Background
Robert Craufurd was born at Newark, Ayrshire, on the 5th of May 1764, and entered the 25th Foot in 1779.
Robert Craufurd was born at Newark, Ayrshire, on the 5th of May 1764, and entered the 25th Foot in 1779.
As captain in the 75th regiment Robert Craufurd first saw active service against Tippoo Sahib in 1790-92.
A year later he was British commissioner onSuvarov's staff when the Russians invaded Switzerland, and at the end of 1799 was in the Helder expedition.
He was almost the only one of the senior officers who added to his reputation in this affair, and in 1808 he received a brigade command under Sir John Moore.
His regiments were heavily engaged in the earlier part of the famous retreat, but were not present at Corunna, having been detached to Vigo, whence they returned to England.
Later in 1809, once more in the Peninsula, Brigadier-General Craufurd was three marches or more in rear of Wellesley's army when a report came in that a great battle was in progress.
The three battalions of the " Light Brigade " (43rd, 52nd and 95th) started in full marching order, and arrived at the front on the day after the battle of Talavera, having covered 62 m. in twenty-six hours.
Beginning their career with this famous march, these regiments and theirchief, under whom served such men as Charles and William Napier, Shaw and Colborne, soon became celebrated as one of the best corps of troops in Europe, and every engagement added to their laurels.
The conduct of the renowned " Light Division " at Busaco is described by Napier in one of his most vivid passages.
He reappeared on the field of the battle of Fuentes d'Onoro amidst the cheers of his men, and nothing could show his genius for war better than his conduct on this day, in covering the strange readjustment of his line which Wellington was compelled to make in the face of the enemy.
A little later he obtained major-general's rank; - and on the 19th of January 1812, as he stood on the glacis of Ciudad Rodrigo, directing the stormers of the Light Division, he fell mortally wounded.
The exploits of Craufurd and the Light Division are amongst the most cherished traditions of the British and Portuguese armies.
Made captain in the Queen's Bays in 1785, he became the equerry and intimate friend of the duke of York.
When the British army left the continent Craufurd was again attached to the Austrian army, and was present at the actions on the Lahn, the combat of Neumarkt, and the battle of Amberg.
Robert had married on 7 February 1800 at St Saviour's Church, Mary Frances.
