Page 144 - Wish Stream Year of 2017

overall commander of cavalry under Wellington, General Sir Stapleton Cotton, had been severely wounded in a ‘friendly fire’ accident and was therefore unable to brief Wellington on individual events during the battle. It was merely reported that the heavy brigade performed in common with that of the rest of the cavalry. It was not until Colonel William Napier published his acclaimed History of the War in the Peninsula in 1828 that the full extent of Le Marchant’s (and his bri- gade’s) achievements and their consequences, were placed on record.
The aftermath
Le Marchant had been replaced in 1811 as Lieutenant-Governor of the College by his nem- esis from Marlow, Lt Col Butler, who moved into Sandhurst with the cadets in 1812. Butler occu- pied the house destined for Le Marchant and his family (named now as Le Marchant House), and served in the role until 1829.
Every Friday, The Sandhurst Trust Facebook page features a former cadet who has gone on to make a mark in life outside the Army.
Here are three of them:
DAVID NIVEN
1930 – Highland Light Infantry
David Niven was born in London in 1910 and his father was killed at Gallipoli. An unruly pupil, Niven was expelled from prep school, but flour- ished at the newly-founded Stowe School and entered Sandhurst in 1928. On duty as Com- mandant’s Stick Orderly, his cross belt was inspected by the College Sergeant Major and found to have cigarettes, matches and condoms in the pouch. However, despite his inherent dis- like of authority, he commissioned in 1930 with the military bearing that was to be the hallmark of his later career. His third choice of arm was ‘anything but the Highland Light Infantry’ which was, of course, where he was sent. Serving firstly in Malta and latterly Dover, he grew bored of peacetime soldiering. Matters came to a head when, during questions after a lengthy lecture from a General, he asked for the time – ‘because I have a train to catch.’ Placed under close arrest
Sadly, the achievements gained in officer training during the Napoleonic Wars were not sustained. During the long period of peace until the Crimean War (1853 – 1856), followed shortly thereafter by the Indian Mutiny (1857 – 1858), there were sharp economies at Sandhurst with reductions in staff quality and numbers. The College’s repu- tation suffered badly. During that period, family influence and the purchase system remained the primary gateway to a military career as an officer, until the purchase system was finally abolished in 1870 as part of the Cardwell Reforms. This series of reforms of the British Army were under- taken by Secretary of State for War, Sir Edward Cardwell, between 1868 and 1874 with the sup- port of Liberal prime minister, William Gladstone. Thereafter, the College’s fortunes and reputation were once again on the rise, unbroken until this day.
Famous Friday
Vaughan Kent-Payne
he was allowed to escape by his escorting officer and boarded a ship for the USA, sending his res- ignation to his Commanding Officer by telegram.
Working as a whisky salesman and rodeo rider and after stints in Bermuda, Cuba and Mexico he arrived in Hollywood and was accepted by Central Casting as: ‘Anglo-Saxon Type no 2008’. After bit parts including in Mutiny on the Bounty he was signed by Samuel Goldwyn and
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