for when we
charged he shouted, 'Never fear, my boys, this is fine diversion.'"
Crawford took such care of the King, and behaved so gallantly, that on
seeing him approach the next day, George said to all around him:
"Here comes my champion!" The
English cavalry greatly distinguished themselves at Dettingen, and the
name of the battle is borne on the colours of the Life Guards. They were
men of bone and muscle in those days. For some time they and their horses
had been half-starved; they had been moved about in an aimless sort of way
all over a strange country, always in the presence of a wily and
overpowering enemy; but when it came to hand-to-hand fighting, they made
up for all their privations and enforced inaction. When the flower of the
French Cavalry came down upon them at the first onset, which temporarily
checked the English infantry, Crawford's men went at them and not only
withstood the shock, but actually drove the enemy back, sullen and
discomfited. And after all this fighting they remained on the field,
exposed to drenching rain, unable to continue the pursuit because they had
no food or drink, and no tents to shelter them. The commissariat
arrangements were conspicuous by their absence. Six standards were taken
from the French. One, a splendidly gold embroidered flag, made of white
silk, was captured by an English Dragoon, who after killing the bearer had
to break the staff in order to carry off his trophy; because the pole was
buckled to the Cornet, who in turn was buckled to his horse. This was the
last battle in which an English King took part.
(Excerpt from the Army and Navy Gazette 1896 by Bacon)
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King George II Knighting Trooper Brown After the Battle of Dettingen by J P Beadle.
Private Thomas Brown of the 3rd kings own regiment of Dragoons, is knighted by King George the II, (The last reigning British Monarch to be at a Battle) Brown had recaptured the regimental guidon from the French during the battle
Open edition print. Image size 30 inches x 13 inches (76cm x 33cm). Price £51.00
Open edition print. Image size 23 inches x 9 inches (58cm x 23cm). Price £38.00
Open edition print. Special Promotion : This print is half price off for a limited time only! Image size 12 inches x 6 inches (31cm x 15cm). Price £7.80
ITEM CODE DHM0322
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Battle of Dettingen by John Wootton.
Depicting King George II overlooking the Battle of Dettingen. He was the last British monarch to be at a battle.
Open edition print. Image size 13 inches x 10 inches (33cm x 25cm). Price £8.00
ITEM CODE VAR0208
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Charge of the Third Dragoons, Battle of Dettingen by Harry Payne.
Open edition print. Image size 8 inches x 12 inches (20cm x 31cm). Price £14.00
Original chromolithograph plate published by Raphael Tuck and Sons, 1915. Plate image size 7.5 inches x 5.5 inches (17cm x 14cm), paper size 10 inches x 7 inches (25cm x 17cm). Price £58.00
ITEM CODE VAR0607
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Battle of Dettingen, 1743 by Henry Dupray. (P)
Original antique print c.1890, mounted on card at the time. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £75.00
ITEM CODE HD0007
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| King George II Knighting Trooper Brown After the Battle
of Dettingen by J P Beadle Private Thomas Brown of the 3rd kings own regiment of Dragoons, is
knighted by King George the II, (The last reigning British Monarch to
be at a Battle). Brown had recaptured the regimental guidon from the
French during the battle
Battle of Dettingen by John Wootton Depicting King George II overlooking the Battle of
Dettingen. He was
the last British monarch to be at a battle. |
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The Scots Greys during the Battle of Dettingen
Their next tour
of active service came in 1742, when they were ordered abroad. George II
was assisting Austria against Bavaria, France and Prussia. Lord Stair upon
whom the mantle of Marlborough had certainly not descended, managed to get
himself shut up in a regular trap. The army was closed in on nearly every
side in a narrow valley, a sort of gut between the river Maine and the
hills, cut off from forage and supplies of all sorts by the French
Marshal, Noailles. It was at this critical juncture that George himself,
with his son the Duke of Cumberland, who was soon to gain unenviable
notoriety as the "Butcher of Culloden", joined his army. Nothing
could be done except to retreat to Hanau, in order to join hands with the
Hanovarians and Hessians who were there. Accordingly the army moved away,
silently and stealthily. But the French received notice of the movement,
and a large force was drawn up directly in their path, with orders to
engage the English until the main body of the French could cross the river
and fall upon them. The French tactics were simple - tremendous volleys
musketry fire followed by cavalry charges. The Greys, now wearing the
high-pointed grenadier caps, supported the infantry for a time, but
chafing at their restraint, the colonel, James Campbell, a splendid leader
let them loose at the enemy. Uttering a tremendous yell, the Greys charged
like a whirlwind, and so admirably was the distance calculated, that they
fell at just the right moment upon the French and Prussian armour-clad
horsemen, whom they hurled back and chased to the very rear of their line.
The blood of officers and men alike was at fever heat. Nothing could
withstand their onslaught. With renewed impetus they dashed at the French
Household mailed warriors, utterly swept them off the field, and captured
their standard - a magnificent affair, made of white damask, richly
embroidered with gold and silver - and the field of Dettingen was won. The
most amazing circumstance in connection with the prominent part which the
regiment took in the battle was the extremely slight casualty list. One
officer and a few troopers were wounded, and only four horses were killed,
and two wounded. Excerpt from the Navy and Army Illustrated January 15th
1897 by G F Bacon
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