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  1. #1
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    Default 63rd Regiment of Foot - where's the Colonel?

    Hi everyone,

    I have been reviewing the images I took of the Muster Rolls for the 63rd Regiment of Foot, and I have a conundrum that I need answering, please.

    In researching my 3GGrandfather's British Army military record and using the War Office Muster Books for the 63rd Regiment of Foot at TNA at Kew, I have noted that for the duration of my 3GGF's enlistment, the Colonel of the Regiment remained stationed in England while the rest of the Regiment was stationed and served in a number of arenas (Ireland, Portugal, Australia, India).

    Colonel William DYOTT is noted as the Regiment's Commander.

    A website "The Napoleon Series" has a summary of DYOTT's service
    [https://www.napoleon-series.org/rese...nerals13.html]

    Dyott, William (17 April 1761 - 7 May 1847)

    Ensign 4th Foot 1781, Lieutenant 4th Foot 1782, Half-pay 1783-1785, Lieutenant 4th Foot 1784, Captain 4th Foot 1793, Major 103rd Foot* 1794, Lieutenant Colonel 103rd Foot* 1794, Lieutenant Colonel 28th Foot 1795, Lieutenant Colonel 25th Foot 1795, Brevet Colonel 1800, Brigadier General on the Staff 1803-1808, Major General 1808, Lieutenant General 1813, General 1830.

    * disbanded 1795.

    Early service: Ireland 1781-1783, 1785-1787, British North America 1787-1791, as Brigade Major Home Staff 1793-1795, West Indies 1796, Assistant Adjutant-General Home Staff 1799, Egypt 1801-1802, brigade West Indies 1803, brigade Home Staff 1804-1805.

    Portugal & Spain: Appointed to Moore's army in Spain 1808. Arrived Corunna 1809 too late to join and returned home with the army.

    Peninsular War: Declined service in peninsula 1810 due to ill health and family commitments.

    Other services: Brigade on Walcheren 1809. On Home Staff 1810-1813.

    Aide de Camp to the King 1801. Colonel of 63rd Foot 1825-1847.

    The Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Dyott, William shows a similar summary of his activities, and includes a statement where DYOTT "...He never again went on active service, but commanded at Lichfield from August 1810 until his promotion to the rank of lieutenant-general on 4 June 1813."
    [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dicti...yott,_William]

    My question is: what activities would DYOTT be doing while the rest of his Regiment was elsewhere?
    Would he be an active military commander, or is he merely a figurehead/Patron for the Regiment?


    Thank you, in advance.

    Megan in Sydney, Australia

  2. #2
    Super Moderator christanel's Avatar
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    Well this site says when he was appointed aid e-de-camp to George III in 1801 his duties, which he took up in 1804, included accompanying members of the royal family to the theatre, and playing cards with the queen and princesses.
    Christina
    Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.
    William Burroughs

  3. #3
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    Hmmmm! Some have a cushy job!!!

    I'm of the thought that he was more like a figurehead/patron... I like the way the Dictionary of National Biography phrased it... He apparently inherited the family seat of Lichfield and remained there....

    Thanks, christanel!

  4. #4

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    I wonder whether this was a common(ish) happening because Gilbert and Sullivan (who used to attack political privilege, etc, in their comic operas in the 19th century) introduced a character called the Duke of Plaza-Toro who “Led his regiment from behind, he found it less exciting..”

  5. #5
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    And there is that, too.... I was singing as I typed my initial message!!!! Thanks, Lesley!

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