William Ponsonby

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For the Elizabethan publisher, see: William Ponsonby (publisher).

Major-General Sir William Ponsonby (1772–1815) was a British soldier who served in the Peninsula War and was killed at the Battle of Waterloo. He was the second son of William Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Imokilly and Hon. Louisa Molesworth. He married Hon. Georgiana FitzRoy, youngest daughter of Charles FitzRoy, 1st Baron Southampton.

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[edit] Peninsular War

When Ponsonby's command, the 5th Dragoon Guard Regiment, arrived in the Peninsula in October 1811, it became part of John Le Marchant's heavy cavalry brigade. [1] For the rest of the war, this brigade included the 5th Dragoon Guards and the 3rd and 4th Dragoons. Ponsonby took part in Le Marchant's famous charge at the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812. On that occasion, the British heavy dragoons rode down one French infantry division and part of a second before being repulsed.[2] Upon Le Marchant's death in the battle, Ponsonby took over the brigade, participating in the campaign that included the Siege of Burgos.[3] In 1813, Ponsonby led his 1,200-strong cavalry brigade at the Battle of Vitoria. During the Battle of the Pyrenees and the fall campaigns in the mountains, the Duke of Wellington sent the bulk of his cavalry to the rear. On January 25, 1814, Ponsonby took leave of his brigade and in the final battles in France, Lord Charles Manners exercised command.[4]

[edit] Battle of Waterloo

Ponsonby's part in the Battle of Waterloo has been remembered because it highlights some pertinent points about cavalry charging. Ponsonby was in command of the Union Brigade, so-called because it included an English, a Scottish and an Irish regiment. The brigade, consisting of the 1st Royal and 6th Inniskilling Regiments of Dragoons, in the first line, and the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons (Scots Greys) in reserve, had counter-attacked to great effect against the disorganised French columns of Drouet D'Erlon's I Corps. Carried away by their initial success, however, the brigade failed to rally and continued towards the French positions. The Scots Greys in particular, forgetting their supporting role and ignoring the “recall”, charged on in disordered groups, some of whom reached the French guns on the other side of the valley. By this time their horses were blown and a swift retribution followed in the shape of a counter-attack by the French cavalry. The brigade suffered very heavy losses (see table below), being effectively destroyed, and it played no further part in the battle. Ponsonby, who was mounted on a horse of less value than the best one in his stable, rode too far and with his horse mired in mud near to enemy lines was killed by Polish lancers during the counter-attack.[5]

Battle Order of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, Battle of Waterloo [6]
Unit Commander Rank & File Casualties Officer Losses
2nd British Cavalry Brigade Maj-Gen William Ponsonby (k) 1186 582 35
1st Royal Dragoons . 394 182 14
2nd Royal North British Dragoons Col. Hamilton (k) 396 185 14
6th Inniskilling Dragoons Lt-Col. Mutier 396 215 7

[edit] Other

In the 1970 film Waterloo, Ponsonby was played by Michael Wilding.

William Ponsonby should not be confused with his second cousin, Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, a British cavalry officer who also served in the Peninsular War and at the Battle of Waterloo.

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Oman p 352
  2. ^ Glover p 203
  3. ^ Oman p 360
  4. ^ Oman p 372
  5. ^ Staff. Charge of the Union Brigade Waterloo Battlefield Tours Ltd
  6. ^ Haythornthwaite p 105
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