The Netherlands
After the French Revolution, Britain was at war with her old enemy again in the Netherlands.
Beaumont 26 April 1794
The 7th (Queen’s Own) Light Dragoons were heavily involved in this battle that took place during the siege of Landrecies, in the war against the Revolutionary Army of the French.
Taking advantage of early morning mist, a French column attacked the camp in which the 7th was quartered, the latter being hastily mounted before their tents. They were then formed with the 11th Light Dragoons and the Austrian Hussars into the Left Wing and sent forward to observe the situation.
The French column at this stage began to retire due to heavy fire from our infantry in the centre, and the 7th was able to charge into their rearguard, smashing through them and then, in turn, routing their main body. They captured ten guns and the French suffered over 1200 casualties.
A fortnight later the British repeated their success in much the same manner at Willems.
Willems 10 May 1794
The 7th (Queen’s Own) Light Dragoons played a dashing role in this severe defeat of the Revolutionary French. During the conflict, the cavalry was detailed to attack a weak point in the French line, which immediately formed into defensive squares. There then followed about nine successive charges against these squares which whilst not breaking them forced them to retire.
In the subsequent confusion, the Allied cavalry was able to effect a charge on both sides of the enemy at once and managed to break through some of the squares, at which stage the French fled the scene. Thirteen guns were captured in pursuit.
It was the same story at Mouvaux some days later when The 7th rescued their Colonel who had been captured during the fray by the enemy.
The campaign ended a year later and the regiment went home for four peaceful years, during which their most celebrated patrons joined, Lord Henry Paget, later The Marquis of Anglesey and John Gaspard Le Marchant, the founder of the Royal Military College in Sandhurst.
Here it remained until the ill-fated Helder expedition was formed in 1799. The Queen’s Own landed in The Netherlands in September of that year and were engaged in the Battle of Egmont-op-Zee, where they succeeded in repulsing enemy cavalry attacks on the British horse artillery. When winter approached circumstances compelled the Duke of York to retreat and the cavalry was engaged in covering this movement.
Hostilities ceased in October. The Netherlands was again evacuated, the regiment reaching Canterbury in December.
