Editing James Wolfe (section)

===European War===
{{Main|Battle of Dettingen}}
In 1740 the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] broke out in Europe. Although initially Britain did not actively intervene, the presence of a sizable French army near the border of the [[Austrian Netherlands]] compelled the British to send an expedition to help defend the territory of their Austrian ally in 1742. James Wolfe was given his first commission as a second lieutenant in his father's regiment of Marines in 1741. 

Early in the following year he transferred to the [[12th Regiment of Foot]], a [[British Army]] [[infantry]] regiment, and set sail for [[Flanders]] some months later where the British took up position in [[Ghent]].<ref>* {{cite book|last=Brumwell|first=Stephen|title=Paths of Glory: The Life and Death of General James Wolfe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=92CBkB0estkC&pg=PP1|pages=18–19|year= 2006|publisher=Continuum |isbn= 978-1-85285-553-6}}</ref> Here, Wolfe was promoted to [[Lieutenant]] and made [[adjutant]] of his [[battalion]]. His first year on the continent was a frustrating one as, despite rumours of a British attack on [[Dunkirk]], they remained inactive in Flanders.{{sfnp|Brumwell|2006|pp=24–25}}

[[File:GeorgeIIWootton1743.jpg|thumb|left|Wolfe first saw action at the [[Battle of Dettingen]] in 1743.]]

In 1743, he was joined by his younger brother, Edward, who had received a commission in the same regiment.{{sfnp|Brumwell|2006|p=25}} That year the Wolfe brothers took part in an offensive launched by the British. Instead of moving southwards as expected, the British and their allies instead thrust eastwards into Southern Germany where they faced a large French army.{{sfnp|Browning|1994|pages= 134–135}} The army came under the personal command of [[George II of Great Britain|George II]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Trench|first= Charles Chenevix|title=George II|url=https://archive.org/details/georgeii0000chen|url-access=registration|year=1973|publisher=Allen Lane|isbn= 978-0-7139-0481-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/georgeii0000chen/page/217 217]–218}}</ref> but in June he appeared to have made a catastrophic mistake which left the Allies trapped against the river [[Main (river)|Main]] and surrounded by enemy forces in "a [[mousetrap]]".{{sfnp|Brumwell|2006|pp=26–27}}

Rather than contemplate surrender, George tried to rectify the situation by launching an attack on the French positions near the village of Dettingen. Wolfe's regiment was involved in heavy fighting, as the two sides exchanged volley after volley of [[musket]] fire. His regiment had suffered the highest casualties of any of the British infantry battalions, and Wolfe had his horse shot from underneath him.{{sfnp|Brumwell|2006|pp=29–31}} Despite three French attacks the Allies managed to drive off the enemy, who fled through the village of Dettingen which was then occupied by the Allies. However, George failed to adequately pursue the retreating enemy, allowing them to escape.{{sfnp|Browning|1994|pages= 139–140}} In spite of this the Allies had successfully thwarted the French move into Germany, safeguarding the independence of [[Electorate of Hanover|Hanover]].

Wolfe's regiment at [[Battle of Dettingen]] came to the attention of the [[Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland|Duke of Cumberland]]<ref>{{cite book|last= Pocock|first=Tom|title=Battle for Empire: The Very First World War 1756–63|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nEGgAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP1 |year= 1998|publisher= Michael O'Mara Books|isbn= 978-1-85479-390-4 |page=115}}</ref> who had been close to him during the battle when they came under enemy fire. A year later, he became a [[Captain (OF-2)|captain]] of the [[45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot|45th Regiment of Foot]]. After the success of Dettingen, the 1744 campaign was another frustration as the Allies forces now led by [[George Wade]] failed to complete their objective of capturing [[Lille]], fought no major battles, and returned to winter quarters at Ghent without anything to show for their efforts. Wolfe was left devastated when his brother Edward died, probably of [[tuberculosis|consumption]], that autumn.{{sfnp|Brumwell|2006|pages=35–36}}

Wolfe's regiment was left behind to garrison Ghent, which meant they missed the Allied defeat at the [[Battle of Fontenoy]] in May 1745 during which Wolfe's former regiment suffered extremely heavy casualties. Wolfe's regiment was then summoned to reinforce the main Allied army, now under the command of the [[Prince William, Duke of Cumberland|Duke of Cumberland]]. Shortly after they had departed Ghent, the town was suddenly [[Capture of Ghent|attacked by the French]] who captured it and its garrison.{{sfnp|Brumwell|2006|pages=36–37}} Having narrowly avoided becoming a French prisoner, Wolfe was now made a [[brigade major]].