Page 9 - Light Dragoons 2022 CREST

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Two hundred years or more have passed but here we still remember
What happened back in 1803 on the 23rd of September,
On regimental lips it sits, two centuries have passed by Since Wellesley crossed the Kaitna and battle was made at Assaye.
Back in the 19th century with Britain traversing the world Most of India conquered and the company flag unfurled, The Maratha Empire in tatters, the throne in civil war
The British legation with pen or with gun, order came to restore.
Wellesley marched on the culprits, a master plan was hatched A two-pronged advance, one in each valley, one front and one in the back,
But time perverted this action as often it did in those days So Wellesley with only half of his force, stared enemy square in the face.
Colonel Anthony Pohlman, five miles off he grinned
A former Company Soldier, he deserted and fell in with Scind,
Tens of thousands were at his call, his position commanded the ground
With cannon expanding across his front, Sepoys and Brits he would pound.
Wellesley saw the predicament and vied at once to strike Reinforcements couldn’t be waited on, he’d far fewer men than he’d like,
They skirted up to the crossing point where the channelling- trap was laid down
But to Pohlman’s dismay a new ford was found, by the village of Peepulgaon.
Wellesley pushed his men across in the afternoon around three
Up to their waists in the water, the red-coated infantry, Pohlman swung his whole force round, a reaction was needed and fast
As long as his guns kept firing there’s a chance his defences might last.
His gunners whipped like hell-hounds, fired canister, ball and grape
Clawed at the ranks of the red coats, but not one line did break,
The call went out for bayonets as fighting intensified
The redcoats reached the gun line and the balance of battle did slide.
But then a shock on the right flank where communications failed
Gaps appeared in the front line and victory was derailed, Alarm bells rang around Wellesley as his doubts began to loom
Until he turned to his ADC and said, “Fetch me my Light Dragoons”.
Back across the Kaitna, full of swagger and dash
Was Lt. Col Maxwell, 19 on his sabretache,
He surveyed the plane with a lofty air and ordered the bugle call
Organised squadrons of cavalry on the enemy ranks would fall.
The horses splashed through the river-bed, soaking the saddles and reins
Then kicked up the powdered dust of the arid Deccan planes,
The rumble and thump of hoof beats like a drum role signalled the charge
Maxwell, riding in front of his men, the Maratha front lines did barge.
They slashed and hacked with sabres and through the gap they poured
Stumbling over the bodies of men, their comrades had put to the sword,
The Marathas fled over the river and were slaughtered as they did wade
The Light Dragoons with frenzied horse, not one quarter gave.
But those pesky Maratha gunners, many, death had feigned Fired in the backs of the Light Dragoons with batteries quickly trained,
Wellsley saw this predicament and looking around again Found he was the only soldier, to lead at the head of his men.
He lead the charge directly at the head of the 7th Madras Riding up to the river banks, through infantry squares he passed,
Pohlman made a final stand, a crescent defence was formed Now the 19th Light Dragoons would sound the charge once more!
Maxwell now emboldened, his senses cavalier
Hammered on the left flank, himself the tip of the spear, Then he became acquainted with a salvo of canister shot Maxwell fell, in the charge there, pell-mell, with Dragoons he no longer would trot.
With the CO falling before his men, the charge was veered off course
Pohlman, now in quite a pinch, withdrew his remaining force,
The pursuit was halted at six o’clock, in the Isthmus the colours did fly
And there at the river the battle was won, right next to the town of Assaye.
The battle finished the empire of those remaining rebellious lords
Honours were poured on the regiments whose part there earned them applause,
But none so much as the Light Dragoons for the tide of the battle they swung
And thence the Assaye elephant on the LD colours was hung.
The tale of battle ends here, but memory still pervades Though the stories of far-off conflicts are less fashionable in modern days,
So to all the nation’s nay-sayers who tradition today they decry
Show them formed up, two hundred years hence, the Light Dragoons on Assaye.
DHE
Assaye
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