Roger Elliott - Military Career

Military Career

By 1680, Roger was an Ensign in the Tangier Regiment of Foot, and was wounded on 27 October fighting the local Moors. In 1681, he was suspended by Colonel Percy Kirke for duelling with Ensign Bartholomew Pitts, later being cashiered for this offence. He was sent back to England in 1682 with a letter begging for his readmission into His Majesty's Service, and he was reinstated as an Ensign in his old Company on 8 March 1683. In 1684 he returned to England and probably fought against the Monmouth Rebellion.

By 1685, he had transferred to the Queen Dowager's Regiment of Foot, and, in 1687, he became a First Lieutenant in Earl of Bath's Regiment - created by Sir John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath (1628–1701). He was promoted to Captain on 1 May 1690. He fought and was wounded at the Battle of Steinkeerke on 3 August 1692. On 21 December of that year, he was promoted to Major in the same Regiment, and, on 1 January 1696, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of Sir Bevil Granville's Regiment of Foot. In 1702, on campaign with the Duke of Marlborough, he was shot through the body at the defence of Tongeren in Belgium. He reputedly took on the entire French Army with only two regiments, before surrendering.

On 5 March 1704, he raised his own regiment - Colonel Elliott's Regiment of Foot. Officers were commissioned on 10 April that year at St James'. On 2 July 1704, again on campaign with the Duke of Marlborough, he fought and was wounded at the Battle of Schellenberg. It is possible that he fought at the Battle of Blenheim on 13 August 1704. However, he certainly did not lead the cavalry at this Battle, as has been maintained by other biographies - this was led by General Sir John 'Salamander' Cutts.