Waterloo medal roll

[Ron03]

Hello I'm an ageing newbie.  My GGG grandfather, Andrew Knight, managed to get himself killed at Waterloo.  He was with the 2nd Dragoons Royal Scots Greys (Royal North British) or (The German Leagion commanded by Ponsonby).

His death is recorded in piece WO12/522 muster rolls at Kew.  His name is also recorded in the History of the 2nd Dragoons Royal Scots Greys by Edward Amack.

Question: Why can't I find him in the medal rolls?  Niether the MOD nor the National Archives will amend the rolls.

[junev]

Hi,

Is it possible he has been mis-transcribed? For example there is an Andrew White of the 2nd Dragoons (RNB) Capt. J. Pooles Troop. ADDED just checked another site and this person survived but it may be worth checking on other potential names?

I have a copy of a document for Waterloo medals for one of my ancestors and it is not even in alphabetic order and reading some on the names is quite a challenge!

Junev

[Ron03]

Thanks for the reply Junev, I have a list of the 62 privates 'killed in action'  on that day.

There is only one Andrew mentioned and no White listed among them.

The one before Andrew Knight, Inveresk is John Kidd, Glasgow and the the one after is William Leach, Norwich. The last name on the list is James Rose, Glasgow.

No others even sound like Knight.  I have sent for another list from Richard Rosser in Surrey however, I have had no reply yet.  Thanks again.

[neil1821]

He was with the 2nd Dragoons Royal Scots Greys (Royal North British) or (The German Leagion commanded by Ponsonby).

Can you expand on this part. Have you checked the Waterloo roll for other regiments too, just for completeness? Particularly the KGL rolls, based on the comment above (which I admit I don't yet understand).

[Ron03]

Well, the 2nd Dragoons (Royal North British) (RNB) had 391 men, together with the 1st or Royal Dragoons and the 6th or Inniskilling Dragoons, made up the 2nd Brigade named the British and Kings German Legion, (called the Union Brigade).  Maj. General Sir William Ponsonby was in command.  Another 24 regiments made up the other 6 cavalry brigades. (from the  2nd Dragoons History by Edward Amack.

I have been to Kew and handled the muster tome with my own hands, which by the way stills smells of smoke from the WW2 blitz.  Andrew Knight's name is there in clear hand writing.  I have followed his service record from the day he enlisted in 1805.  Can't tell you much more...

[km1971]

Does the muster book say he was killed at Waterloo or that he died in that month? If at Waterloo it was clearly a mistake that his next of kin did not receive a medal. That said, I think you are taking it a bit far to expect a medal roll to be changed. Did you also look at the medal roll in Kew or have you just looked at a modern book? It may be a transcription error.

What do you know about his wife. She may have been living with her family and did not hear about a medal being available. Or maybe they were not married and Horse Guards turned down her request.

The 1st, 2nd and 6th Dragoons formed the Union Brigade under Ponsonby. It was called the Union Brigade because it had a regiment from each of the three kingdoms. The 1st and 2nd KGL were light dragoons, They with the 23rd Light Dragoons formed the 3rd British Brigade under Dornberg. As light cavalry they would never be brigaded with heavier regiments in a set piece battle.

Ken

[neil1821]

Well, the 2nd Dragoons (Royal North British) (RNB) had 391 men, together with the 1st or Royal Dragoons and the 6th or Inniskilling Dragoons, made up the 2nd Brigade named the British and Kings German Legion, (called the Union Brigade).  Maj. General Sir William Ponsonby was in command.  Another 24 regiments made up the other 6 cavalry brigades. (from the  2nd Dragoons History by Edward Amack.

OK, well as Ken explains you're getting a tad confused there. 1st, 2nd & 6th Dragoons were the Union Brigade under Ponsonby. 1st and 2nd Light Dragoons KGL were in an entirely separate brigade (3rd Cavalry Brigade) with the British 23rd Light Dragoons. So your ancestor was in the 2nd Dragoons, end of story.

The medal rolls will not be amended, as they are a historical document (warts and all). So please don't hold out any hope in that direction (and absolutely nothing to do with the MOD anyway by the way).

May sound like an obvious question, but the records you have are absolutely categorical that he was killed at the battle of Waterloo are they? Not just before or just after?

[Ron03]

The muster roll states that Andrew Knight was killed on June 18 1815.  His belongings were sent to his mother in Inveresk Scotland and, I must assume she was also the recipient of the Waterloo medal at a later date. 

I have no problem with any of that at all, I just wondered why his name was missing from the medal roll and nothing else.  If you say the medal roll can't be amended, so be it.  End of my enquiry with RootsChat.com

The RNB had 391men at Waterloo. At the end of the day 6 officers had been killed, 9 wounded and non missing. Other ranks lost 96 killed 89 wounded and none missing.

Thanks for your replies...

[SHUFTIE]

Hello, I am in need of assistance please. I have been trying to find one SAMUEL LOGAN,Sgt of the 1st(kings)Dragoon Guards,failing dismally. I know he was born about 1780 give or take the usual.He definately married,in Loughborough in 1802,I have the record entries.There is a possibility he was a Quartermaster...... this from the K.D.G. Museum,but no more info.   By 1831,his daughters marriage, he has died. I have tried the normal routes plus the Waterloo rolls and cannot find him.At that young an age I can only guess he may have died in conflict. I am unable to travel distances due to a spinal injury on duty, therefore may I ask of the help of you oracles please.     Thank you, David.