The Mystery of the Scots Greys in Nottingham

by Michael Kirkby

On 3^rd July 1854 120 men of the Scots Greys gathered in the market place in Nottingham and were received by the people of the town, Mayor Jonathon Reckless, and the Nottingham Corporation for a farewell as the regiment had been requisitioned to serve in the growing conflict in the Crimea.

The troops, led by Colonel Griffiths, formed a square in the centre of which stood J. Reckless and other dignitaries, toasting, drinking and making speeches. The military band played several songs and this was followed up with a speech made by Reckless.

Reckless concluded his speech with the following statement “When I was a little boy, some 13 or 14 years of age, I saw this same regiment march out of Nottingham to Waterloo. It was the grandest sight I ever saw. I have witnessed many exciting scenes in my time, but never one that made so deep an impression on my mind as that. You marched to Waterloo and you obtained glory. I trust the like glory awaits you in the east. You have with you the good wishes of the town of Nottingham and everyone will watch your proceedings with the greatest interest. Good luck to you, and God Bless you and all your exertions in the course of your country!”

Obviously followed up with more drinking, cheering and farewells as the soldiers marched out of Nottingham towards Derby, then onwards to Liverpool where they boarded boats to go to The Crimea.

The Barracks

The cavalry barracks (no longer standing but just behind Barrack Lane on Derby Road) were constructed in 1792 on land leased by The Duke of Newcastle. The barracks were not constructed because of renewed hostilities with France, but due to the growing number of industrial actions of framework knitters in the area. Prior to 1792, troops stationed in the town were billeted in local inns and their behaviour due to lack of control from their officers was questionable and brought certain Regimental reputations into disrepute. In order to maintain better discipline and control of the troops, it was decided to build cavalry barracks that could house 120 men and contain them all to one area, but close enough to Nottingham Castle that should a mob attack, like in 1831, they could ride out and disperse the rioters within a matter of minutes.

The 1851 Census shows the Barrack strength as being 8 officers, 23 NCO’s, 138 troopers, 1 officer’s wife, 13 other rank’s wives and 34 non-military staff such as sutlers, servants etc.

In 1811, industrial action in Nottingham was severely ramped up with frequent frame breakings, beatings and arson attacks carried out by the Luddites. The frequency and severity of the attacks were so bad that in February 1812, 3 regiments of men (c. 3000 in number) were quartered all over the town to prevent attacks on the industry and the Castle. The attacks got so bad that in 1813 the Scots Greys were billeted in the barracks to deter further industrial actions. The interesting point here is that up until 1813, most industrial actions and riots were dealt with by local militias, the South Notts Yeomanry, the Bunny Troop of Yeomanry (yes that was a unit!) were used to deal with local issues. However, rumour began to circulate that the rioters were actually being stirred up by French agents despatched to the UK by Napoleon to stir up problems internally. The authorities became so concerned by this that they felt that local yeomanry units would have no power to stop the ever increasing riots so they despatched ‘the big guns.’ The Scots Greys, these big, looming men on horses, feared for their ferocity in battle and with a long and proud regimental heritage would be enough to deter further rioting AND potentially deal with any French saboteurs / agents who were in the area.

In Gareth Glover’s excellent book A Scots Grey at Waterloo: The Remarkable Story of Sergeant William Clarke, this is corroborated as in 1813 troops of the Scots Greys were ‘moved frequently during this season and occupied Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Mansfield, Newark and Nottingham.’

Edward Almack’s The History of The Second Dragoons: Royal Scots Greys also corroborates that the Scots Greys were stationed in Nottingham for part of 1813. Based on research also conducted by John Foreman of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Association, the regiment was in Nottingham from April 1^st 1813 – June 28^th 1813, and didn’t return again until 1822!

These same sources also agree that following the first capitulation of Napoleon in 1814, the regiment was broken down to 8 troops in July of that year and went into winter quarters in Bristol and Trowbridge. They remained there until Napoleon escaped exile on Elba and returned to France in March 1815. The regiment hastily recruited and built their number back up to 10 troops, 6 of which were to be sent abroad and 4 held in Ipswich. The Greys remained in Trowbridge until 8^th April 1815, then marched to Gravesend where they embarked on troop transports at Northfleet on 15^th April and arrived at Ostend in the Low Countries on 21^st April 1815 to make up the hastily patched together Allied army that was gathering to face off a renewed threat by the French.

The lease of the land by The Duke of Newcastle to the Army ended in 1855 and barracks were closed and the headquarters of the East Midland District moved from Nottingham to Sheffield. The last troops to occupy the barracks were the 11^th Hussars who marched out in May 1860. The barracks were all but gone by 1870 with the new Park Estate housing being built on the site.

Another important point to note here is that during the 18^th and 19^th Centuries, the army did not equip officers with their weapons and they were at complete liberty to purchase their own guns and swords. Given that there were a number of cutlers and gunsmiths in Nottingham during this time period means that whilst the Scots Greys were stationed in Nottingham in 1813, officers of the regiment would have the freedom to explore the town and purchase their own weapons may very well have purchased swords and pistols in Nottingham and have carried them on the field of Waterloo two years later.

In any case, there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that The Scots Greys were in Nottingham just before Waterloo in 1815 as claimed by Jonathan Reckless in 1854.

So what did Jonathan Reckless witness in 1815?

Possibilities are:

1. He misremembered the dates and confused 1813 with 1815
2. He wanted to stir up the crowd and said something he knew would get emotions running high
3. He may have seen another cavalry unit in the area like the Life Guards or Royal Dragoons and somehow thought they were the Scots Greys
4. Potentially he saw a recruiting party (normally numbering a handful of men) as in the build up to Waterloo would have been active in every town, hastily recruiting impressionable young men to fight the newly returned French tyrant. Like other towns, Nottingham market place would be a hub of recruitment activity with parties from all kinds of regiments vying for fresh recruits. There may have been a strong likelihood that a Scots Greys recruiting party was in the area and he remembered them but over the years exaggerated their actual number until he convinced himself that a large portion of the regiment was stationed at the barracks.

Whatever the reason, the Scots Greys and Nottingham share a unique history together and their legacy within the city has left its mark on the people of Nottingham.

Sources:

Nottingham Date Book

The History of The Second Dragoons: Royal Scots Greys by Edward Almack

Lenton Times Article 1982 – Lenton Times – Lenton Listener Articles – The Story of Nottingham’s Barracks

A Scots Grey at Waterloo: The Remarkable Story of Sergeant William Clarke by Gareth Glover (Pen & Sword 2017)

With thanks to John Foreman and Suzanne Brunt of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Association.