THE "MURAT" OF THE BRITISH ARMY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 69, 13 August 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE "MURAT" OF THE BRITISH ARMY.

Field-Marshal the Marquis of Angle, sey, -who died on April 29, 1854, " full °f ?; car 4P d »iono»rs," was the Murat 7 V lO British Army—Wellington's most dashing cavalry leader. When the Watenoo campaign began—a hundred years ago last May—the Iron Duke ask. rd that Lord Uxbridge (the title bv which Anglesey was then known) should .' oin <us staff and command his cavalry. As the noble lord had just been mixed up in 6ome elopement scandal, Wellington was counselled to dispense with his services, as " he had a habit of running away with everyone he met," The Duke had Ins faults, and English plain-speak-ing was one of them. "I'll take good care lie don't run away with me," he blurted out, glaring on his unfortunate counsellor, " and 1 don't care about any body else! " So on April 23, 1815, Uxbridge sailed for Ostend to join Wellington. On the eve of Waterloo, when Napoleon in person was pressing the English cavalry rearguard at Genappe, Uxbridge personam' led the Life Guards against the French lancers. He headed his men in th ) same dashing style during the famous charge of the Household Brigade at \\ aterloo, where he was wounded in the leg and had to have it amputated. A famous "epitaph" was written on the Marquis's lost leg—for Uxbridge was made a marquis for his services at Waterloo—with sly hits at the gallant soldier's loss of " half his understanding'; and a final and fitting compliment that two legs were evidently lost on a man who was '• never made to run."