The first ‘Sandhurst’ at Marlow in Buckinghamshire

This week I visited the predecessor to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In those days I don’t think there was much concern as to whether it was a ‘College’ or an ‘Academy’. It was established at Great Marlow in Buckinghamshire in 1799, at the recommendation of its first commandant, Colonel John le Marchant, as an adjunct to the senior institution for training army staff officers in High Wycombe. The Academy was situated in Remnantz, a large house on the road to Henley, catering for around 300 cadets for the British and East India Company armies, until its removal to Sandhurst in Berkshire in 1812.
Although the west wing of Remnantz was demolished when the house was purchased by the Brewery family of Wethered in 1825, much of the original house remains.
Le Marchant was an important influence in the re-organisation and training of the British cavalry arm in the Napoleonic Wars, drafting new regulations and designing a sword.
In August 1811, as major general, John le Marchant went to Spain to command the Heavy Cavalry Brigade in Wellington’s army, comprising 5th Dragoon Guards and 3rd and 4th Dragoons. Le Marchant was killed immediately after his decisive charge against the French left wing at the Battle of Salamanca on 22nd July 1812 (see
http://www.britishbattles.com/peninsula/peninsula-salamanca.htm)