The Household Brigade's "Moonlight Charge."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 4, 15 January 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Household Brigade's "Moonlight Charge."

In 1882 the Household Cavalry—Life Guards and Horso Guards Blue—had not been on foreign servioo for over half a century, "Waterloo" being the la.st battle honour inscribed on their colours. Tlie proposition that theso " six-foofc sword-wielders" should be shipped to Egypt for desert warfare aroused much criticism and tome little sarcasm. To th e land of tho Nile, howevitr. they went, and on August 2S wore at Kassassin. General Graham 6ent a verbal order to General Drury Lowe, commander of tho Cavalry Brigade, to sweep round and attack the enemy's Hank. Tho message arrived late; tho men had a long and weary night march, and were fatigued and hungry when the time came for action. Tho Royal Horso Artillery first opened fire, to shake the foundation of the Egyptian Infantry. Then Drury Lowe ordered Colonel Ewart (Lieutenant-Colonel Second Life Guards) to lead his men forward.

Colonel Ewart'a throe squadrons made a thundering charge on the memy's front. The groat black horses and huge men added to the inevitable moral effect of a cavalry charge; the Egyptians broke and ran, their -wtholo infantry force being "absolutely annihilated.'"

The "moonlight charge" caught the public fancy, as such dashing and picturesque incidents are apt to do, and the 'reception of tho gaunt, bronzed warriors, in their pith helmets and tropical uniform, on their return, was a scene which no Londoner who witnesesed it will readily forget—one long, unroariotis ovation from the docks to Knightsbridge Barracks.