Page "Isaac Brock" Paragraph 10

On 28 October 1797 Brock purchased the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and became acting commanding officer of the regiment, assuming substantive command on 22 March 1798 with the retirement of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Keppel.

The rank was apparently bought cheaply ; his predecessor from whom he purchased the rank was advised to sell up and leave the army rather than face a court martial and probable dismissal.

In 1799 the 49th was assigned to the Helder Expedition against the Batavian Republic ( now known as the Netherlands ), to be led by Sir Ralph Abercromby.

During the troop landings Brock saw his first combat on 10 September 1799 under the command of then-Major-General John Moore.

Given that the 49th was in poor shape when Brock took command they saw little of the actual combat.

Likely Moore was sparing them and using more experienced troops to establish the beachhead.

Finally on 2 October the 49th was actively involved in heavy combat at the Battle of Alkmaar, where they acquitted themselves well only sustaining thirty-three fatalities.

This was remarkable given the circumstances of the fight.

The 49th had been ordered to proceed up the beaches of Egmont-op-Zee, a steep climb through sand dunes and poor terrain.

The situation was exacerbated by harassment from French sharpshooters who had excellent cover.

After about six hours of heavy fighting the attack was stopped about a mile ( 1. 6 km ) short of their objective.

After an hour of close combat the French began to withdraw.

Brock himself was injured in the fighting when he was hit by a spent musket ball in the throat.

A neck cloth prevented a possibly fatal injury.

In his own words, " I got knocked down shortly after the enemy began to retreat, but never quitted the field, and returned to my duty in less than half an hour.