The Battle of Dettingen
In 1742, the Queen’s Own mobilised for the War of the Austrian Succession and by June 1743 they were formed up in a disadvantageous position near the village of Dettingen in the valley of the River Maine. They spent the morning of 27 June standing next to The King’s Own Regiment of Dragoons, exposed to devastating fire from the French guns.
The French commander in front of Dettingen, Grammont, at this point lost his head; he had been told to await the arrival of the enemy on the ground which Noailles had chosen and which was exceedingly difficult to assault. However, seeing the confusion of the Allied forces outside Kleine Ostheim, he decided to leave his position and go forward to attack. This mistake cost him the battle.
The main weight of the French Cavalry attack fell upon the Allied left, where The King’s Own Regiment of Dragoons alone supported the British infantry.
Meanwhile, reinforcements were on their way from the right wing, and the first to arrive were the 1st and the Queen’s Own Dragoons. These had little success as they did not attack in regular line. However, they re-formed charged once more and won the day.
The losses to the Queen’s Own at Dettingen were 2 officers killed and 2 wounded; 2 other ranks killed and 15 wounded.
