Charles Best (British Army officer) facts for kids

Charles Best (born February 1765 in Hannover, died December 5, 1836, in Verden) was a brave British army officer. He came from a German family in Hanover. Charles Best served in different armies from 1781 until the end of the Napoleonic Wars. He fought for the East India Company, Britain, and Hanover.

Biography

Early Military Career

Charles Best started his army career in 1781. He joined the Hanoverian Regiment of Infantry as a cadet. Two Hanoverian regiments were created for the East India Company. This company was a powerful British trading group. In June 1781, Charles Best became an ensign in one of these regiments.

He arrived in Madras, India, in 1783. Best joined the British army near Cuddalore. He fought in the Battle of Cuddalore on June 13, 1783. He was badly wounded there. In July, he returned to Madras with other injured soldiers. He was promoted to a 2nd lieutenant in July 1784. Lieutenant Best stayed in India for several years. He served in different garrisons during peacetime.

Fighting in Europe

In 1792, Best's regiment returned home to Hanover. In 1793, it became a light infantry regiment. Lieutenant Best was made a 1st lieutenant in a rifle company. In April 1794, he joined the British and Hanoverian army. They were fighting in Flanders, a region in Europe.

He was present at the battle of Mouscron in April 1794. The French army invaded Flanders. The allied forces had to retreat. Best narrowly escaped being captured. He also fought in battles on May 18 and 22, 1794. He was at the battle of Rouselaer and Hooglede in June. In July 1794, he was promoted to captain.

Captain Best was involved in many small fights. These happened as the allies retreated. They moved towards the Waal river. He fought near Fort St. Andree. In October 1794, he fought near Nijmegen. The French then surrounded Nijmegen. Captain Best was part of several sallies and skirmishes.

The allies left Nijmegen and moved behind the Waal river. In December, Best fought near Raudwyk. The French had crossed the Waal and surprised some allied soldiers. But the allies managed to take back their position. In June 1795, he fought near Donawert. The French crossed the Waal on ice. The allies retreated to the Rhine river. A tough fight happened at Velp. They then retreated further into Germany.

In February 1795, Captain Best fought in two hard actions at Gronde. First, the allies pushed the enemy back. Then, they had to retreat themselves. They took a position behind the Ems river. Many small fights happened there. The British army eventually sailed back to England.

In 1796, the Hanoverians set up a neutral zone. Captain Best's regiment was part of this effort.

Joining the King's German Legion

In 1803, the French took over Hanover. Many Hanoverian soldiers then joined the British army. Charles Best became a major in the Kings German Legion (KGL). This was a group of German soldiers fighting for Britain. He was appointed to the 2nd Light Infantry Battalion in February 1805.

In September 1805, he sailed to Germany. He returned to England in February 1806. He then went to Ireland. In May 1807, he sailed with his battalion to England.

Major Best took command of the 2nd Light Battalion. In July 1807, he sailed to the Baltic Sea. He landed on the Isle of Rügen. Then he sailed with an expedition to Zealand. He landed in Kioge Bay. He led soldiers who marched towards Copenhagen. On August 26, he helped drive back the enemy. He took control of part of the city's suburbs. This helped the main army greatly. Major Best received high praise for this action. He also received thanks from the British Parliament.

The Napoleonic Wars

In November 1807, Major Best returned to England. In April 1808, he sailed to the Baltic again. He then went with Sir John Moore to the Iberian Peninsula. He was with the army as they advanced into and retreated through Spain.

In July 1809, he sailed with British troops to the Scheldt river. This was part of the Walcheren Campaign. He helped in the siege of Flushing, which surrendered in August. He then went to another island, Sud Beveland. He returned to Walcheren in September.

Best was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in January 1812. In May 1812, he became lieutenant-colonel of the 8th Line Battalion KGL in Sicily. In March 1814, he was sent to Hanover. He was made a colonel in the Hanoverian army. He was given command of a brigade. This group had four battalions of Hanoverian Landwehr. These were like local defense forces. He marched them to Brabant and Flanders in August 1814. He was stationed at Bruges until Napoleon Bonaparte returned to France in 1815.

Battle of Waterloo Hero

Colonel Best was ordered to Ypres. He took command of the troops and the fortress there. In early May, a new governor was appointed. Best then marched his brigade to Brussels. His brigade was part of the 5th Division. This division was under the Duke of Wellington.

On the night of June 15, he received an order to march. Colonel Best left Brussels at dawn on June 16. Around 3:00 PM that day, he fought the enemy. This was at the Battle of Quatre Bras. One of Best's battalions fought all day. They showed great bravery. Another battalion, the Lüneburg Landwehr Battalion, fought bravely. Their steady fire stopped a charge by French Cuirassiers. These were French cavalry soldiers with armor.

On June 18, at the Battle of Waterloo, Colonel Best's brigade fought hard. They received praise from Major-General Sir James Kempt. Kempt took command of the 5th Division after its general, Sir Thomas Picton, was killed. Colonel Best returned to Hanover in December 1815. He was given the Hanoverian Guelphic Order. This was a special award. In September 1816, he became a colonel and major-general in the Hanoverian service.

Family

In 1823, Charles Best married Louisa. She was the only daughter of Captain Roberson. Captain Roberson had also served in the Hanoverian 2nd Light Battalion.