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Armed Forces / Re: Waterloo ancestors
« on: Thursday 22 October 09 23:25 BST (UK) »
In reply to Arkay, I am a descendant of Capt Thoyts and have done a bit of digging into the events of 18/6/15. The RHG were supposed to have been in reserve when the Household Brigade went into action, but seem to have got somewhat carried away. Attacking around La Haye Sainte, Capt Thoyts' troop as far as I can tell engaged the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps of the L'Armee du Nord to the West of the farm. Initially successful, indeed there is a second hand family record of a captured Eagle (either the 54th or 28th Line), they were counter charged by French cuirassiers (probably 2nd brigade, 13th cavalry division) and a number were captured, including Capt Thoyts. If an Eagle was taken, it was recaptured pretty smartish and the RHG survivors were herded to the rear. Capt Thoyts escaped in the general confusion after the battle (I have seen the location given as either Genappe or Charleroi, the former is plausible, the latter is not unless the escape was not until the following day at least). His promotion to Major was dated 18th June, however the casualty returns for the day list him as missing which does not quite square. It is probable as an officer he was held separately from the men and the fate of the troopers captured alongside him is not known. Incidentally 20 killed and missing from 77 can be considered light in comparison to the 50%+ loss of many of the British heavy cavalry units. The family accounts are all second hand and do not mention other officers or men of the Regiment unfortunately.