SWABEY DIARY. 41 
“The next morning at Villa Franca I was breakfasting with 
Norman Ramsay and the officers of his troop, now commanded 
by another, when General Vandeleux arrived. Upon entering 
the room he went up to Ramsay and grasping his hand with 
a brother soldier’s warmth, said : 
‘The object of my visit Captain Ramsay is to inspect your troop.’ 
‘My troop,’ General, ‘is mine no longer,’ answered poor 
Ramsay with deep emotion. 
‘I am glad to say you are mistaken Captain Ramsay,’ rejoined the 
General, ‘for Iam the happy bearer of orders from Head- 
quarters, that authorise me, as I before said, to inspect your 
troop. The command of it is restored to you.’ 
Ramsay overcome by his feelings turned away and wept, while 
every officer present, and none more cordially than Captain 
Cator! who had superseded him, gave vent to their joyful 
feelings at this happy termination.” 
Norman Ramsay subsequently commanded the troop at the 
battles of Nive and Nivelle, and in the affairs on the 11th, 
12th, and 18th of December near Bayonne. He was made a 
brevet Major November 22nd, and promoted Ist Captain 
December 17th, he returned to England on promotion early 
in 1814. Of Ramsay in the campaign of 1815, we have the 
following on the authority of the late Sir William Brereton 
then a subaltern in his troop.—(r.A.W). 
“During the retreat from Quatre Bras, Ramsay was wounded 
in the head, and wore a forage cap on the 18th 
of June. On the morning of that day as he went into action 
at the head of his troop it passed the Head-quarter Staff. 
The Duke who had not seen him since his arrival in Belgium, 
accosted him cheerfully something to the effect ‘ Very good’ 
or ‘Well done Ramsay.? The latter saluted profoundly 
bowing until his head almost touched his horse’s mane, and 
then passed on to the position where he so nobly fell.” 
To return to the diary— 
23rd July.—I had a visit from Doctor Irwin, a great man here, who 
on mature deliberation with my surgeon decided on leaving my wound 
to itself, condemning me to have my leg constantly on a chair and 
never to move, judging that any attempt to extract in the dark would 
be dangerous and useless, the ball is therefore left to come out of its 
own accord if it chooses, but I conceive it to be so buried as to injure 
the motion of my leg; time can alone tell the true state of the case. 
24th July.—I have as yet been very patient under the enforced 
12nd Captain William Cator (Kane’s List No. 1134) served in the Walcheren campaign, Cap- 
ture of Middleburg, Siege of Flushing. 
He served in the Peninsula and South of France from 1809 to 1814, including the siege of 
Cadiz, lines of Torres Vedras, at Santarem, battle of Barrosa (wounded) ; affair of Osma, battles 
of Nive and Nivelle, actions of Bayonne. 
He commanded the R.A. of the expeditionary army send to Turkey in 1854, but through ill- 
health returned home before hostilities began. General Sir William Cator died a Colonel 
Commandant R,.H.A. in 1866. 
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