Brice McGregor :

[Iain...]

Hi All...

During the Battle of Waterloo at Hougoumont, Brice McGregor was one of the most important heroes in my regiment the Scots Guards (3rd Regiment of Foot Guards)   

Some info:
- 5ft 9in / Brown hair / Grey eyes / Fresh complexion / Labourer
- Stature and health..., very strong.
- Activities... Praised for assisting in the closing of the Hougoumont Farm gate alongside the Coldstream Guards.  Shot a Cuirassier dead who attacked him and rode into the farm courtyard on the Frenchman's horse.
- Appointment... After 1821; Yeoman of the Guard.
- Died Suttley House, Whitehall, London on 3rd of December 1846.


Before his death, Brice was Master of the United Strength Freemasonry Lodge in London. 1822/23
The current secretary of the Lodge is helping out with the research.

In the meantime, we are trying to determine his rank before demob but we are unable to read the writing before the word ‘Sergeant.’ (below his signature)

I don’t want to provide hints.

Thanks in advance.   Kind Regards..., Iain. 

[avm228]

Quarter Master.

[sami]

Quarter Master.

I agree.

sami

[horselydown86]

To expand a little on what has been posted already, what is written immediately below the signature is:

                           Q. M. Serjeant

The hand appears to be McGregor's own, with general similarity in the formation of the letters and particularly in the formation of the M.

[Iain...]

Thank you all very much indeed..., your research is greatly appreciated.

I didn’t want to provide you with any clues in order not to influence the work.
In fact, this question originates from the following forum.
http://www.napoleonicwarsforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=2442&start=180

For those of you interested in the events at Waterloo-Hougoumont, John Franklin will have a new book out soon called ‘The Struggle for Hougoumont’ and to be published by Fonthill Media.
It will contain many new as yet unpublished letters following the battle and I’m sure some of the images will be of the original letters showing the styles of writing. (could be wrong there as I do not know the exact contents)

Once again, thank you for the confirmation.

Kind Regards..., Iain. 

[macintosh]

In various accounts Sgt. McGregor is referred to as Bruce.

(my old regiment too)


James

[Iain...]

In various accounts Sgt. McGregor is referred to as Bruce.
(my old regiment too)
James

Wow James..., pleased to meet you.   1st or 2nd Battalion ?

Quite true !   As can be seen in that rather long post on the Napoleonic Wars Forum, our biggest expert with the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards is John Franklin; and even he thought it to be Bruce.  Thinking that the original papers were an error due to the accent.
But as you can see..., he signed his last paper using ‘Brice.’ (plus the Masonic broche shows what his family and friends knew him as)

NB:  John’s new book has multiple entries thanks to the late General Sir Michael Gow, SG.  These Edinburgh archives are now with Jimmy at RHQ. 
I was present on quite a few his Chelsea parades with his son Roddy Gow. 

Your Aye..., Iain. 
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/o7dyzzs5ih8niq4/AAC6g4k932bIoFowIJ1RLTwFa
www.colandmacarthur.com

[macintosh]

1st Battalion Malay/Borneo, served with the legend P/M Angus McDonald et al, not a piper I might add.

Aye
James

[macintosh]

To further muddy the waters this is an extract from History of the Scots Guards page 21 Vol 2.

In assisting in covering the withdrawal of his men from the haystack Sgt A Fraser engaged Colonel Cubieres who commanded the Ist Light Regiment, pulled him from his horse and rode back on it into the courtyard in time to help Lt.Col. MacDonnell, who collected any men he could gather to deal with the French who had penetrated the courtyard, and to close the gate.
In the scrimmage which ensued Lt.Col. MacDonnell with Lt.Col Wyndham, Ensigns Hervey and Gooch, Sgt Graham and Corporal Graham two brothers all of the Coldstream, Sergeants Fraser,   Brice, MacGregor and J.Alston and Private John Lister of the 3rd Guards succeeded in closing the gate by main force and barring it.
The gallant little party of Frenchmen under Legros who had got into the courtyard were killed to a man.

So the Scots Guards History indicates Brice and MacGegor were two people.

I must agree that on your snippet it clearly indicates Brice with the dotted i as opposed to Bruce.

Yours Aye James