William Ponsonby

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Major-General Sir William Ponsonby (1772-1815) was the second son of William, 1st Baron Ponsonby, of Imokilly, County Cork and Louisa Molesworth. He was the husband of Georgiana Ponsonby.

He was killed by Polish Lancers at the battle of Waterloo.

Ponsonby's part in the battle and his death during it, have been remembered because they highlight some habitual shortcomings of the British cavalry; namely lack of control and a failure to re-form after a charge. Ponsonby was in command of the Union Brigade, one of two heavy cavalry brigades in the British Order of Battle. 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 d'Erlon's 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 was effectively destroyed and played no further part in the battle. Ponsonby himself was killed when his exhausted horse became bogged down in the mud. It is said that he had been unable to find the groom who had his charger and had been obliged to ride a small hack instead.

References

• [Napoleonic Alliance]

 

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