BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN THE PENINSULAR WAR, 1808-1814
Roleia--Vimiera--Sahagun--Corunna--The
Douro--Talavera--Busaco--Barrosa--Fuentes
d'Onor--Albuera--Almaraz--Arroyos dos Molinos--Tarifa--Ciudad
Rodrigo--Badajos--Salamanca--Vittoria--Pyrenees--San
Sebastian--Nivelle--Nive--Orthes--Toulouse.
The campaign was entered upon with a view of preventing the Iberian
Peninsula from falling under the domination of Napoleon, who, prior
to the landing of our troops in Portugal in August, 1808, had
brought about the abdication of the King of Spain, and placed his
brother Joseph on the throne of Madrid. Portugal had been invaded
also by the French. The King, taking refuge on an English squadron,
had sailed to Brazil, and Lisbon was at the moment in possession of
the French Army, commanded by Marshal Junot.
The honour "Peninsula" was granted to all regiments which served
under the Duke of Wellington from the date of his first landing
in Figueras Bay in August, 1808, to the Battle of Toulouse, in
April, 1804. Regiments which served under Sir John Moore and were
present at Corunna in January, 1809, but were not fortunate enough
to return to Spain, were debarred from this "distinction," the 14th
Foot (now the West Yorks) and the 26th Cameronians being cases in
point.[15] Gold medals and crosses were conferred on field and
general officers during the operations, but it was not until the
year 1847 that the Duke of Richmond was enabled to carry out the
project of inducing Her Majesty Queen Victoria to grant to the few
remaining survivors a silver medal with clasps for the various
actions, as below:
Roleia.
Vimiera.
Sahagun.
Benevente.
Corunna.
Talavera.
Busaco.
Barrosa.
Fuentes d'Onor.
Albuera.
Ciudad Rodrigo.
Badajoz.
Salamanca.
Vittoria.
Pyrenees.
San Sebastian.
Nivelle.
Nive.
Orthes.
Toulouse.
ROLEIA, AUGUST 17, 1808.
This was the opening action of the Peninsular War, which,
commencing with Roleia in August, 1808, lasted until the final
defeat of Soult by the Duke of Wellington at Toulouse in March,
1814.
The following regiments have been authorized at different times to
carry the word "Roleia" on their colours and appointments, and the
Land General Service Medal, with clasp "Roleia," was granted to all
survivors on June 1, 1847:
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwick.
Norfolk.
Worcester.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
South Stafford.
South Lancashire.
Sherwood Foresters.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
They were brigaded as under, the chief command being held by
Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Arthur Wellesley:
First Brigade--Hill:
5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) 990
1st Batt. 9th (Norfolk) 833
38th (South Staffords) 957
---- 2,780
Second Brigade--Fergusson:
36th (Worcester) 591
40th (South Lancashire) 926
71st (Highland Light Infantry) 903
---- 2,420
Third Brigade--Nightingale:
29th (Worcester) 806
82nd (South Lancashire) 929
---- 1,735
Fourth Brigade--Bowes:
6th (Royal Warwick) 946
32nd (Cornwall Light Infantry) 874
---- 1,820
Fifth Brigade--C. Crawford:
50th (West Kent) 948
91st (Argyll Highlanders) 917
---- 1,865
Sixth Brigade--Fane:
45th (Sherwood Foresters) 670
5th Batt. King's Royal Rifles 936
2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade 400
---- 2,060
------
12,626
20th Light Dragoons 240
Royal Artillery 226
Opposed to these, the French had, under General Delaborde, not
more than 6,000 men. The odds, therefore, were considerably in our
favour; but the opposition was nowhere very determined, and our
casualties were slight. Three regiments, it will be seen from the
accompanying return, suffered no loss.
CASUALTIES AT ROLEIA.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|20th Hussars | - | - | - | 3 |
|Royal Artillery | 1 | - | 1 | - |
|Roy. Engineers | - | 1 | - | - |
|5th Northumberland Fus. | - | 2 | 3 | 41 |
|6th R. Warwick | - | 1 | - | 2 |
|29th Worcester | - | 7 | 33 | 111 |
|32nd Cornwall L.I. | - | - | 1 | 3 |
|36th Worcester | - | - | - | - |
|38th S. Stafford | - | - | 4 | - |
|40th S. Lancs | - | - | 1 | 2 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 1 | 1 | - | 9 |
|50th West Kent | - | - | 2 | 1 |
|60th K.R.R | - | 2 | 8 | 39 |
|71st Highland L.I. | - | - | 1 | 1 |
|82nd S. Lancs | - | 1 | 6 | 18 |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | - | - | - | - |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 2 | 17 | 30 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--The riflemen of the 60th and 95th (Rifle Brigade) had been
engaged on August 15, when the latter regiment lost one officer
killed and another wounded.
VIMIERA, AUGUST 21, 1808.
Four days after Roleia, Sir Arthur Wellesley, at the head of the
following regiments, inflicted a second defeat on the French army
under Junot, capturing three guns and many prisoners. The following
regiments bear the honour:
20th Hussars.
Queen's.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Norfolk.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
Worcesters.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
South Stafford.
South Lancashire.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
West Kent.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
The casualties incurred were as follows:
CASUALTIES AT VIMIERA.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|20th Hussars | 1 | - | 19 | 24 |
|Royal Artillery | - | 2 | - | 2 |
|2nd Queen's | - | - | - | 7 |
|5th Northumberland Fus. | - | - | - | - |
|6th Royal Warwicks | - | - | - | - |
|9th Norfolk (2nd Batt.) | - | - | - | - |
|20th Lancs Fus. | 1 | 1 | - | 5 |
|29th Worcester | - | 1 | 2 | 11 |
|32nd Cornwall L.I. | - | - | - | - |
|36th Worcester | - | 5 | 7 | 36 |
|38th S. Staffs | - | - | - | - |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 2 | 6 | 30 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | - | 3 | 27 | 51 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | - | - | - |
|50th West Kent | 1 | 4 | 19 | 63 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | - | 2 | 5 | 33 |
|50th K.R.R. | - | 2 | 14 | 22 |
|71st Highland L.I. | - | 7 | 12 | 92 |
|82nd S. Lancs | 1 | - | 7 | 53 |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | - | - | - | - |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 4 | 37 | 43 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Immediately after the action negotiations were entered into with
the French to secure their evacuation of Portugal. The Convention
of Cintra, the result of these negotiations, raised a storm of
indignation in England. The three Generals--Harry Burrard, Sir
Howard Dalrymple, and Sir Arthur Wellesley--were recalled, and
their conduct submitted to a Court of Inquiry held at the Royal
Hospital, Chelsea, under the presidency of Sir Henry Dundas.
The _Times_ took a strong line against Wellesley, but the Court
of Inquiry to a great extent exonerated him. Subsequently he
returned to Portugal, as we know, to carry the war to a successful
conclusion, thus belying his detractors.
The troops engaged at Vimiera were brigaded as under:
20th Light Dragoons 240
Royal Artillery (three batteries) 226
First Brigade--Hill:
5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) 944
1st Batt. 9th (Norfolk) 761
38th (South Staffords) 953
---- 2,658
Second Brigade--Fergusson:
36th (Worcester) 591
40th (South Lancashire) 923
71st (Highland Light Infantry) 935
---- 2,449
Third Brigade--Nightingale:
29th (Worcester) 616
82nd (South Lancashire) 904
---- 1,520
Fourth Brigade--Bowes:
6th (Royal Warwick) 943
32nd (Cornwall Light Infantry) 870
---- 1,813
Fifth Brigade--C. Crawford:
45th (Sherwood Foresters) 915
91st (Argyll Highlanders) 917
---- 1,832
Sixth Brigade--Fane:
50th (West Kent) 945
5th Batt. 60th (King's Royal Rifles) 604
2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade 456
---- 2,005
Seventh Brigade--Anstruther:
2nd Batt. 9th (Norfolk) 633
43rd (Oxford Light Infantry) 721
52nd (Oxford Light Infantry) 654
97th (West Kent) 695
---- 2,703
Eighth Brigade--Acland:
2nd (Queen's) 731
20th (Lancashire Fusiliers) 401
1st Batt. Rifle Brigade 200
---- 1,332
------
Total British 16,712
To which must be added about 2,000 Portuguese troops. Of the French
forces it is not so easy to speak. Wellesley estimated their
strength at 14,000, inclusive of 1,500 cavalry, with 23 guns.
Professor Oman's figures are 13,056, including 1,850 cavalry.
Whatever their strength may have been, they made but a poor stand
against Sir Arthur's troops.
MOORE'S CAMPAIGN IN SPAIN.
When the three Generals responsible for the Convention of Cintra
were recalled to England, Sir John Moore was nominated to the
chief command in Spain. The appointment was a popular one, for
Moore had greatly distinguished himself in command of a brigade
at the capture of the Island of St. Lucia, and later still at the
Battle of Egmont-op-Zee and in Egypt. His masterly advance from
Lisbon to the relief of Madrid, and his still more masterly retreat
from Salamanca to Corunna, are ably recounted in Professor Oman's
monumental work on the Peninsular War, and by General Maurice in
his Life of Moore. With not more than 30,000 men Moore held at
bay five times that number, and finally, at Corunna, covered the
embarkation of his worn-out army in the face of 25,000 French,
commanded by Marshal Soult. The one episode during that famous
retreat which is emblazoned on the colours and appointments of our
army is the brilliant cavalry action of Sahagun, for which, as well
as for the cavalry action of Benevente a few days afterwards, the
medal and clasps were granted.
SAHAGUN, DECEMBER 21, 1808.
This honour has been awarded to the 15th Hussars only, and
commemorates a brilliant little engagement, when the 15th attacked
and routed a far superior body of French cavalry. With the
trifling loss of 2 Hussars killed and 18 wounded, they captured 13
officers and 150 men of the enemy. Sahagun and Benevente--a similar
action which took place a few days subsequently, in which the 10th
and 18th Hussars bore their share, but for which no battle honour
was granted, though a clasp "Benevente" was added to the Peninsular
medal--bore testimony to the admirable manner in which our light
cavalry was handled during Moore's retreat to Corunna.
CORUNNA, JANUARY 16, 1809.
Authority to assume this battle honour was given in April, 1823,
and the medal and clasp were granted June 1, 1847.
This honour has been conferred on the following regiments:
Grenadier Guards.
Royal Scots.
Queen's R.W. Surrey.
King's Own.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Norfolks.
West Yorkshires.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Cameronians.
Gloucesters.
Worcesters.
East Lancashire.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
West Riding.
South Staffords.
South Lancashire.
Black Watch.
K.O. (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Oxford Light Infantry.
North Lancashire.
Royal West Kent.
Highland Light Infantry.
Gordon Highlanders.
Cameron Highlanders.
Argyll and Suth. Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
The following table gives the strength of Sir John Moore's army
at the commencement of the retreat. Unfortunately, no complete
list of casualties exists to show the exact losses at the Battle
of Corunna, but we know that on that day we had forty French guns
opposed to nine English, and that the losses inflicted on the enemy
were little short of 1,500, ours being about 800 only.
CAVALRY DIVISION: LORD PAGET.
7th Hussars 497
10th Hussars 514
15th Hussars 527
18th Hussars 565
---- 2,103
Royal Artillery 1,297
FIRST DIVISION: SIR DAVID BAIRD.
Brigade of Guards--Ward:
1st Batt. Grenadiers 1,300
2nd Batt. Grenadiers 1,027
----- 2,327
First Brigade--Bentinck:
1st Batt. 4th (King's Own) 754
1st Batt. 42nd (Royal Highlanders) 880
1st Batt. 50th (Royal West Kent) 794
----- 2,428
Third Brigade--Manningham:
3rd Batt. Royal Scots 597
1st Batt. 26th (Cameronians) 745
2nd Batt. 81st (North Lancashire) 615
----- 1,957
SECOND DIVISION: SIR JAMES HOPE.
Third Brigade--Leith:
51st King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) 516
2nd Batt. 59th (East Lancashire) 557
2nd Batt. 76th (West Riding Regiment) 654
----- 1,727
Fourth Brigade--Hill:
2nd (Queen's) 616
1st Batt. 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) 835
2nd Batt. 14th (West Yorkshire) 550
1st Batt. 32nd (Cornwall Light Infantry) 756
----- 2,757
Fifth Brigade--C. Crawford:
1st Batt. 36th (Worcester) 736
1st Batt. 71st (Highland Light Infantry) 724
1st Batt. 92nd (Gordon Highlanders) 900
----- 2,360
THIRD DIVISION: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FRASER.
Sixth Brigade--Beresford:
1st Batt. 6th (Royal Warwicks) 783
1st Batt. 9th (Norfolk) 607
2nd Batt. 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) 496
2nd Batt. 45th (Oxford Light Infantry) 411
----- 2,297
Seventh Brigade--Fane:
1st Batt. 38th (South Stafford) 823
1st Batt. 79th (Cameron Highlanders) 838
1st Batt. 82nd (South Lancashire) 812
----- 2,473
RESERVE DIVISION: MAJOR-GENERAL E. PAGET.
Eighth Brigade--Anstruther:
20th (Lancashire Fusiliers) 499
1st Batt. 52nd (Oxford Light Infantry) 828
1st Batt. Rifle Brigade 820
----- 2,147
Ninth Brigade----Disney:
1st Batt. 28th (Gloucester) 750
1st Batt. 91st (Argyll Highlanders) 698
----- 1,448
Light Brigade----R. Crawford:
1st Batt. 43rd (Oxford Light Infantry) 817
2nd Batt. 52nd (Oxford Light Infantry) 381
2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade 702
----- 1,900
------
Total British 27,221
CASUALTIES AT CORUNNA.
+------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|General Staff | 1 | - | - | - |
|7th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|10th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|15th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|18th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | - |
|Grenadier Gds. (2nd Batt.) | - | - | 13 | 40 |
|1st Royal Scots | - | - | - | - |
|2nd Queen's | - | - | - | - |
|4th K.O. Lancaster Regt. | 1 | 3 | - | - |
|5th Northumberland Fus. | - | - | - | - |
|6th Royal Warwick | - | - | - | - |
|9th Norfolk | - | - | - | - |
|14th W. Yorks | - | - | 10 | 30 |
|20th Lancs F. | - | - | - | - |
|23rd Royal Welsh Fus. | - | - | - | - |
|26th Cameronians | - | - | - | - |
|28th Gloucester | - | - | - | - |
|32nd Corn. L.I. | - | - | - | - |
|36th Worcester | - | - | - | - |
|38th S. Stafford | - | - | - | - |
|42nd Royal Highlanders | - | 6 | 39 | 105 |
|43rd Oxfd. L.I. (two batts.) | - | - | - | - |
|50th Royal West Kent | 2 | 3 | - | - |
|51st K.O. Yorks L.I. | - | - | 5 | 20 |
|52nd Oxf. L.I. (1st and 2nd Batts.) | - | 2 | 5 | 33 |
|59th E. Lancs | - | - | - | - |
|71st Highld. L.I. | - | - | - | - |
|76th West Riding Regiment | - | - | 1 | 6 |
|79th Cameronian Highdrs. | - | - | - | - |
|81st L. North Lancashire | 3 | 11 | 27 | 113 |
|82nd S. Lancs | - | - | - | - |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | - | - | - | - |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | 1 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
|Rifle Brigade (1st and 2nd Batts.) | - | - | 12 | 33 |
+------------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
It is useless disguising the fact that the French claim Corunna as
a victory. Moore, who fell during the action, and who, with General
Anstruther, was buried within the precincts of the work, had been
compelled to destroy the greater number of his horses and to bury
some of his guns prior to giving the order for embarkation, and
a large number of his sick were left behind. Nothing, however,
can detract from the magnificent manner in which he conducted the
retirement in the face of enormous odds, nor from the gallant way
in which his men pulled themselves together after the hardships
endured during the retreat, and stood at bay outside Corunna. It
was not a victory in the fullest sense of the word, but Corunna was
a grand military achievement.
THE PENINSULAR WAR (SECOND PHASE), 1809-1814.
To give even a summary of the campaign would be beyond the limits
of this work. It is the campaign which more than any other has
formed the theme for countless books, and is more or less known to
every schoolboy. My scheme is merely to bring before the regimental
officer and those interested in the "price of blood" the losses
sustained by each corps in each action, and so to bring home to
the army the anomalies that exist in the system under which battle
honours have been awarded.
We have seen that the Convention of Cintra, which was the closing
act of the successful campaign of Vimiera, had been received with
a storm of indignation in England. When it became known that Sir
Arthur Wellesley, one of the Signatories of that Convention, had
been appointed to succeed the late Sir John Moore in command of
the troops in Portugal, the attacks broke out afresh. The result,
however, gave the lie to the arm-chair critics, for the "Sepoy
General" proved a consummate master of the art of war. Landing
at Lisbon on April 22, Sir Arthur struck at once. There was one
French army still in Portugal, at Oporto, where Soult lay with a
considerable force. Leaving a portion of his army under Beresford
to watch the French main army, who were near Talavera, Wellesley
moved swiftly to the north. By a masterly stroke, he threw one
brigade across the Douro, and, with the loss of but 190 killed and
wounded, drove Soult out of Oporto.
DOURO.
is inscribed on the colours and appointments of the
14th Hussars.
Buffs.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshires.
and commemorates this, Wellington's first victory after he had been
entrusted with the supreme command in the Peninsula. In addition
to the regiments which are entitled to bear this battle honour,
there was a battalion of detachments engaged made up of the light
companies of the 29th (Worcesters), 38th (South Staffords), 43rd
and 52nd (Oxford Light Infantry), and the Rifle Brigade. The 16th
Lancers, who were generally to the fore when fighting was expected,
also suffered some casualties. Soult was not only surprised; he
was, despite the smallness of our losses, badly beaten, and it
was only Wellesley's want of cavalry which prevented his being
overwhelmed with disaster. As it was, Soult only succeeded in
effecting a junction with Ney by burning his baggage, throwing his
guns over the mountain-side, and, by following goat-tracks, he at
last escaped the English pursuit.
CASUALTIES AT THE PASSAGE OF THE DOURO, MAY 10, 11, AND 12, 1809.
+----------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|14th Hussars | - | 4 | 13 | 19 |
|16th Lancers | - | 3 | - | - |
|20th Hussars | - | - | 1 | - |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | - |
|3rd Buffs | - | 1 | - | - |
|29th Worcester | - | - | 2 | 7 |
|38th S. Staffs (detachment) | - | 1 | - | - |
|48th N'ampton | - | 1 | - | - |
|52nd Oxf. L.I. (detachment) | - | 1 | - | - |
|66th Berkshire | - | 3 | 9 | 26 |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--No detailed list of the casualties in the three days'
skirmishing on the Douro is appended to Sir Arthur Wellesley's
despatch. On May 11 we lost 19 men killed and 62 wounded, and on
the 12th 23 killed and 86 wounded. The despatch alludes to the
conduct of the 20th Hussars, and of the light companies of the
29th, 43rd, and 52nd, and the riflemen of the 95th Regiment. None
of these regiments have been awarded the honour. A detachment
of the 83rd (Royal Irish Rifles) was present, and lost 14 men
wounded.
Returning south after the success at the Douro, Wellesley at
once took steps to attack the main French army, which, under
Marshal Victor, with King Joseph himself as nominal leader, lay at
Talavera, to the north-east of Lisbon, across the Spanish frontier.
This battle honour is borne by the
3rd Dragoon Guards.
4th Hussars.
14th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
Coldstream Guards.
Scots Guards.
Buffs.
Royal Fusiliers.
South Wales Borderers.
Gloucesters.
Worcesters.
East Surrey.
South Lancashire.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshires.
Shropshire Light Infantry.
King's Royal Rifles.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Connaught Rangers.
Talavera was a very different stamp of fight to anything in which
our troops had been previously engaged in the Peninsula. We had
but 20,000 men present, and our losses amounted to 4,000 killed
and wounded, those of the French to over 7,000. The full fruits of
the victory were lost owing to the failure of our Spanish allies
to afford us proper support, and the British army was compelled to
retire on the following day, leaving its wounded in the hands of
the French. It is true that we captured 17 guns, but the fact of
our retreat, coupled with the abandonment of the sick and wounded,
have induced the French to claim Talavera as a French victory.
Marshal Victor was created Duke of Talavera by King Joseph, while
Sir Arthur Wellesley was raised to the peerage under the title of
Lord Wellington,--of Wellington, in the county of Somerset, and of
Talavera. The fighting was exceedingly severe, and on more than one
occasion matters looked very doubtful. Sir Arthur, however, had
every reason to be proud of the manner in which his men faced the
tried veterans of France.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF TALAVERA, JULY 27 AND 28, 1809.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|3rd Drag. Gds. | 1 | 1 | - | - |
|4th Hussars | - | 3 | - | 9 |
|14th Hussars | - | 6 | 3 | 7 |
|16th Lancers | - | 1 | 6 | 5 |
|23rd Lt. Drag. | 2 | 4 | 47 | 46 |
|Royal Artillery | 1 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | 2 | - | - |
|Coldstream Gds. | 2 | 9 | 33 | 253 |
|Scots Guards | 5 | 6 | 49 | 261 |
|3rd Buffs | - | 2 | 6 | 107 |
|7th Royal Fus. | 1 | 3 | 6 | 53 |
|24th S. Wales Borderers | - | 10 | 45 | 274 |
|29th Worcesters | - | 7 | 36 | 140 |
|31st E. Surrey | 1 | 7 | 34 | 190 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 1 | 17 | 90 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | 3 | 13 | 147 |
|48th N'ampton | - | 12 | 34 | 280 |
|53rd Shropshire L.I. | - | 2 | 6 | 36 |
|60th K.R.R. | - | 7 | 10 | 29 |
|61st Gloucesters | 3 | 11 | 46 | 196 |
|66th R. Berks | - | 11 | 16 | 88 |
|83rd Royal Irish Rifles | 4 | 11 | 38 | 282 |
|87th R. Irish Fus. | 1 | 13 | 35 | 170 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 3 | 3 | 19 | 85 |
|97th West Kent | - | - | 6 | 25 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--There were two battalions of detachments at Talavera. The
one composed of the flank companies of the 52nd, 79th, and 91st
lost an officer, and 74 men killed and wounded. The other, made
up from the 28th, 35th, 38th, 42nd, and 43rd, had 194 casualties.
The Cameron Highlanders lost 9 killed and 28 wounded at Talavera.
BUSACO, SEPTEMBER 27, 1810.
At Talavera Wellington realized that he was too weak to cope in
the field with the immense forces that France had poured into the
Peninsula. His plan of campaign now was to wear the enemy down
until he should have organized the Portuguese and Spanish armies.
He therefore retired once more into Portugal, and commenced that
systematic defence of the kingdom which ultimately led to the
destruction of French pretensions in the Iberian Peninsula. By the
summer of 1810 Napoleon had 300,000 men in Spain. By that time
Wellington had thrown up the famous lines of Torres Vedras, behind
the shelter of which the task of reorganizing the Portuguese army
proceeded apace. The winter of 1809-10 was passed without any open
conflict. It was not until the end of September, 1810, that the
next great fight was fought, when Wellington, with 50,000 men,
barred Massena's advance at the Ridge of Busaco.
This battle honour has been conferred on the
Royal Scots.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Norfolks.
South Wales Borderers.
Gloucesters.
Royal Highlanders.
South Staffords.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Cameron Highlanders.
Connaught Rangers.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Rifle Brigade.
Our losses are tabulated below. Those of the French amounted to
4,400 killed and wounded, including 5 General Officers.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF BUSACO, SEPTEMBER 27, 1810.
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | - | 1 | 7 |
|14th Hussars | - | - | - | 3 |
|16th Lancers | - | 1 | - | - |
|1st Royal Scots | - | - | - | 2 |
|5th Northumberland Fus. | - | - | 1 | 7 |
|7th Royal Fus. | - | 1 | 1 | 22 |
|9th Norfolk | - | 1 | 5 | 18 |
|24th S. Wales Borderers | - | 1 | - | - |
|38th S. Stafford | - | 1 | 5 | 17 |
|42nd Black Watch | - | - | - | 7 |
|43rd Oxf. L.I. | - | - | - | 7 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 3 | 4 | 25 | 109 |
|50th Royal W. Kent | - | 1 | - | - |
|52nd Oxf. L.I. | - | 2 | 3 | 10 |
|60th K.R.R. | - | 5 | 3 | 16 |
|74th Highl. L.I. | 1 | 1 | 6 | 21 |
|79th Cameron Highlanders | 1 | 2 | 11 | 41 |
|83rd Royal Irish Rifles | - | 1 | - | 4 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 7 | 29 | 95 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | - | 9 | 22 |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Wellington had once more shown his men that they were more than
a match for the French in the field, but he still clung to his
old plan of campaign, and, retiring behind the lines of Torres
Vedras, prepared to wear the enemy down. The winter was passed
with the English secure within their formidable entrenchments at
Torres Vedras, the French starving outside. We held the command
of the sea, and, with the Tagus in his rear, Wellington was able
to feed his men without difficulty, to replenish supplies, and to
continue the reorganization and training of the Portuguese army.
In the South of Spain the French were showing renewed activity
and Wellington detached a division under General Graham to afford
support to the garrison of Cadiz. This the stout old Scotsman did
most effectually by attacking Victor at Barrosa.
BARROSA, MARCH 4, 1811.
This distinction is borne on the colours of the
Grenadier Guards.
Coldstream Guards.
Scots Guards.
Gloucesters.
Hampshires.
Royal Irish Fusiliers
Rifle Brigade.
Here a little British division not 4,000 strong overthrew double
the number of Frenchmen, capturing six guns and two eagles.
The subjoined list of casualties shows that others besides the
regiments which are authorized to emblazon this battle honour on
their colours did their duty as Englishmen on that March day. There
seems no valid reason why the Norfolks, North Lancashires, South
Lancashires, and the Rifle Brigade should not be permitted to
assume this honour, albeit the headquarters of those regiments were
not present in the engagement.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF BARROSA, MARCH 4, 1811.
+---------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Grenadier Gds. | 2 | 8 | 33 | 177 |
|Coldstream Guards | 1 | 2 | 8 | 46 |
|Scots Guards | 1 | 1 | 14 | 85 |
|Royal Artillery | - | 8 | 6 | 40 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | - | 1 | 2 |
|28th Gloucester | - | 8 | 16 | 135 |
|67th Hampshire | - | 4 | 10 | 30 |
|87th R. Irish F. | 1 | 4 | 44 | 124 |
|9th Norfolk (flank cos.) | - | 4 | 8 | 56 |
|47th N. Lancs (flank cos.) | 1 | 1 | 20 | 49 |
|82nd S. Lancs (flank cos.) | - | 2 | 8 | 89 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | 1 | 3 | 14 | 48 |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--A battalion composed of the flank companies of the 9th
(Norfolk), 28th (Gloucester), and 82nd (South Lancashire) went
into action 475 bayonets; its losses were 225 non-commissioned
officers and men killed and wounded. A fellow battalion of the
flank companies of the 47th and three companies of the 95th
(Rifle Brigade) lost 130 men out of 594.
FUENTES D'ONOR, MAY 5, 1811.
In March, 1811, Massena, with his army much worn with the hard
winter blockade outside Torres Vedras, fell back into Spain,
closely followed by Wellington. Then ensued a number of rearguard
actions which are not inscribed on our colours, but which brought
out, on the one hand, the capacity of Ney as a rearguard commander,
and, on the other, the admirable handling of our own Light Division
of immortal fame. Pressing Massena back, Wellington endeavoured to
relieve the beleaguered garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo with his own
army, and detached Beresford to perform the same action with regard
to Badajoz, and so it came about that within a few days of each
other two general actions were fought.
Fuentes d'Onor is borne on the colours or appointments of the
1st Royal Dragoons.
16th Lancers.
14th Hussars.
Scots Guards.
Coldstream Guards.
Royal Highlanders.
Oxford Light Infantry.
South Wales Borderers.
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Sherwood Foresters.
Shropshire Light Infantry.
Highland Light Infantry.
King's Royal Rifles.
Cameron Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
Connaught Rangers.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Rifle Brigade.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF FUENTES D'ONOR, MAY 3-5, 1811.
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|1st Roy. Drag. | - | 4 | 1 | 36 |
|14th Hussars | - | 5 | 4 | 28 |
|16th Lancers | - | 2 | 7 | 16 |
|Royal Artillery | - | 3 | 6 | 22 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | - | - | - |
|Coldstream Gds. | - | 1 | 4 | 49 |
|Scots Guards | 1 | 1 | 5 | 52 |
|24th S. Wales B. | 1 | - | 6 | 21 |
|42nd Black Wat. | - | 1 | 3 | 29 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | - | 3 | 1 |
|51st K.O. Yorks L.I. | - | - | - | 5 |
|King's Roy. R. | - | 4 | 3 | 21 |
|71st Highl. L.I. | 3 | 8 | 28 | 105 |
|74th Highl. L.I. | 1 | 3 | 3 | 63 |
|79th Cameron Highlanders | 3 | 11 | 58 | 166 |
|85th Shropshire L.I. | 1 | 3 | 12 | 37 |
|83rd R. Irish R. | 1 | 1 | 6 | 36 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 2 | 12 | 53 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | 3 | 7 | 43 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | 1 | 1 | 3 | 19 |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
The feature of the action was the marvellous gallantry of a troop
of horse artillery under Norman Ramsay, which, though surrounded by
the French, cut its way through the hostile hosts, and, amidst the
tumultuous applause of the whole army, rejoined Wellington, with
guns intact, but with the loss of half its men.
The following regiments appear in the casualty returns published in
the _London Gazette_, but do not yet bear the battle honour:
+-----------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Scots | - | - | - | 9 |
|5th Northumberland Fus.| - | - | - | 7 |
|9th Norfolk | - | - | - | 4 |
|30th E. Lancs | - | - | - | 4 |
|50th West Kent | - | 2 | 3 | 24 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | - | - | - | 7 |
+-----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
ALBUERA, MAY 16, 1811.
Ten days after Wellington had defeated Massena at Fuentes d'Onor,
Beresford, at the head of 32,000 men, of whom only 8,000 were
English, repulsed a determined attack on the part of Soult at
Albuera. This battle, which was one of the most severe ever fought
by British troops, is recorded on the colours of the
3rd Dragoon Guards.
4th Hussars.
13th Hussars.
Buffs.
Royal Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Gloucester.
Worcesters.
East Surrey.
Border Regiment.
Dorsets.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshire.
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.
The Allies were undoubtedly superior in numbers, but the brunt of
the fighting fell on the British division, which lost 3,500 out
of 8,000 engaged. The French losses amounted to upwards of 8,000
killed and wounded.
The following table, published in the _London Gazette_, shows once
more that battle honours are bestowed in a very capricious fashion:
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF ALBUERA.
+--------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|3rd Drag. Gds. | 1 | - | 9 | 9 |
|4th Hussars | - | 2 | 3 | 17 |
|13th Hussars | - | - | - | 1 |
|Royal Artillery | - | 1 | 3 | 10 |
|Roy. Engineers | 2 | 2 | - | 3 |
|Buffs | 4 | 14 | 212 | 234 |
|2nd Batt. Royal Fusiliers | 2 | 28 | 112 | 563 |
|Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 2 | 11 | 74 | 245 |
|29th Worcesters | 5 | 12 | 75 | 232 |
|31st E. Surrey | - | 7 | 29 | 119 |
|34th Border Regiment | 3 | 4 | 30 | 91 |
|39th Dorsets | 1 | 4 | 14 | 77 |
|48th N'ampton (2nd Batt.) | 7 | 23 | 116 | 276 |
|57th Middlesex | 2 | 21 | 87 | 318 |
|King's Roy. R. | - | 1 | 2 | 18 |
|66th R. Berks | 3 | 12 | 52 | 104 |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--In the casualties for Albuera I have included the losses
on May 15, the previous day.
The following regiments figure in the official casualty returns,
but they have not as yet been authorized to assume the battle
honour:
+------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|27th Inniskillgs. | - | 3 | 8 | 66 |
|28th Gloucester | - | 6 | 27 | 131 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 3 | 10 | 18 |
|97th R.W. Kent | - | - | 7 | 21 |
+------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
It will be remarked that, whereas the 13th Hussars, with the
loss of one man wounded, has been awarded the distinction, the
Gloucesters, which lost a total of 164 killed and wounded, has been
denied it.
ALMARAZ, MAY 19, 1811.
Royal West Kent.
Highland Light Infantry.
Gordon Highlanders.
This battle honour is borne on the colours and appointments of the
above regiments for their conduct in one of the many sharp little
engagements under that brilliant tactician General, afterwards
Viscount, Hill, who in his despatch calling special attention to
the services of the 50th (West Kent) and 71st (Highland Light
Infantry), added: "Nor can I avoid mentioning the steadiness of
the 6th Portuguese Regiment and two companies of the 60th Rifles."
Particular stress also was laid on the conduct of the 13th Hussars
in capturing some of the enemy's guns. Neither the 13th Hussars nor
the King's Royal Rifles have as yet been permitted to assume this
distinction.
CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION OF ALMARAZ, MAY 19, 1811.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 3 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | 1 | - | - |
|28th Gloucesters | - | - | - | 2 |
|50th West Kent | 1 | 7 | 27 | 93 |
|71st Highland L.I. | - | 4 | 8 | 28 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | - | - | 2 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--Our trophies at Almaraz included the Standard of the 4th
Battalion of the "Corps Etrangères," taken by the 71st, and
eighteen guns.
ARROYOS DOS MOLINOS, OCTOBER 28, 1811.
This distinction is only to be found on the colours of the Border
Regiment.
Like Almaraz, it was one of the many engagements fought by Hill's
division single-handed, and it has always been a matter of keen
jealousy--if such a word can be used--on the part of the other
regiments present that they have been denied the privilege of
inscribing this battle honour on their colours. Lord Hill in his
despatch laid no especial stress on the conduct of the 34th;
indeed, his highest praise was reserved for the two Highland
regiments, the 71st and the 92nd. Hill's division consisted of:
Howard's Brigade: The 50th (West Kent), 71st (Highland Light
Infantry), and the 92nd (Gordon Highlanders).
Wilson's Brigade: The 28th (Gloucesters), 34th (Border Regiment),
39th (Dorsets), and a Portuguese battalion.
Erskine's Brigade of Cavalry: The 9th and 16th Lancers, with a
couple of batteries of artillery.
The French occupied the town of Arroyos dos Molinos, when, to use
Hill's own words, "The 71st and 92nd charged into the town with
cheers, and drove the enemy out at the point of the bayonet."
Wilson's brigade had been sent round to attack the enemy in
the rear, and the 50th (West Kent) supporting the Highlanders,
secured the prisoners, whilst the 28th (Gloucesters) and the
34th (Borderers) pursued the flying French until the arrival of
the cavalry enabled them to follow up the enemy. One general and
35 other officers, with upwards of 1,000 men, were taken, our
total casualties being but 65 of all ranks killed and wounded. On
more than one occasion the Gordon Highlanders have applied to be
permitted to assume this distinction, but whilst conceding the
valuable part they played at Arroyos dos Molinos, the War Office
have declined to accede to their request on the plea that the
battle honour was conferred on the 34th in lieu of a particoloured
pom-pom to their shako. As the present generation of soldiers apply
the term "pom-pom" to a man-destroying weapon, and not to the
ornament of infantry headgear, and as shakos have been relegated to
museums, it might be fitting to reopen the vexed question of this
battle honour.
CASUALTIES OF THE ACTION OF ARROYOS DOS MOLINOS, OCTOBER 28, 1811.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|9th Lancers | - | - | - | - |
|13th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | - |
|28th Gloucesters | - | - | - | - |
|34th Border | - | - | - | - |
|50th West Kent | - | - | - | - |
|60th King's Roy. Rifles | - | - | - | - |
|71st Highland L.I. | - | - | - | - |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | 4 | 3 | 7 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--I have been unable to trace any record of the losses of
individual regiments, except in the case of the 92nd.
TARIFA, DECEMBER, 1811.
This distinction is borne on the colours of the North Lancashire
Regiment and the Royal Irish Fusiliers, in recognition of their
services in the gallant defence of the fortress of Tarifa in the
month of December, 1811. General Skerrett in his despatch drew
particular attention to the conduct of the companies of the Rifle
Brigade which were also present. The casualty list which I append
shows that this battle honour was earned without a great effusion
of blood.
CASUALTIES AT TARIFA, DECEMBER, 1811.
+--------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Engineers | - | - | - | 1 |
|47th Loyal N. Lancashires | 1 | 2 | - | 5 |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 2 |
|87th Roy. Irish Fusiliers | - | 2 | 5 | 21 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | - | 3 | 17 |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
CIUDAD RODRIGO, JANUARY, 1812.
This hardly-earned battle honour has been awarded to the
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
Middlesex Regiment.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Connaught Rangers.
Rifle Brigade.
It will be seen from a glance at the appended casualty returns that
a great many other regiments were present during the operations
connected with the siege and capture of this fortress from the
French, notably the Coldstream and Scots Guards. The losses of the
two Battalions of Guards and of the Northamptons were far heavier
than those of some of the regiments to whom the distinction of this
battle honour has been granted.
CASUALTIES AT THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO.
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | 2 | 1 | 19 |
|Roy. Engineers | 1 | 5 | - | 2 |
|Coldstream Gds. | - | - | 1 | 10 |
|Scots Guards | - | - | 4 | 17 |
|Northumberland Fusiliers | 1 | 8 | 35 | 58 |
|Roy. Fusiliers | - | - | 2 | 8 |
|Royal Welsh Fusiliers | - | - | 2 | 18 |
|South Wales Borderers | - | - | 3 | 19 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | - | 3 | 19 |
|42nd Royal Highlanders | - | - | 1 | 14 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | - | 3 | 9 | 45 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 3 | 4 | 15 | 29 |
|48th N'amptons | - | 4 | 15 | 43 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | 1 | 5 | 7 | 52 |
|King's Roy. R. | - | 1 | 1 | 5 |
|74th Highland L.I. | - | 4 | 5 | 17 |
|77th Middlesex | - | 5 | 14 | 31 |
|83rd Roy. Irish Rifles | - | 2 | 10 | 31 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | - | 6 | 10 | 47 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | 2 | 7 | 11 | 51 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 6 | 9 | 47 |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--The Coldstream and Scots Guards figure in the casualty
returns for Ciudad Rodrigo, but do not bear the honour.
BADAJOZ, MARCH AND APRIL, 1812.
The losses incurred by the army under Wellington during the siege
and at the assault of this fortress were most severe. The battle
honour is borne by the
King's Own (Lancaster).
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
East Lancashire.
South Staffords.
South Lancashire.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Essex.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Connaught Rangers.
Rifle Brigade.
In the year 1811 Wellington had made an unsuccessful attempt to
seize Badajos, in which we suffered heavy loss. Now, with this
fortress and Ciudad Rodrigo in his hands, the French were deprived
of any rallying-point on the road to Madrid, and the English
Commander-in-Chief at once opened a determined offensive campaign.
The gallantry displayed by our men at the assault are graphically
described by Napier and by many contemporary historians, French and
English; it only remains for me to record the part played by each
unit in the memorable siege.
CASUALTIES AT THE SIEGE AND ASSAULT OF BADAJOZ.
+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | 2 | 4 | 27 | 48 |
|Roy. Engineers | 3 | 7 | 5 | 21 |
|Royal Scots | - | - | - | 2 |
|K. O. Lancs | 2 | 15 | 40 | 173 |
|Northumberland Fusiliers | 1 | 4 | 20 | 55 |
|Roy. Fusiliers | 5 | 12 | 50 | 147 |
|Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 3 | 15 | 31 | 123 |
|27th Roy. Inniskilling Fus.[16]| 5 | 20 | 51 | 303 |
|30th E. Lancs | - | 6 | 38 | 88 |
|38th S. Staffs | 1 | 4 | 12 | 25 |
|40th S. Lancs[16] | 2 | 24 | 83 | 387 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | 3 | 15 | 74 | 255 |
|44th Essex | 2 | 7 | 37 | 88 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 4 | 11 | 46 | 132 |
|51st K.O. Yorks L.I.[16] | 1 | 3 | 26 | 75 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | 5 | 16 | 66 | 295 |
|King's Royal Rifles | 1 | 4 | 6 | 37 |
|74th Highland L.I. | 2 | 11 | 20 | 104 |
|77th Middlesex | - | 4 | 3 | 26 |
|83rd Royal Irish Rifles | 3 | 7 | 31 | 76 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 5 | 10 | 55 | 180 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | 1 | - | - |
|94th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 3 | 14 | 77 |
|97th W. Kent[16] | - | 5 | 16 | 80 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | 8 | 16 | 61 | 297 |
+-------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
SALAMANCA, JULY 22, 1812.
This was the first battle on a large scale ever fought by
Wellington, and its name is borne on the colours and appointments
of the
5th Dragoon Guards.
3rd Hussars.
4th Hussars.
11th Hussars.
14th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
Royal Scots.
Queen's.
King's Own.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Norfolks.
Devons.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
South Wales Borderers.
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Gloucesters.
Worcester.
East Lancashires.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
South Staffords.
South Lancashire.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Essex.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Shropshire Light Infantry.
King's Royal Rifles.
Durham Light Infantry.
Highland Light Infantry.
Cameron Highlanders.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Connaught Rangers.
Rifle Brigade.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF SALAMANCA, JULY 22, 1812.
+----------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|General Staff | 2 | 5 | - | - |
|5th Drag. Gds. | - | 2 | 9 | 42 |
|3rd Hussars | 1 | - | 6 | 11 |
|4th Hussars | - | 1 | 7 | 21 |
|12th Lancers | 1 | - | 2 | 2 |
|14th Hussars | - | - | 1 | 7 |
|16th Lancers | - | - | - | - |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | 2 | 6 |
|Coldstream Gds. | - | 1 | 7 | 22 |
|Scots Guards | - | 1 | 1 | 20 |
|Royal Scots | - | 8 | 23 | 131 |
|Queen's | 1 | 6 | 13 | 77 |
|K.O. Lancs. | - | 1 | 2 | 40 |
|N'umberland F. | - | 8 | 11 | 131 |
|Royal Fusiliers | 1 | 10 | 19 | 168 |
|Norfolk | - | 1 | 3 | 42 |
|Devon | 1 | 15 | 44 | 281 |
|Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 1 | 6 | 9 | 90 |
|27th Inniskilling Fusiliers | - | 1 | 1 | 7 |
|30th E. Lancs | - | 1 | 3 | 22 |
|32nd Cornwall L.I. | 2 | 9 | 15 | 111 |
|36th Worcester | 4 | 4 | 16 | 74 |
|38th S. Staffs | 2 | 14 | 23 | 155 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 5 | 12 | 115 |
|42nd Bk. Watch | - | - | - | 3 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | - | 1 | 1 | 15 |
|44th Essex | 2 | - | 4 | 23 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | 5 | 5 | 45 |
|48th N'ampton | - | 10 | 9 | 60 |
|51st K.O. Yorks L.I. | - | - | - | 2 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | - | - | - | 2 |
|53rd Shropshire L.I. | - | 11 | 26 | 105 |
|58th N'ampton | - | - | - | 3 |
|60th K.R.R. | - | 3 | 6 | 24 |
|61st Gloucester | 5 | 19 | 38 | 303 |
|68th Durham L.I. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
|74th Highland L.I. | - | 2 | 3 | 41 |
|79th Cameron Highlanders | - | - | - | 1 |
|83rd Roy. Irish Rifles | - | 2 | 13 | 30 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 2 | 4 | 11 | 110 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | - | 3 | 24 |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--It will be remarked that both the Coldstream and the Scots
Guards figure in the casualty returns, but they have not been
authorized to bear the honour.
In actual numbers the two armies were evenly matched, Wellington
having some 42,000 men against an equal number of the French. There
were, however, nearly 15,000 Portuguese in the allied army, and no
one could assert that they were the equal of 15,000 British. The
victory was complete. Our casualties, though severe, were little
more than half of those sustained by the French, who lost upwards
of 8,000 killed and wounded, whilst twelve cannon and two eagles
remained in our hands. The road was now open to Madrid, and on
August 12 Wellington entered that capital in triumph.
In the month of October came a damper in the shape of a decided
reverse at Burgos, and the winter was spent by Wellington in
reorganizing his forces for the final struggle in the coming
summer. The French were heavily engaged in Eastern Europe, and
Napoleon was unable to spare large bodies of men for the war in
Spain. The stars in their courses were fighting for Wellington.
VITTORIA, JUNE 21, 1813.
This victory, which gave Wellington his baton of Field-Marshal, is
borne on the colours of the
3rd Dragoon Guards.
5th Dragoon Guards.
3rd Hussars.
4th Hussars.
13th Hussars.
14th Hussars.
15th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
Royal Scots.
Queen's.
Buffs.
King's Own.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Norfolk.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
South Wales Borderers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Gloucesters.
East Lancashire.
East Surrey.
Border.
South Staffords.
Dorsets.
South Lancashire.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
North Lancashire.
Royal Berkshires.
Royal West Kent.
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Shropshire Light Infantry.
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.
Durham Light Infantry.
Highland Light Infantry.
Gordon Highlanders.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Connaught Rangers.
Rifle Brigade.
CASUALTIES AT VITTORIA, JUNE 21, 1813.
+----------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|General Staff | - | 8 | - | - |
|3rd Dragoon Guards | - | 1 | 3 | 3 |
|5th Dragoon Guards | - | - | - | 1 |
|3rd Hussars | - | - | - | 1 |
|10th Hussars | - | - | 6 | 10 |
|11th Hussars | - | 1 | - | - |
|12th Lancers | 1 | - | 3 | 8 |
|13th Hussars | - | - | 1 | 1 |
|15th Hussars | - | 2 | 10 | 47 |
|16th Hussars | - | 2 | 7 | 12 |
|18th Hussars | 1 | 2 | 10 | 21 |
|Royal Artillery | - | 1 | 9 | 53 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | 1 | - | - |
|Royal Scots | - | 7 | 8 | 96 |
|King's Own Lancaster | 2 | 6 | 11 | 72 |
|Northumberland Fusiliers | 2 | 6 | 22 | 132 |
|Royal Fusiliers | - | - | 2 | 2 |
|Lancs Fusiliers | - | - | 3 | 1 |
|Royal Welsh Fusiliers | - | - | 1 | 3 |
|27th Inniskilling Fusiliers | - | 3 | 7 | 32 |
|28th Gloucester | - | 17 | 12 | 171 |
|31st E. Surrey | - | 1 | 1 | 13 |
|34th Border | - | 3 | 10 | 63 |
|38th S. Staffs | - | 2 | - | 6 |
|39th Dorset | - | 8 | 28 | 181 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 3 | 5 | 34 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | - | 2 | 2 | 25 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | 4 | 4 | 66 |
|47th N. Lancs | 2 | 4 | 18 | 88 |
|48th N'ampton | - | - | 1 | 18 |
|50th Roy. West Kent | - | 7 | 27 | 70 |
|51st K.O. Yorks. L.I. | 1 | 1 | 10 | 20 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | 1 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
|53rd Shropshire L.I. | - | - | 4 | 6 |
|57th Middlesex | - | 2 | 5 | 21 |
|59th E. Lancs | - | 8 | 11 | 125 |
|60th K.R.R. | - | 2 | 2 | 47 |
|66th Berkshire | - | 1 | 2 | 22 |
|68th Durham L.I. | 2 | 10 | 23 | 91 |
|71st Highland L.I. | 3 | 12 | 41 | 260 |
|74th Highland L.I. | - | 5 | 13 | 64 |
|82nd S. Lancs | 1 | 3 | 5 | 22 |
|83rd Royal Irish Rifles | 3 | 4 | 32 | 74 |
|87th Royal Irish Fusiliers | 1 | 7 | 84 | 177 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | - | 5 | 23 | 187 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | - | 4 | 16 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | - | 7 | 5 | 59 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | 1 | 6 | 11 | 61 |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
In this battle Wellington, for the first time, had a decided
superiority in numbers, having close on 80,000 men opposed to but
62,000 of the French; but it must be conceded that the 20,000
Portuguese were by no means of the same value as 20,000 British
infantry. The victory was undisputed. Practically the whole of the
French artillery--no less than 143 guns, with 1,000 prisoners--fell
into our hands, and upwards of a million in treasure was the booty.
The personal effects of King Joseph and an immense quantity of
material was also taken. Our casualties amounted to more than 4,000
killed and wounded; those of the French to upwards of 6,000.
Amongst the cavalry regiments which suffered losses at Vittoria,
but which have not yet been authorized to assume the battle honour,
are the 12th Lancers and 15th and 18th Hussars.[17]
PYRENEES, JULY 28 TO AUGUST 2, 1813.
This battle honour was granted as a distinction commemorative of
the three days' hard fighting in the Pyrenees between July 28 and
August 1, 1813. It is borne by the following regiments:
14th Hussars.
Queen's.
Buffs.
Royal Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
Devons.
South Wales Borderers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Gloucesters.
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
East Surrey.
Worcesters.
Border.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
South Lancashire.
Dorsets.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Royal Highlanders.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshire.
Royal West Kent.
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Middlesex.
Shropshire Light Infantry.
King's Royal Rifles.
Durham Light Infantry.
Highland Light Infantry.
Gordon Highlanders.
Cameron Highlanders.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
[Illustration: Battlefields in SPAIN & PORTUGAL]
There were many reasons which compelled Wellington to refrain
from prosecuting a vigorous pursuit after the decisive victory
of Vittoria. The French were in possession of the two fortresses
of Pampeluna and San Sebastian in the north, and they were far
superior in numbers to the Allies in the south of the Peninsula.
He pushed the enemy back slowly to the frontier, and at the
same time he detached two of his own divisions, under Sir Thomas
Graham, to reduce San Sebastian, whilst he entrusted the task of
besieging Pampeluna to the Spaniards, resolving that, as soon as
these two fortresses were in his possession, he would continue the
work of expelling the French from the Peninsula. Emboldened by
Lord Wellington's tactics, Soult turned and attacked the English
at Roncesvalles and in the Maya Pass. At the latter engagement we
were compelled to fall back, leaving some prisoners in the hands
of the French; but reinforcements coming up, Wellington resumed
the offensive, and by August 1 had once more driven the French to
the north of the Pyrenees. The fighting during these few days was
excessively severe, our casualties amounting to upwards of 4,000 of
all ranks killed and wounded.
CASUALTIES IN THE ACTIONS IN THE PYRENEES, JULY 25 TO AUGUST 2,
1813.
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | 1 | 1 | 19 |
|2nd Queen's | - | 1 | 1 | 9 |
|3rd Buffs | 1 | 1 | 3 | 27 |
|6th Royal Warwicks | 1 | 7 | 14 | 140 |
|7th Royal Fus. | 1 | 10 | 52 | 187 |
|11th Devons | - | 4 | 7 | 62 |
|20th Lancs Fusiliers | 3 | 17 | 38 | 189 |
|23rd Royal Welsh Fus. | 3 | 8 | 23 | 85 |
|24th S. Wales Borderers | - | - | - | 1 |
|27th Royal Inniskillings | 3 | 11 | 58 | 228 |
|28th Gloucester | 1 | 6 | 9 | 121 |
|31st E. Surrey | - | 3 | 2 | 37 |
|32nd Cornwall L.I. | - | 4 | 4 | 51 |
|34th Border R. | 1 | 5 | 48 | 122 |
|36th Worcesters | - | 3 | 8 | 35 |
|39th Dorsets | 2 | 7 | 11 | 118 |
|40th S. Lancs | 2 | 10 | 22 | 197 |
|42nd Royal Highlanders | - | - | 4 | 26 |
|45th Derbysh. | - | 1 | - | 7 |
|48th N'amptons | 2 | 10 | 12 | 109 |
|50th West Kent | 3 | 12 | 30 | 198 |
|51st K.O.Y.L.I. | - | - | 7 | 62 |
|53rd Shrops. L.I. | - | 1 | 1 | 20 |
|57th Middlesex | - | 3 | 4 | 68 |
|58th N'ampton | - | 6 | 10 | 61 |
|60th Royal R. | 2 | 6 | 8 | 72 |
|61st Gloucesters | - | 4 | 3 | 38 |
|68th Durham L.I. | 1 | 3 | 8 | 41 |
|71st Highland L.I. | 2 | 7 | 28 | 181 |
|74th Highland L.I. | 1 | 4 | 6 | 38 |
|79th Cameron H. | - | 1 | 5 | 47 |
|82nd S. Lancs | 4 | 6 | 17 | 146 |
|91st H'landers | - | 7 | 13 | 100 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | 26 | 55 | 363 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 2 | 7 | 28 |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
SAN SEBASTIAN, AUGUST, 1813.
On July 18, 1817, the following regiments were permitted to assume
the battle honour for their services at the siege and capture of
this fortress:
Royal Scots.
King's Own (Lancaster).
Norfolks.
East Lancashire.
South Staffords.
North Lancashire.
Immediately after the Battle of Vittoria, Lord Wellington detached
two divisions to besiege this fortress, the possession of which
was a necessary prelude to his further pursuit of the French.
Unfortunately, our army was ill-provided with material for a siege,
and two months were spent before the place was taken. Our losses
during the siege and in the two assaults were very severe, as the
accompanying casualty returns prove:
CASUALTIES AT THE SIEGE AND ASSAULT OF SAN SEBASTIAN, JULY AND
AUGUST, 1813.
+---------------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+---------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | 4 | 7 | 4 | 20 |
|Roy. Engineers | 3 | 3 | 14 | 111 |
|Coldstream Gds. | - | 1 | 3 | 20 |
|Scots Guards | - | - | 1 | 24 |
|Royal Scots | 8 | 15 | 118 | 310 |
|2nd Queen's | - | - | 1 | 1 |
|4th K.O. Lancs. | 5 | 6 | 117 | 170 |
|7th Royal Fus. | - | - | - | 6 |
|9th Norfolks | 6 | 12 | 62 | 177 |
|20th Lancashire Fusiliers | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
|23rd Roy. Welsh Fusiliers | - | 1 | 4 | 4 |
|27th Roy. Inniskilling Fusiliers | 1 | - | 5 | 2 |
|38th South Staffords | 5 | 12 | 33 | 174 |
|40th South Lancashires | - | 1 | 3 | 8 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | 1 | - | 2 | 10 |
|47th Loy. North Lancs | 7 | 6 | 106 | 130 |
|48th N. Staffs | - | 1 | 4 | 1 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
|53rd Shropshire L.I. | - | - | 2 | 1 |
|59th E. Lancs | 8 | 12 | 109 | 208 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 2 | 7 | 1 |
+---------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NIVELLE, NOVEMBER 10, 1813.
The battle honour for this hard-fought action is borne by the
Queen's.
Buffs.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Devons.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
South Wales Borderers.
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Gloucesters.
Worcesters.
East Surrey.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
Border.
Dorsets.
South Lancashire.
Royal Highlanders.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshires.
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
Shropshire Light Infantry.
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.
Durham Light Infantry.
Highland L.I.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Cameron Highlanders.
Argyll Highlanders.
Connaught Rangers.
Rifle Brigade.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF THE NIVELLE, NOVEMBER 13, 1813.
+----------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|General Staff | 5 | - | - | - |
|Royal Artillery | 1 | - | - | - |
|12th Lancers | - | - | - | 1 |
|Coldstream Guards | - | 1 | - | 9 |
|2nd Queen's | - | - | 2 | 26 |
|Buffs | - | 1 | 3 | 8 |
|K.O. Lancs. | - | 1 | 1 | 4 |
|5th Northumberland Fus. | - | 2 | 15 | 109 |
|Roy. Warwicks | - | - | 1 | 6 |
|Devons | - | 5 | 3 | 38 |
|S. Wales Bord. | - | 2 | - | 5 |
|27th Inniskilling Fusiliers | 1 | 3 | 9 | 51 |
|28th Gloucester | - | - | - | 2 |
|31st E. Surrey | - | 1 | 1 | 13 |
|34th Border R. | - | - | 1 | 2 |
|38th S. Staffs | - | 2 | - | 2 |
|39th Dorsets | - | - | 1 | 5 |
|40th S. Lancs | 1 | 6 | 15 | 80 |
|42nd B. Watch | - | 2 | - | 25 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | 2 | 9 | 6 | 60 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | - | - | - | 1 |
|48th N'amptons | - | 4 | 7 | 57 |
|51st K.O. Yorks L.I. | 2 | 2 | 22 | 73 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | - | 6 | 34 | 202 |
|53rd Shropshire L.I. | - | 1 | 3 | 20 |
|57th Middlesex | 2 | 7 | 5 | 50 |
|58th N'ampton | - | - | - | 3 |
|59th E. Lancs | - | - | 1 | 2 |
|King's Roy. R. | 1 | 3 | 7 | 58 |
|61st Gloucester | 2 | 5 | 5 | 37 |
|66th Berkshire | - | 2 | 5 | 32 |
|68th Durham L.I. | 2 | 6 | 7 | 32 |
|76th W. Riding | - | - | - | 1 |
|79th Cameron Highlanders | - | 1 | 6 | 44 |
|82nd S. Lancs. | - | 6 | 9 | 58 |
|83rd Royal Irish Rifles | - | 4 | 7 | 36 |
|84th York and Lancaster | - | - | 2 | 5 |
|85th Shropshire L.I. | 1 | - | - | 13 |
|87th Roy. Irish Fusiliers | 1 | 5 | 74 | 133 |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | 1 | 6 | 13 | 105 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 2 | 10 | 60 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 8 | 11 | 76 |
+----------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Wellington had made all his preparations for a general advance so
soon as he should be in possession of the two fortresses of San
Sebastian and Pampeluna. The former fell into our hands on August
31, but Pampeluna held out until the last days of October. Directly
he was apprised of its fall, Wellington commenced his advance.
Soult had profited by the delay, and had constructed three strongly
entrenched positions, each of which was held with determination.
The first has not been inscribed on our colours; the second was on
the banks of the River Nivelle, and before the French were driven
from it Wellington had lost upwards of 1,200 men. It is worthy of
note that, though the Coldstream Guards figure in the casualty
return, they have not been awarded the battle honour of Nivelle.
NIVE, DECEMBER 9 TO 13, 1813.
This distinction is borne on the colours of the
16th Lancers.
Grenadier Guards.
Coldstream Guards.
Scots Guards.
Buffs.
Royal Scots.
Norfolk.
King's Own (Lancaster).
Gloucesters.
Devons.
East Lancashire.
Worcesters.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
East Surrey.
Border.
West Riding.
Dorset.
Royal Highlanders.
South Staffords.
Loyal North Lancashires.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Royal Berkshire.
West Kent.
Shropshire Light Infantry.
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.
Wiltshires.
York and Lancaster.
Highland Light Infantry.
Gordon Highlanders.
Cameron Highlanders.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
This was Soult's last stand before he was driven across the
frontier, and, as the casualty lists show, a very gallant stand did
he make on those four December days. The heavy losses incurred by
the Grenadier and Scots Guards failed to obtain for the Household
Brigade this well-merited battle honour until the month of August,
1910, but full justice has not yet been done to the Brigade of
Guards for its gallant services at Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, and
Sebastian.
CASUALTIES DURING THE CROSSING OF THE NIVE, DECEMBER 9 TO 13, 1813.
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|General Staff | 7 | 6 | - | - |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | 2 | 15 |
|13th Hussars | - | - | - | 3 |
|14th Hussars | - | - | 2 | 3 |
|16th Lancers | - | - | 2 | 5 |
|Grenadier Gds. | 2 | 2 | 21 | 126 |
|Coldstream Gds. | - | 1 | - | 13 |
|Scots Guards | 1 | 3 | 7 | 54 |
|Royal Scots | - | 13 | 7 | 111 |
|K.O. Lancs | - | 15 | 13 | 154 |
|Norfolk | 2 | 6 | 26 | 160 |
|Devons | - | 1 | 1 | 16 |
|28th Gloucester | - | 5 | 13 | 129 |
|31st E. Surrey | - | 2 | 2 | 32 |
|32nd Cornwall L.I. | - | - | 2 | 5 |
|34th Border R. | - | - | 1 | 12 |
|36th Worcesters | - | - | - | 3 |
|38th S. Staffs | - | 4 | 12 | 90 |
|39th Dorsets | - | 1 | 3 | 26 |
|42nd B. Watch | 2 | 1 | - | 11 |
|43rd Oxford L.I. | - | - | 12 | 22 |
|47th N. Lancs | - | 2 | 12 | 53 |
|50th West Kent | - | 11 | 20 | 92 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | - | 3 | 2 | 15 |
|57th Middlesex | 3 | 4 | 7 | 113 |
|59th E. Lancs | - | 11 | 18 | 136 |
|60th K.R.R. | - | 2 | 9 | 76 |
|61st Gloucesters | - | 2 | - | 4 |
|66th Berkshire | - | 1 | 9 | 68 |
|71st Highland L.I. | 3 | 9 | 27 | 100 |
|76th W. Riding | - | - | 1 | 15 |
|79th Cameron Highlanders | - | 1 | 5 | 26 |
|84th York and Lancaster | 2 | 6 | 24 | 100 |
|85th K.O. Shrop. L.I. | - | 1 | 1 | 11 |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | - | - | 7 | 47 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | 4 | 10 | 27 | 140 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | 1 | 1 | 9 | 71 |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
ORTHES, FEBRUARY 27, 1814.
This, the first battle fought by Wellington on French soil, is
borne on the colours of the
7th Hussars.
13th Hussars.
14th Hussars.
Buffs.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Royal Fusiliers.
Devons.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
South Wales Borderers.
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Gloucesters.
Worcesters.
East Surrey.
Border.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
Dorsets.
South Lancashire.
Royal Highlanders.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
Royal Highlanders.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshires.
West Kent.
King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry).
King's Royal Rifles.
Durham Light Infantry.
Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Highland Light Infantry.
Gordon Highlanders.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Connaught Rangers.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
The casualties fell heavily on the Sherwood Foresters and on the
two Irish regiments which then bore the numbers 87th and 88th.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF ORTHES, FEBRUARY 27, 1814.
+---------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|General Staff | - | 6 | - | - |
|7th Hussars | - | 3 | 4 | 6 |
|10th Hussars | - | - | - | 1 |
|13th Hussars | - | 1 | 2 | 15 |
|14th Hussars | - | - | - | 2 |
|15th Hussars | - | - | - | 9 |
|Royal Artillery | 1 | 1 | 3 | 23 |
|Roy. Engineers | 1 | - | - | - |
|N'umberland F. | 1 | - | 5 | 31 |
|Roy. Warwick | 2 | 8 | 24 | 111 |
|Royal Fusiliers | - | 4 | 6 | 56 |
|Lancs Fusiliers | 2 | 6 | 16 | 97 |
|Roy. Welsh F. | - | 3 | 16 | 75 |
|27th Royal Inniskilling F. | - | 1 | 1 | 4 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | - | 1 | 4 |
|42nd B. Watch | 1 | 4 | 4 | 90 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 1 | 9 | 14 | 106 |
|48th N'ampton | - | - | 1 | 13 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | - | 6 | 7 | 76 |
|58th N'ampton | - | 3 | 3 | 25 |
|King's Roy. R. | - | 2 | 3 | 31 |
|61st Gloucesters | - | - | 1 | 6 |
|68th Durham L.I. | - | 1 | 3 | 27 |
|74th Highland L.I. | - | 5 | 8 | 21 |
|82nd S. Lancs | - | 2 | 2 | 24 |
|83rd Roy. Irish Rifles | - | 6 | 11 | 47 |
|87th Roy. Irish Fusiliers | 1 | 5 | 92 | 116 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 2 | 11 | 41 | 214 |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | - | 7 | 3 | 27 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | - | 1 | 1 | 12 |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--In following up the retreating French the army had been
sharply engaged on February 14, 17, 23, and 26, and subsequently
to Orthes. A general action was fought at Tarbes on March 20,
1814, the brunt of the work falling on the Rifle Brigade.
TOULOUSE, APRIL 10, 1814.
This, the closing action of the Peninsular War, was fought after
the abdication of Napoleon, and was the final act of the campaign
which Sir Arthur Wellesley opened at the combat of Roleia on
August 17, 1808. There are ten regiments which bear on their
colours the names of the earliest and the last engagements, Roleia
and Toulouse. Of these, only five suffered any loss in both
engagements. The King's Royal Rifles, Highland Light Infantry, and
Rifle Brigade take pride of place, each having fifteen Peninsular
battle honours on their appointments. Those to whom the battle
honour "Toulouse" has been awarded are the
5th Dragoon Guards.
3rd Hussars.
4th Hussars.
13th Hussars.
Queen's.
Buffs.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Devons.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Gloucesters.
Worcesters.
South Lancashire.
Royal Highlanders.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Sherwood Foresters.
Northamptons.
Shropshire Light Infantry.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Cameron Highlanders.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Connaught Rangers.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF TOULOUSE, APRIL 10, 1814.
+--------------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----------+-----------+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+--------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|General Staff | - | 3 | - | - |
|5th Drag. Gds. | - | 1 | 1 | 2 |
|3rd Hussars | - | 1 | - | 5 |
|4th Hussars | - | 1 | 2 | 5 |
|10th Hussars | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
|15th Hussars | - | - | - | 4 |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | 7 | 31 |
|Queen's (four companies) | - | - | - | 12 |
|N'umberland F. | - | - | - | 3 |
|Royal Fusiliers | - | - | 1 | 3 |
|Devon | 1 | 4 | 14 | 121 |
|Lancs Fusiliers | - | - | 2 | 9 |
|Roy. Welsh F. | - | - | 1 | 7 |
|27th Inniskilling Fusiliers | 2 | 5 | 23 | 76 |
|28th Gloucesters | - | 3 | 3 | 25 |
|34th Border R. | - | 1 | 2 | 11 |
|36th Worcester | 1 | 9 | 38 | 104 |
|39th Dorsets | - | 1 | - | 4 |
|40th S. Lancs | - | 8 | 7 | 71 |
|42nd B. Watch | 4 | 22 | 50 | 337 |
|45th Sherwood Foresters | 1 | 8 | 7 | 72 |
|48th N'ampton | - | 4 | 5 | 39 |
|50th W. Kent | - | 2 | 2 | 8 |
|52nd Oxford L.I. | - | - | - | 5 |
|53rd Shropshire L.I. (two cos.) | - | 5 | 2 | 14 |
|60th K.R.R. | - | 3 | 11 | 48 |
|61st Gloucesters | 1 | 18 | 16 | 140 |
|71st Highland L.I. | - | - | 3 | 13 |
|74th Highland L.I. | - | 7 | 32 | 72 |
|79th Cameron H. | 3 | 15 | 26 | 179 |
|83rd Roy. Irish Rifles | - | - | - | 1 |
|87th Roy. Irish Fusiliers | 1 | 2 | 7 | 17 |
|88th Connaught Rangers | 1 | 2 | 7 | 76 |
|91st Argyll Highlanders | - | 6 | 18 | 98 |
|94th Connaught Rangers | - | - | 1 | 5 |
|95th Rifle Brig. | - | 1 | 10 | 75 |
+--------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
In this fight the 42nd (Royal Highlanders) was wellnigh annihilated.
PENINSULA, 1808-1814.
The following regiments bear this battle honour:
1st Life Guards.
2nd Life Guards.
Royal Horse Guards.
3rd Dragoon Guards.
4th Dragoon Guards.
5th Dragoon Guards.
1st Royal Dragoons.
3rd Hussars.
4th Hussars.
7th Hussars.
9th Lancers.
10th Hussars.
11th Hussars.
12th Lancers.
13th Hussars.
14th Hussars.
15th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
18th Hussars.
20th Hussars.
Grenadier Guards.
Coldstream Guards.
Scots Guards.
Royal Scots.
Queen's (Royal West Surrey).
Buffs.
K.O. (Royal Lancaster).
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwicks.
Royal Fusiliers.
Norfolk.
Lincoln.
Devons.
Lancashire Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
South Wales Borderers.
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Gloucester.
Worcester.
East Lancashire.
East Surrey.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
West Riding.
Border.
South Staffordshire.
Hampshire.
Dorset.
South Lancashire.
Black Watch.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Essex.
Sherwood Foresters.
Loyal North Lancashire.
Northampton.
Royal Berkshire.
Royal West Kent.
K.O. (Yorkshire L.I.).
King's (Shropshire L.I.).
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.
Wiltshire.
Manchester.
York and Lancaster.
Durham L.I.
Highland L.I.
Gordon Highlanders.
Cameron Highlanders.
Royal Irish Rifles.
Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Connaught Rangers.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
ROLL OF THE PRINCIPAL ACTIONS DURING THE PENINSULAR WAR.
+---------+-----------+----------------+--------------------------------+
| | | _Casualties._ | |
| | |_Offi- | _Men._ | |
|_Action._| _Date._ | cers._| | _Honours._ |
| | +---+---+---+----+ |
| | |K. |W. | K.| W.| |
+---------+-----------+---+---+---+----+--------------------------------+
| |1808 | | | | | |
|Roleia |August 17 | 4| 20| 65| 315|Medal, clasp, and battle honour.|
|Vimiera |August 21 | 4| 37|185| 497| " " " |
|Sahagun |December 21| -| -| 2| 18| " " " |
|Benevente|December 29| -| 3| 5| 23| " " No battle honour.|
| |1809. | | | | | |
|Corunna |January 16 | ? | ? | ? | ? |Medal, clasp, and battle honour.|
|Douro |May 24 | -| 10| 23| 86|No medal or clasp. Battle honour.
|Talavera |July 27 | 27|171|643|3295|Medal, clasp, and battle honour.|
| |1810. | | | | | |
|Busaco |Sept. 27 | 5| 35|102| 408| " " " |
| |1811. | | | | | |
|Barrosa |March 4 | 7| 45|182| 881| " " " |
|Fuentes | | | | | | |
| d'Onor|May 5 | 11| 62|157| 576| " " " |
|Albuera |May 16 | 39|165|850|2567| " " " |
|Arroyos dos | | | | | |
| Molinos|October 28 | -| 7| 7| 51|No medal or clasp. Battle honour.
|Tarifa |December | 2| 3| 7| 24| " " " |
| |1812. | | | | | |
|Ciudad | | | | | | |
| Rodrigo|January | 8| 60|122| 436|Medal, clasp, and battle honour.|
|Badajos |March,April| 60|269|751|2539| " " " |
|Almaraz |May 19 | 2| 12| 32| 131|No medal or clasp. Battle honour.
|Salamanca|July 22 | 28|178|360|2536|Medal, clasp, and battle honour.|
| |1813. | | | | | |
|Vittoria |June 21 | 22|173|490|2704| " " " |
|Pyrenees |July,August| 28|221|510|3295| " " " |
|San | | | | | | |
|Sebastian|September | 35| 70|535|1038| " " " |
|Nivelle |November 10| 21|121|237|1031| " " " |
|Nive December 9-13| 19|140|200|2055| " " " |
| |1814. | | | | | |
|Orthes |February 27| 15|105|192|1291| " " " |
|Toulouse |April 10 | 16|134|298|1661| " " " |
+---------+-----------+---+---+---+----+--------------------------------+