6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons

 

 

Major, 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons

 Dress Tunic, c. 1890

 

The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons was first raised in 1689. That year James II, the dethroned King of England, landed in Ireland with aid provided by the French in an attempt to overthrow William of Orange. During the Defence of Enniskillen the Governor of the town Gustav Hamilton raised three regiments to fight for William of Orange. One of those three regiments was Sir Albert Cunningham's Regiment of Dragoons. The regiment later became known as the "Enniskillen Dragoons," after Hamilton's headquarters at Enniskillen Castle. The regiment was renamed the 6th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Dragoons in 1751.

The regiment fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 with The Union Brigade, which included The Royal Dragoons and The Scots Greys. The regiment also participated in the charge of the Heavy Brigade during the Battle Balaclava in 1854. In 1861 the regiment was renamed the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons.

The regiment saw action in response to the Indian Rebellion in 1857 and the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. After the outbreak of the Second Boer War in October 1899, the regiment was sent to South Africa. In 1921 the regiment was renamed The Inniskillings (6th Dragoons). It amalgamated with the 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Dragoon Guards to form the 5th/6th Dragoons in 1922.

 

---

 

 Departed the collection in 2023.

Lord George Wellesley, MC

 

 

Lord George Wellesley, MC

 1889-1967

 Full Dress, c. 1912

 

Wellesley was the great-grandson of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards on February 3, 1909 and promoted to lieutenant in September of 1912. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in June of 1914 and was mentioned in despatches in June of 1916. Wellesley received the Military Cross that year for his service in France. He was appointed wing commander in 1917 with the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel. Wellesley became a squadron leader with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1939. He served during WWII and relinquished his commission in 1954.