Corps of Artillery Drivers

[William Douglas]

Until 1794, the Royal Artillery hired civilian horses and drivers to haul its guns. In that year, the Corps of Captains' Commissaries and Drivers was formed to provide these services. This was reformed as the Corps of Gunner Drivers in 1801. In 1806 these became the Royal Artillery Drivers. In 1822 these were disbanded and from that date all men enlisted into the Royal Artillery as "Gunner and Driver"; until 1918, when they simply became Gunners. None of this applied to the Royal Horse Artillery, which had always had its own drivers.

•  Major- Gen. Robert Douglas, who served with distinction in America during the Revolutionary War, was appointed Commandant of the Corps of Artillery Drivers on their establishment in 1795, and retained the appointment until the breaking up of the Corps. in 1817.

•  Crimean War, 1854
Gunner and Driver Jons Douglas.—In the trenches during the October bombardment, and with the exception of one month, when employed as a servant, he regularly served in the trenches till the fall of the city, taking part in every bombardment.

I am sure there were more Douglases who served in this unit.  Are there any among your ancestors?