The 16th " Queen's
" Light Dragoons
Dismounted Troop 16th
Queen's Light Dragoons
Colonel Harcourt,
the commanding officer of the 16th while John Burgoyne was a general
in the Colonies, commanded a body of dismounted dragoons to act
in conjunction with the mounted troops of the regiment. He required
that they be well equipped, independent thinkers who could adapt
to the difficult situations to be found in the colonies.
Hinde, in the Discipline
of the Light Horse, states that the dismounted troopers were to
be equipped as light infantry and be able to fight as an independent
force in support of the mounted squadrons of the 16th LD as well
as being able to act independently.
The current recreated
troop of the 16th is based on the premise of this dismounted portion
of the Regiment.
From Hinde (530) Discipline
of the Light Horse are the following regimental organization;
The Regiment was augmented
before it went to America, where it arrived on 3rd Oct, 1776.
The Regiment consisted
of six troops
Each troop consisted
of 1 Captain, 1 Lt, 1 Cornet, 1 Quartermaster, 2 Serjeants, 2
Corporals, 1 Trumpeter, 1 Farrier, and 34 Dragoons, all mounted
(The six troops were
augmented by; 1 Cornet, 1 Serjeant, 2 Corporals, 38 Dragoons)
( with four rifle
carbines a troop)
Dismounted in each
troop
1 Cornet, 1 Serjeant,
2 Corporals and 29 Dragoons
The Dismounted
Division of the whole Regiment
1 Captain, 1 Lieutenant,
6 Cornets, 6 Serjeants, 12 Corporals, 2 Trumpeters, and 174 Dragoons.
.
