Silver

Silver Statuette of an Officer of Dalzell's Dragoons

A silver statuette of an Officer of Dalzell's Dragoons 1681, from a table centrepiece presented to The Royal Scots Greys in 1866 by Colonel George Calvert Clarke.

Background Information


Dragoons are mounted infantry. They were armed, organised and equipped like infantryman, but dragoons were mounted on horses and therefore so much faster across country, especially rocky or boggy country, than ordinary foot soldiers. Dragoons were also cheaper than Horse since their rate of pay was lower.

Three companies of dragoons were formed in 1678 by Lieutenant General Thomas Dalzell of the Binns. These were the founding elements of the regiment, known as Dalzell's Dragoons which increased to six companies in 1681. The name changed to The Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons in 1692 and by 1693 the Regiment was mounted on grey horses. Eventually the Regiment became known as The Royal Scots Greys.