XI. 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.

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.

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.

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| " " " | +---------+-----------+---+---+---+----+--------------------------------+

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Chapter XII

WATERLOO, AND THE ORDER OF THE BATH FOR THE NAPOLEONIC WARS

WATERLOO, JUNE 18, 1815.

This victory, generally considered the most glorious ever gained by British troops, was commemorated in divers manner. The first regiments of Guards were allowed to assume the title of Grenadiers; all who participated were granted a medal bearing the effigy of the Prince Regent--the first medal ever given to all ranks by the British Government--and were permitted to count two years' service towards pension; and the word "Waterloo" was inscribed on the colours and appointments of the following regiments:

1st Life Guards. 2nd Life Guards. Royal Horse Guards. 1st Dragoon Guards. Royal Dragoons. Royal Scots Greys. Inniskilling Dragoons. 7th Hussars. 10th Hussars. 11th Hussars. 12th Lancers. 13th Hussars. 15th Hussars. 16th Lancers. 18th Hussars. Grenadier Guards. Coldstream Guards. Scots Guards. Royal Scots. King's Own Royal Lancasters. West Yorkshire. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Gloucesters. East Lancashire. Cornwall Light Infantry. West Riding Regiment. South Lancashire. Welsh. Royal Highlanders. Oxford Light Infantry. Essex. King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry). Highland Light Infantry. Gordon Highlanders. Cameron Highlanders. Rifle Brigade.

The story of the Battle of Waterloo has been described in the minutest detail by the most accomplished military historians in Great Britain, Germany, and France, so that nothing remains to be told on this head. As is well known, Napoleon, worn down by the successive campaigns which had been waged against him in Europe and in Spain, had at last abdicated, and was relegated to honourable exile in the Island of Elba. In the early spring of 1815 he violated his engagements, and returned to France, where the majority of his soldiery flocked to his standard. The Allies once more mobilized their armies, and prepared for war. Whilst Austria and Russia were advancing from the east, the armies of Prussia and of Great Britain pushed forward from the north. Napoleon endeavoured to defeat these before the arrival of the Russians and Austrians on his frontier. On June 16 he simultaneously attacked the Prussians at Ligny and Wellington at Quatre-Bras. The Prussians were undoubtedly worsted, and we at the best fought a very doubtful action at Quatre-Bras. The Allies then fell back, and it was agreed that a further stand should be made at Waterloo. Circumstances arose which prevented Blücher from arriving on the field as soon as was anticipated, and for four long hours the small British army withstood the onset of the whole of Napoleon's forces; then, early in the afternoon, the effect of the Prussian advance on our left began to be felt, and as the divisions of our allies came successively into action, the success of the day was no more in doubt. By sundown the battle was won, the French in full retreat, and Napoleon's sun had set for ever.

The vexed question of the relative part played by the Prussians and ourselves will never be settled to the satisfaction of all. One point in regard to this question has, in my humble opinion, never been sufficiently brought out. The Prussian army was virtually an army of mercenaries, kept in the field by the large subsidies so generously voted by the English Parliament. It is true that we might have held our own without the arrival of the Prussians, but it is quite certain that we should never have inflicted the crushing defeat had not Blücher arrived--not so opportunely, as some writers assert, but according to his promise. Then, we know that the battle was a part of the prearranged plan between the Duke of Wellington and Prince Blücher. This, however, is beyond all doubt--that had it not been for the generous subsidies voted to Prussia by the English Parliament, amounting to 3,000,000 sterling, in the years 1814-15, there would have been no Prussian army to assist us. Throughout the wars with Napoleon, Austria, Prussia, and Russia received large sums to enable them to keep their armies in the field. It was not only the King's German Legion which was paid with English gold, but the Prussian army also; and when the Germans taunt the British army with being an army of mercenaries, it would be well for them to study the financial conditions under which they fought in the wars with France in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The following figures, showing the pecuniary assistance afforded by England to her allies, are of passing interest:

+------+--------------+--------------+--------------+ | | AUSTRIA. | PRUSSIA. | RUSSIA. | +------+--------------+--------------+--------------+ |1814 | £545,612 | £1,757,669 | £1,758,436 | |1815 | £1,475,632 | £2,555,473 | £1,330,171 | |1816 | £1,796,229 | £2,382,823 | £3,241,919 | +------+--------------+--------------+--------------+

CASUALTIES DURING THE WATERLOO CAMPAIGN.

Legend: Of. = Officers. +------------------+---------------+---------------+-----------------+ | | QUATRE-BRAS | | WATERLOO | | | (JUNE 16). | (JUNE 17). | (JUNE 18). | | +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+---------+ | Regiments. | Of. |Men. | Of. |Men. | Of. | Men. | | +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+ | | K.| W.| K.| W.| K.| W.| K.| W.| K.| W.| K.| W.| +------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+ |1st Life Guards | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 39 | |2nd Life Guards | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 16 | 40 | |Royal Horse Gds. | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 56 | |King's Drag. Gds. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 | 40 |100 | |Royal Dragoons | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 9 | 85 | 88 | |Roy. Scots Greys | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 8 | 96 | 89 | |6th Inniskillings | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 72 |111 | |7th Hussars | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 6 |21 | - | 6 | 56 | 96 | |10th Hussars | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 | 20 | 40 | |11th Hussars | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 11 | 34 | |12th Lancers | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | 45 | 61 | |13th Hussars | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 9 | 11 | 69 | |15th Hussars | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 21 | 48 | |16th Lancers | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | 18 | 18 | |18th Hussars | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 12 | 71 | |Royal Artillery | - | 2 | 9 |17 | - | - | - | - | 5 |24 | 53 |211 | |Royal Engineers | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | |Grenadier Guards | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (1st Batt.) | 2 | 4 |23 |256| - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 50 | 96 | |Grenadier Guards | | | | | | | | | | | | | | (3rd Batt.) | 1 | 6 |19 |235| - | - | - | - | 3 | 6 | 81 |245 | |Coldstream Gds. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 7 | 54 |242 | |Scots Guards | - | - | - | 7 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 9 | 39 |288 | |Royal Scots | 6 |12 |20 |180| - | - | - | - | 2 |13 | 13 |115 | |4th King's Own | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 12 |113 | |14th West Yorks | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 7 | 21 | |23rd R. Welsh F. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 6 | 11 | 78 | |27th Inniskill. F.| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |13 |103 |360 | |28th Gloucesters | - | 4 |11 |60 | - | - | - | - | 1 |15 | 18 |143 | |30th East Lancs | - | 2 | 5 |28 | - | - | 1 | 2 | 6 |12 | 47 |157 | |32nd Cornw. L.I. | 1 |16 |21 |152| - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 28 |137 | |33rd W. Riding | 3 | 7 |16 |67 | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | 9 | 33 | 92 | |40th S. Lancs | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |10 | 30 |159 | |42nd Roy. Highl. | 3 |14 |42 |228| - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 5 | 39 | |44th Essex | 2 |15 |10 |94 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 4 | 57 | |51st King's Own | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Yorkshire L.I. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 9 | 20 | |52nd Oxford L.I. | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 8 | 16 |174 | |69th Welsh | 1 | 4 |37 |110| - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 50 | |71st Highland L.I.| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |14 | 24 |160 | |73rd Roy. Highl. | - | 4 | 4 |43 | 1 | - | 3 | - | 5 |12 | 47 |175 | |79th Camerons | 1 |16 |28 |248| - | - | - | - | 2 |11 | 39 |132 | |92nd Gordons | 4 |20 |35 |226| - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 14 | 96 | |95th Rifle Brigade| | | | | | | | | | | | | | (1st Batt.) | 1 | 4 | 8 |51 | - | - | - | - | 1 |11 | 20 |124 | |95th Rifle Brigade| | | | | | | | | | | | | | (2nd Batt.) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |14 | 34 |179 | |95th Rifle Brigade| | | | | | | | | | | | | | (3rd Batt.) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 3 | 36 | +------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+----+----+

THE ORDER OF THE BATH.

At the close of the Peninsular War, the Order of the Bath, which up till then had consisted of but one class (the K.B.), was enlarged, and henceforth comprised three classes, as at present. The First Class, or Knight's Grand Cross, was reserved for General and Flag Officers; the Second Class was open to officers not below the rank of Post-Captain in the navy or Lieutenant-Colonel in the army. In order to obtain the Third Class of the Bath, better known as the C.B., an officer must have been mentioned in despatches for service in presence of the enemy. This qualification does not apply to the two higher classes, and it has happened more than once that officers have received the Grand Cross of the Bath who, under its statutes, are ineligible for the lowest class! The number of K.C.B.'s was limited to 180, and of these, 80 were bestowed on the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, and 100 on the army, in the following proportion as to ranks: 19 Admirals and 9 Lieutenant-Generals were granted the Order; 23 Vice and 25 Rear Admirals; and 37 Major-Generals, 19 Post-Captains, and 22 Colonels; whilst 32 Lieutenant-Colonels commanding regiments or Staff Officers received the same Order. Three officers of Marines were likewise granted the Order of the K.C.B. It is very rare now for a regimental commanding officer, still rarer for a Post-Captain, to obtain admission to the Second Class of the Bath.

I think I am right in stating that the late Sir William Peel and Sir Harry Keppel were the last Post-Captains who obtained this distinction. Sir Robert Sale and Sir Harry Smith were actually Lieutenant-Colonels of the 13th Light Infantry and of the Rifle Brigade respectively when they were advanced to the dignity of Grand Crosses of the Bath, but they held the local rank of Major-General in the East Indies. The latter was almost immediately promoted to the rank of substantive General Officer; the former was killed before reaching the higher grade.

The Battle of Waterloo was the first engagement for which the C.B. was granted. It is true that in the same Gazette a number of officers received the decoration for their services in the Peninsular War, and of these not a few also appeared in the Waterloo Gazette with a star against their names, intimating that they had received the decoration for previous services. The list of officers granted the dignity of K.C.B. was published in the Gazette of January 2, 1815; but the C.B.'s, both for the Peninsula and for Waterloo, appeared in the Gazette of September 4, 1815.

The following list gives the number of decorations conferred regimentally. It will be noticed that a number of regiments do not figure in the list at all. On the other hand, a number of regiments which participated in these honours have long since ceased to exist, amongst them the well-known King's German Legion and the little-known Greek Light Infantry. Of these I have not given the details.

THE FIRST REGIMENTAL RECIPIENTS OF THE BATH.

+------------------------------+-----------------------+-----------+ | | Peninsula. |Waterloo.| | Regiments. +-----------+-----------+-----------+ | | K.C.B. | C.B. | C.B. | +------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ |2nd Life Guards | - | - | 1 | |Royal Horse Guards | 1 | - | 1 | |King's Dragoon Guards | - | - | 1 | |5th Dragoon Guards | - | 1 | - | |7th Dragoon Guards | - | 1 | - | |1st Royal Dragoons | - | - | 1 | |Royal Scots Greys | - | - | 2 | |3rd Hussars | - | 1 | - | |7th Hussars | - | 1 | - | |9th Lancers | - | 1 | - | |10th Hussars | - | 1 | - | |11th Hussars | - | 1 | - | |12th Lancers | - | 1 | - | |Royal Artillery | 9 | 8 | 8 | |Royal Engineers | - | 10 | 2 | |Grenadier Guards | 6 | 4 | 6 | |Coldstream Guards | 5 | 5 | 4 | |Scots Guards | 2 | 4 | 2 | |Royal Scots | 2 | 2 | 3 | |4th King's Own | - | 3 | - | |5th Northumberland Fusiliers | 1 | 2 | - | |6th Royal Warwicks | - | 2 | - | |7th Royal Fusiliers | 1 | 2 | 1 | |8th King's Liverpool Regiment | - | 2 | - | |9th Norfolks | 1 | - | - | |10th Lincolns | - | 1 | - | |11th Devons | - | 2 | - | |12th Suffolks | - | 2 | - | |13th Somerset Light Infantry | 1 | - | - | |14th West Yorkshires | - | 3 | 1 | |21st Royal Scots Fusiliers | - | 1 | - | |23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 2 | 4 | 2 | |24th South Wales Borderers | - | 1 | - | |27th Royal Inniskilling Fus. | 1 | 3 | 1 | |28th Gloucesters | 1 | 1 | 2 | |30th East Lancashires | - | 1 | 3 | |31st East Surreys | 1 | 1 | - | |32nd Cornwall Light Infantry | - | 1 | 1 | |33rd Duke of Wellington's | - | - | 1 | |34th Border Regiment | - | 2 | - | |35th Royal Sussex | 1 | 1 | - | |36th Worcesters | - | 3 | - | |38th South Staffords | 1 | 3 | - | |39th Dorsets | - | 2 | - | |40th South Lancashires | - | 2 | 1 | |42nd Royal Highlanders | 2 | 3 | 2 | |43rd Oxford Light Infantry | - | 2 | - | |44th Essex | - | 1 | 3 | |45th Sherwood Foresters | - | 3 | - | |48th Northamptons | - | 3 | - | |49th Royal Berkshires | - | 1 | - | |50th Royal West Kent | - | 3 | - | |51st King's Own Yorkshire L.I.| - | 1 | 3 | |52nd Oxford Light Infantry | 1 | 5 | 1 | |53rd Shropshire Light Infantry| 1 | 1 | - | |54th Dorsetshire | - | 1 | - | |56th Essex | - | 1 | - | |57th Middlesex | - | 1 | - | |58th Northamptons | - | 1 | - | |59th South Lancashire | - | 2 | - | |60th King's Royal Rifles | - | 4 | - | |62nd Wiltshire | - | 1 | - | |66th Royal Berkshire | - | 2 | - | |68th Durham Light Infantry | - | 2 | - | |69th Welsh | - | 1 | - | |71st Highland Light Infantry | - | 2 | 2 | |73rd Royal Highlanders | - | - | 2 | |74th Highland Light Infantry | 1 | 1 | - | |77th Middlesex | - | 2 | - | |78th Ross-shire Buffs | - | 2 | - | |79th Cameron Highlanders | - | 1 | 2 | |83rd Royal Irish Rifles | 1 | 1 | - | |85th King's Shropshire L.I. | - | 1 | - | |86th Royal Irish Rifles | - | 1 | - | |87th Royal Irish Fusiliers | - | 2 | - | |88th Connaught Rangers | - | 3 | - | |89th Royal Irish Fusiliers | - | 2 | - | |90th Scottish Rifles | - | 1 | - | |91st Argyll Highlanders | 1 | - | - | |92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | - | 2 | |94th Connaught Rangers | - | 1 | - | |Rifle Brigade | 2 | 6 | 8 | +------------------------------+-----------+-----------+-----------+

No regimental officers were granted the dignity of a K.C.B. for the Battle of Waterloo.

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XIII. BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1818-1826

Kirkee--Seetabuldee--Nagpore--Maheidpore--Corygaum--Nowah--Bhurtpore --Hindoostan--India.

THE SECOND MAHRATTA WAR, 1817-18.

The conclusion of the First Mahratta War of 1803-04 left us nominally at peace with all the ruling Sovereigns in Central and Southern India. At the same time, the result of that campaign had in no way impaired their power for evil. Their armies were, so far as numbers went, enormously powerful, and in a measure well organized and equipped. In most cases they had been drilled by European instructors, and certainly for irregular warfare they constituted a very formidable foe. Although they had accepted peace, it was well known that there was not a ruling Prince in India who would not willingly see our downfall; and in the event of war with one, it was doubtful who we should not find arrayed against us. The Governor-General, then, had to prepare for an alliance of all the central and probably of one or more of the southern rulers. Our possible enemies were the Peishwa, the hereditary chief of the Mahratta Confederacy; Scindia, the Maharajah of Gwalior; Holkar, the Maharajah of Indore; the Maharajah of Nagpore; the Nizam of Hyderabad, in whose dominions there was considerable disaffection; Ameer Khan, a Moslem freebooter, who, though possessing neither territory nor population, had nevertheless a powerful and well-disciplined force at his command; and, lastly, the Pindarees.

It must be borne in mind that at this time we had Subsidiary Forces, composed of native troops, maintained by the different rulers, but officered by Englishmen, at Hyderabad, Nagpore, Poona, and Gwalior; and through these officers, as well as through the Residents at the Courts of these Princes, we were well able to judge of the numbers and value of the forces that could be brought against us. These forces were estimated to be as follows:

+------------+------------+-------------+---------+ | | CAVALRY. | INFANTRY. | GUNS. | +------------+------------+-------------+---------+ |Scindia | 14,250 | 16,250 | 140 | |Holkar | 20,000 | 7,900 | 107 | |The Peishwa | 28,000 | 13,800 | 37 | |Nagpore | 15,700 | 17,000 | 85 | |Ameer Khan | 12,000 | 10,000 | 80 | |The Nizam | 25,000 | 20,000 | 240 | |Pindarees | 15,000 | 1,500 | 20 | +------------+------------+-------------+---------+

With but few exceptions, the cavalry was undisciplined and unorganized, but well mounted, and the men as a rule admirable swordsmen. To combat this possible alliance, the Marquess of Hastings determined to utilize the troops of all three Presidencies, and to take the field in person, and so assume the direction of the operations. The Bengal army would deal with Scindia, and then push to the south and west to assist the troops of the other Presidencies. The Madras troops, with Secunderabad as their base, after assuring the neutrality of the Nizam, would operate from the south, whilst the Bombay army was left to deal with the Peishwa, whose disaffection was beyond doubt.

The Bengal army was composed of four divisions, under the personal command of the Marquess of Hastings. These were commanded respectively by Major-Generals Browne, Donkin, Marshal, and Sir David Ochterlony. Each division comprised one cavalry and two infantry brigades. Of the troops which composed that army, few regiments are left. The 24th Light Dragoons were disbanded shortly after the campaign, and the majority of the native regiments fell away from their allegiance in the unfortunate rebellion of 1857. Of the regiments which went to make up the First Division, the 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) still survive; of the Second Division, the 8th (Royal Irish) Hussars, the 14th (West Yorkshires), and Gardner's Horse are yet on the rolls of the army. The 67th (Hampshires) and the 2nd Gurkhas, with Skinner's Horse, also survive.

The Madras army was under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Hislop. Of its cavalry brigade no representatives remain; of its four infantry brigades we have many survivors--first and foremost, the Royal Scots and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers; then the 1st Madras Europeans, which, with the 17th Madras Infantry (now the 93rd Burmah Infantry), composed the First Brigade. The Second Brigade was made up of three light infantry regiments (native), of which the 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry and the 74th Punjabis are with us. There were, all told, two regiments of British and six of native infantry.

The Hyderabad Division, commanded by Major-General Doveton, comprised a battalion of the Royal Scots and ten regiments of Madras infantry; whilst the Hyderabad Subsidiary Brigade was made up of a wing of the 1st Madras Europeans (now the Royal Dublins) and three native regiments. Sir John Malcolm commanded the Third Division of the Madras army. It comprised a regiment of Madras cavalry, four battalions of Madras infantry, 4,000 Mysorean horse, and three regiments of what were so long known as the Hyderabad Contingent.

In the neighbourhood of Poonah was Sir Lionel Smith, with the 65th (York and Lancasters), the 1st Bombay Europeans (now the 2nd Royal Dublins), and four regiments of Bombay infantry.

Watching events in Guzerat was General Sir H. Grant Keir, with the 17th Lancers, the 47th (Loyal North Lancashires), and four battalions of Bombay native infantry; whilst at Nagpore was Colonel Adams, with a regiment of Bengal and one of Madras cavalry, and seven battalions of Madras infantry.

Reserve Bombay Division (Brigadier Munro): 22nd Light Dragoons, 7th Madras Cavalry, a battalion composed of the flank companies of the 34th, 53rd, 69th, and 84th Regiments, the 1st Bombay European Regiment, and three battalions of Bombay sepoys.

Prior to the army being put in motion, we had as garrisons at the various capitals, or in their immediate vicinity, the following troops:

At Secunderabad, watching the Nizam, a wing of the Madras European Regiment and three battalions of Madras sepoys.

At Poonah, watching the Peishwa, a detachment of the Bombay European Regiment and four battalions of Bombay sepoys, whilst another detachment of the 65th Foot (York and Lancaster) was on the march as a reinforcement.

At Nagpore were the 6th Bengal Cavalry, the Madras Bodyguard, and two battalions of sepoys.

KIRKEE, NOVEMBER 5, 1817.

This honour is borne on the colours of the

Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 102nd Grenadiers. 113th Infantry. 112th Infantry. 123rd Outram's Rifles.

The attitude of the Peishwa's advisers left little room for doubt as to their intentions, and Colonel Burr, who was in command at Poona, took the necessary steps to secure the safety of the Resident and to maintain a hold on the capital of the Mahratta Confederacy. He concentrated his forces at Kirkee, where on November 5 he was attacked by the whole of the Peishwa's army. From a study of the casualties, it would appear that the British regiment was not engaged seriously, and there is no doubt that the brunt of the fighting fell on the Bombay sepoys, who behaved with exemplary steadiness. The result of the day was a serious check to the Peishwa's forces, our losses being inconsiderable. General Lionel Smith now pushed up reinforcements, and assumed command at Poona, where, on the 17th of the month, a second action was fought, known as the Battle of Poona; and though this is not borne on the colours of the regiments engaged, the troops present were awarded the India medal, with a clasp inscribed "Poona." Those who were at both engagements received one clasp, with the names of both actions engraved.

CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION AT KIRKEE, NOVEMBER 5, 1817.

+----------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 2 | |Dublin Fusiliers | - | - | 1 | 1 | |102nd Grenadiers | - | 1 | 1 | 8 | |112th Infantry | - | - | 4 | 10 | |113th Infantry | - | - | 12 | 37 | |123rd Outram's Rifles | - | - | 1 | 7 | +----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION AT POONA, NOVEMBER 17, 1817.

+------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 4 | |65th York and Lancaster | - | - | - | 2 | |Dublin Fusiliers | - | 1 | 5 | 13 | |105th Lt. Inf. | - | - | 1 | 10 | |107th Pioneers | - | - | 2 | 4 | |112th Infantry | - | - | 2 | 7 | |113th Infantry | - | - | 3 | 10 | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

SEETABULDEE, NOVEMBER 26, 1817.

This distinction is borne on the colours and appointments of the Madras Bodyguard and the 61st Pioneers. Colonel Hopeton Scott, who was in command of the troops at Nagpore when hostilities broke out, withdrew his force to the fortified hill of Seetabuldee, in the immediate neighbourhood of Nagpore. He was more fortunately situated than Colonel Burr at Poona, inasmuch as he had under his command a regiment of Bengal cavalry, whose commanding officer was one of those men not rarely met with in our Indian army--a born leader of irregular troops, with no idea of shirking responsibility. On November 26 Colonel Scott found himself attacked by the whole of the Nagpore army, numbering some 18,000 men, with thirty-six guns. His position was naturally a strong one, and the attacks were never pressed home; but his situation was critical, owing to the immense numbers opposed to his small force. The Bengal cavalry were by no means averse to testing the metal of the Nagporeans, and, in spite of express orders not to provoke a conflict, their commander, Captain Fitzgerald, took every opportunity of charging into the masses of the enemy whenever occasion offered, and finally charged down on the flank of the Nagpore infantry as they were recoiling from an attempt to carry the hill by storm, and converted a momentary confusion into a rout. In this he was supported by a small detail of the Madras Bodyguard. Colonel Scott's men had sustained a series of attacks extending over eighteen hours, and a glance at the list of casualties shows that the honour "Seetabuldee" was well earned. More the pity that the cavalry regiment which bore the major part in that day's work no longer exists.

CASUALTIES AT SEETABULDEE.

+---------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Artillery | - | 1 | 2 | 15 | |Madras Bodyguard | - | - | - | - | |6th Bengal Cav. | - | 3 | 23 | 24 | |61st Pioneers | 2 | 3 | 55 | 99 | |1st Batt. 20th Bengal Inf. | 1 | 3 | 15 | 46 | |Resident's Esc. | - | 1 | 10 | 33 | |Major Jenkin's Levies | - | 3 | 8 | 13 | +---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--It is worthy of remark that the total strength of the force engaged at Seetabuldee amounted to 1,315 of all ranks, and the casualties were 355 killed and wounded--a striking testimony to the steadiness and devotion of the Sepoys of those days.

NAGPORE, DECEMBER 16, 1817.

On learning of the action at Seetabuldee, Brigadier Doveton pushed on to reinforce Scott, and on December 16 was fought this action, which is borne as an honorary distinction on the colours of the

Royal Scots. 6th Jat Light Infantry. 2nd Q.O. Sappers and Miners. 61st Pioneers. 62nd Punjabis. 81st Pioneers. 83rd Light Infantry. 86th Infantry. 88th Infantry. 97th Infantry.

The brunt of the fighting fell on the Royal Scots, who have ever shown themselves to the front in our Indian wars, and on the Berar Infantry, who were then fighting against their own ruler. The honour is borne by one of the representatives of Russell's brigade, yet, if contemporary returns are to be trusted, all the Hyderabad regiments did well at Nagpore.

With the repulse of the Nagporean army, Doveton's troubles were not at an end. A body of 300 Arabs withdrew into the fort, and before they surrendered the English commander was compelled to open a regular siege, in the course of which many casualties were incurred. On December 24 the Arabs came to terms, and we took possession of the city.

CASUALTIES AT THE ENGAGEMENTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF NAGPORE, NOVEMBER 16-24, 1817.

+------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Artillery | - | - | 5 | 19 | |Roy. Engineers | - | - | 5 | 7 | |6th Jat Light Infantry | - | - | 2 | 11 | |61st Pioneers | - | - | - | - | |62nd Punjabis | - | - | 2 | 6 | |Royal Scots | 1 | - | 29 | 97 | |81st Pioneers | - | - | - | - | |83rd Light Inf. | - | - | 14 | 20 | |86th Infantry | - | - | 1 | 5 | |88th Infantry | - | - | - | - | |97th Deccan Inf. | - | - | 12 | 45 | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

MAHEIDPORE, DECEMBER 23, 1817.

This battle honour, which commemorates the only general action fought by the main army during the course of the Second Mahratta War, is borne on the colours and appointments of the

Royal Scots. Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 28th Light Cavalry. 2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners. 63rd Light Infantry. 74th Punjabis. 87th Punjabis. 88th Infantry. 91st Light Infantry. 94th Russell's Infantry. 95th Russell's Infantry.

The distinction was granted in recognition of the services of the army under Sir Thomas Hislop, which resulted in the total defeat of the army belonging to the Maharajah Holkar, of Indore, at Maheidpore on December 22, 1817. Holkar's army far outnumbered the English in cavalry, as well as in guns. We captured no less than sixty-five of the latter. The Holkar force had the reputation of being well trained. For many years the Maharajah had availed himself of the services of English and French instructors, but on the outbreak of hostilities he had foully murdered all the English in his employ, and their absence, no doubt, shook the confidence of the men, who for so long had been accustomed to European leadership. From the returns it would appear that the 27th Light Cavalry (then the 3rd Madras Cavalry) suffered some casualties on this occasion.

CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF MAHEIDPORE, DECEMBER 22, 1817.

+---------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Scots | 1 | 2 | 8 | 32 | |Royal Dublin Fusiliers | 1 | 1 | 7 | 51 | |Bombay Art. | - | 3 | 5 | 12 | |28th Light Cav. | - | - | 4 | 8 | |29th Deccan Horse | - | - | 19 | 47 | |63rd Light Inf. | 1 | 3 | 26 | 71 | |74th Punjabis | - | 2 | 14 | 34 | |87th Punjabis | - | 1 | 1 | 11 | |88th Infantry | - | 1 | 14 | 52 | |91st Light Inf. | - | 6 | 16 | 69 | |94 and 95th Russell's Inf. | - | 1 | 12 | 61 | +---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

CORYGAUM, JANUARY 1, 1818.

This distinction is borne on the colours of the 34th Poona Horse and 102nd Grenadiers. It commemorates a very gallant stand made by a small body of Bombay Sepoys during the Second Mahratta War, in face of vastly superior forces. Colonel Burr, who was left in command of the troops at Poona after the defeat of the Peishwa in November, found that, owing to various circumstances, that army, though defeated, was by no means demoralized, and there was reason to fear a fresh attack. He therefore ordered Captain Staunton, who was at Seroor, some fifty miles distant, to fall back on Poona. Staunton had with him a couple of guns of the Madras Artillery, with twenty-six English gunners, 500 of the 2nd (now 102nd) Grenadiers, and 250 of what was then known as the Reformed Horse (now the 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse). Staunton moved off on receiving Colonel Burr's orders, but on nearing Corygaum found himself in the presence of the main body of the Peishwa's army, estimated at 18,000 men, with thirty-six guns. The village lent itself to defence, though the position was much cramped, especially for the large number of horses attached to his little force. Staunton knew that Sir Lionel Smith was within a couple of days' march, and that if he could hold out for that time he was sure of relief. He had taken the precaution to move with double the usual supply of ammunition, and he was seconded by eight British officers as gallant as himself.

On the evening of December 30 he occupied the village, which he proceeded to strengthen so far as was possible. The want of water was a great drawback, and, as I have said before, the large number of horses within such a confined space impeded the movements of the men. The fight was an exceedingly fierce one. The enemy on more than one occasion obtained an entrance into the village, and were able to seize the temporary hospital. The wounded were cruelly massacred, but a fine charge led by Dr. Wylie enabled Staunton to regain possession of this building. On another occasion during an assault by an overwhelming number of the enemy one of the two guns was lost, but a counter-attack retrieved this loss. For thirty-six hours the little force held its own. Five out of the eight officers were hors de combat, only six men were left to work the guns, and the sepoy battalion had lost 150 out of 500 men. On the evening of New Year's Day the fire of the assailants began to slacken, and ere nightfall it had died away. News had reached Sir Lionel Smith of the hard straits of Staunton's force, and he at once moved off to relieve him. The Peishwa's army was in no mood to face a well-organized British army, and it hurriedly withdrew from before Corygaum, leaving Staunton with the consciousness of having placed on record one of the finest feats of arms in the history of the Bombay army. Both Staunton and Dr. Wylie ultimately received the Companionship of the Bath for their services, and a monument was erected at Corygaum to commemorate the fight.

CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION OF CORYGAUM, JANUARY 1, 1818.

+------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Bombay Art. | 1 | - | 12 | 8 | |Poona Horse | - | 3 | 40 | 24 | |102nd Grenadiers | 1 | 3 | 50 | 105 | +------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOWAH, JANUARY 21, 1819.

This name is inscribed on the colours of the 94th and 95th Russell's Infantry, and commemorates a little-known episode in the history of our dealings with the peoples of Southern India. A mud fort held by a rebellious chief defied the power alike of the Hyderabad Nizam and the British Resident. It became necessary to bring the recalcitrant chief to reason, and the Resident despatched a portion of the Hyderabad contingent to reduce the fort. Fortunately, the operations were attended with no loss of English life, but a glance at the casualty list shows that the fighting was far more severe than in many actions which are recognized on the colours of better-known regiments than the direct representatives of Russell's brigade.

CASUALTIES AT THE SIEGE AND ASSAULT OF NOWAH, JANUARY, 1819.

+------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |94th Russell's Infantry | - | 1 | 12 | 58 | |95th Russell's I. | - | 2 | 3 | 56 | |96th Berar Inf. | - | 1 | 6 | 44 | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

MEDAL FOR THE SECOND MAHRATTA WAR.

For their services in this campaign the survivors were awarded the India General Service Medal, the issue of which was notified in the London Gazette of February 28, 1851. The following clasps were issued with the medal:

KIRKEE.--For the action on November 5, 1817.

POONA.--For the engagement on November 17, 1817.

Those who were present at both actions received one clasp, engraved "Kirkee--Poona."

SEETABULDEE.--For the action fought by Colonel Scott on November 26, 1817.

NAGPORE.--For General Doveton's action on December 16.

Those present at both engagements received but one clasp, inscribed "Seetabuldee--Nagpore."

MAHEIDPORE.--For the action fought by the army under the command of Sir Thomas Hislop on December 21.

CORYGAUM.--For the gallant defence of the village of Corygaum by Colonel Staunton on January 1, 1818.

BHURTPORE, JANUARY, 1826.

This battle honour has been conferred on the following corps:

11th Hussars. 16th Lancers. West Yorkshire. East Lancashire. Royal Munster Fusiliers. 1st Skinner's Horse. 1st Prince of Wales's Own Sappers and Miners. 2nd Queen's Own Rajput Light Infantry. 1st Brahmins. 3rd Brahmins. 4th Rajputs. 1st Gurkhas. 2nd Gurkhas. 9th Gurkhas.

It commemorates the services rendered by the forces employed at the siege and capture of the famous fortress which twenty years before had successfully defied Lord Lake. In 1803 the Maharajah had thrown in his lot with the Mahratta Princes, and Bhurtpore was a depot of arms for the armies of Holkar. Lord Lake, after his successful actions at Deig, Delhi, and Laswarree, determined to effect its capture. On January 3, 1804, he appeared before the fortress with a force which included the 22nd (Cheshire), 65th (York and Lancaster), 71st (Highland Light Infantry), 76th (West Ridings), and the 1st Bengal European Regiment (Royal Munster Fusiliers). On January 9 the place was assaulted, and we were driven back, with a loss of 5 officers and 64 men killed, 23 officers and 364 men wounded. On the 21st of the same month a second assault was repulsed, our losses being 18 officers and 569 men killed and wounded. The siege was now carried on more systematically, but with a very inadequate train, and on February 20 and 21 two assaults were delivered, which cost us no less than 51 officers and 1,771 men hors de combat. Lake then raised the siege.

In 1826, when the British army once more appeared before its walls, the army of the Maharajah of Bhurtpore, remembering the successful defence in 1804, felt pretty confident of holding its own against the British. On our side, the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Combermere, a Peninsular veteran, determined to leave nothing to chance.

Two divisions were assembled--one at Agra, under Major-General Jasper Nicolls; the second at Muttra, under Major-General Reynell, C.B.; whilst Lord Combermere assumed the chief command in person. The cavalry division was composed of two brigades, under Colonel Sleigh, of the 11th Hussars, who was given the rank of Brigadier-General.

First Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier Murray (16th Lancers): 16th Lancers, 6th, 8th, and 9th Bengal Cavalry.

Second Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier Childers (11th Hussars): 11th Hussars, 3rd, 4th, and 10th Bengal Cavalry.

The infantry was composed as follows:

FIRST DIVISION: MAJOR-GENERAL T. REYNELL, C.B.

First Brigade--Brigadier M'Combe (14th Foot): 14th Foot (West Yorkshire), 23rd and 63rd Bengal Infantry.

Fourth Brigade--Brigadier Whitehead (4th Bengal Infantry): 32nd, 41st, and 58th Bengal Infantry.

Fifth Brigade--Brigadier Paton, C.B. (18th Bengal Infantry): 6th, 18th, and 60th Bengal Infantry.

SECOND DIVISION: MAJOR-GENERAL JASPER NICOLLS, C.B.

Second Brigade--Brigadier Edwardes (14th Foot): 59th Foot (East Lancashire), 11th and 31st Bengal Native Infantry.

Third Brigade--Brigadier Adams (14th Bengal Native Infantry): 33rd, 36th, and 37th Bengal Native Infantry.

Sixth Brigade--Brigadier Fagan (15th Bengal Native Infantry): 15th, 21st, and 25th Bengal Native Infantry.

The artillery of the force comprised eight horse and twelve field batteries, with a siege-train of 112 pieces, including twelve mortars of 10-inch and fifty-eight of 8-inch calibre. The siege operations were under the directions of a very distinguished Company's officer, Brigadier Anbury, C.B.

On December 9, 1825, the two columns advanced from Muttra and Agra respectively, and on the 28th of the month the first battery opened fire. On January 17 the breaches were reported practicable, and the Commander-in-Chief determined to assault, Major-General Reynell being placed in command of the three storming columns, which were detailed as follows:

Right Column--Colonel Delamain: 200 of the Munster Fusiliers, the 58th Bengal Infantry, and 2nd Sirmoor Gurkhas.

Centre Column--Brigadier M'Combe (14th Foot): Four companies of the 14th (West Yorkshire), the 23rd and 63rd Bengal Infantry.

Left Column--Brigadier Whitehead: Two companies of the 14th Foot (West Yorkshire), the 18th and 60th Bengal Infantry.

Left Column--Brigadier Paton: Four companies of the 14th Foot (West Yorkshire), the 6th and 41st Bengal Infantry.

Reserve--Brigadier Whitehead: Two companies of the 14th Foot (West Yorkshire), the 21st and 32nd Bengal Infantry.

The remainder of the army was drawn up to the left of the fortress to afford general aid. The defence was most stubborn, all three commanders of the assaulting columns being badly wounded; but the men of the 14th (the "Old Bucks" of those days, now the West Yorkshire) would not be denied, and ere sunset the fortress was in our possession. The individual losses of the existing regiments were:

+------------------------+-----------------------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | British Troops. |-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |11th Hussars | - | 1 | 2 | 7 | |16th Lancers | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | |Bengal Artillery | - | 2 | 8 | 11 | |Bengal Enginrs. | 2 | 7 | 13 | 30 | |14th W. Yorks | 2 | 7 | 31 | 99 | |59th E. Lancs | 2 | 8 | 16 | 97 | |101st Munster Fusiliers | - | 3 | 10 | 42 | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Native Troops. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +-------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |2nd Q.O. Rajput Light Infantry | 1 | 3 | 11 | 20 | |3rd Brahmans | - | - | 1 | 11 | |1st Gurkhas | - | 1 | 4 | 21 | |2nd Gurkhas | - | - | 3 | 15 | |1st Skinner's Horse | - | - | 1 | 7 | +-------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--Of the many native infantry regiments above enumerated the 15th have become the 2nd Queen's Own Light Infantry, the 32nd the 3rd Brahmans, the 33rd is the 4th Rajputs, and the 63rd the 9th Gurkhas. The remainder, with the exception of the Gurkha regiments, were lost to us in 1857.

The prize-money distributed to the troops was considerable, but the enormous sums received by the Commander-in-Chief, compared with the pittance given to the private, provoked not a little indignation. At Seringapatam in 1792 Lord Cornwallis and General Meadows handed over their share for distribution amongst the non-commissioned officers and privates--an example which was not followed either by Lord Harris at Seringapatam in 1799 or by Lord Combermere at Bhurtpore. At the request of the officers of the force, a sum of £5,000 was retained for distribution amongst the widows of their comrades who had fallen in action.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE-MONEY.

Commander-in-Chief £59,500 General Officers £5,900 Lieutenant-Colonels £1,420 Majors £950 Captains £476 Subalterns £238 Sergeants £8 Privates £4

Native Ranks.

Subadars rupees 322 Jemidars " 282 Havildars " 53 Sepoys " 26

HINDOOSTAN.

This honour has been conferred on the following regiments for their gallant services in the earlier campaigns which consolidated our power in our great Indian dependency:

8th Hussars. Leicesters. Worcesters. Oxford Light Infantry. Highland Light Infantry. Seaforth Highlanders. West Riding Regiment.

8th Hussars.--In the month of March, 1825, the Royal Irish Hussars were authorized to add the harp as well as the battle honours "Laswarree" and "Hindoostan" to their colours and appointments. The 8th had been present with Lord Lake in his campaign against the Mahrattas; they had served against the Rohillas in Bundulcund, and were with Rollo Gillespie in the gallant attack on the Gurkha fort of Kalunga, where a detachment of 100 dismounted men lost half its numbers. They had done right good work at the Siege of Hattrass, and assisted in many long-forgotten but arduous campaigns, in which our troops were so constantly engaged during the earlier years of the foundation of the Indian Empire.

17th (Leicestershire Regiment).--The honour was bestowed on the old 17th Foot on June 25, 1825, in recognition of the services of the regiment between the years 1804 and 1823. The 17th had been with Wolfe at Louisburg, but had missed the hard fighting in the Peninsula. In the course of its twenty years' Indian service it did right good work in several of those little-known campaigns in which there was hard work and little glory. At the storming of the fort at Chumar, in Bundulcund, it lost 2 officers and 56 men killed and wounded. In the following year (October, 1807), at the operations in connection with the reduction of the fort of Kamounah, near Allyghur, it lost no less than 4 officers and 47 men killed, 5 officers and 95 men wounded. In the Gurkha War of 1814 its casualties amounted to 74 men killed and wounded, and in the year 1817 it again suffered heavily at the capture of Jubbulpore.

36th (Worcestershire Regiment).--This distinguished corps, which already had the battle honour "Mysore" emblazoned on its colours, was authorized in October, 1835, to add the battle honour "Hindoostan" in recognition of its services from 1790 to 1793. In those three years it had lost 4 officers and 65 men in the action of Sattimungulum; it had been present at the storming of Bangalore, Nundy Droog, Pondicherry, and Seringapatam (1792); and in the course of the latter operations it had lost 5 officers and 60 men killed and wounded.

52nd (Oxford Light Infantry).--In February, 1821, the 52nd was authorized to add this distinction to its long list of battle honours as a recognition of its gallant services in India between the years 1790 and 1793. The honour "Mysore," already granted, commemorated its connection with the army which Lord Cornwallis led against Tippoo Sultan in 1792. In the operations of that army the 52nd had borne a very distinguished part, having furnished details for the storming-party at the assault of Bangalore and Nundy Droog, and had lost heavily at the first capture at Seringapatam. There had been several occasions in which the 52nd had shown an earnest of their future greatness during those three years, and for which as yet they had received no recognition. At Cannanore their casualties amounted to 67 killed and wounded, including 4 officers. At Dindigul they had lost 23 men, and they had borne their fair share of the hardships and loss at the Siege of Pondicherry, as well as at the capture of the Island of Ceylon.

71st (Highland Light Infantry).--On January 20, 1837, the 71st and 72nd Regiments were authorized to add this battle honour to those already emblazoned on their colours. No regiment had better earned it than the old Highland Light Infantry. From the date of its landing in India in 1780, until its departure for home twenty years later, the regiment had been continually on active service. The flank companies had been present at Baillie's unfortunate defeat at the hands of the Mysoreans, when their casualties amounted to 6 officers and 181 men killed and wounded, the two companies being practically annihilated. They had shared in Eyre Coote's defeat of the same Mysorean army at the Battle of Porto Novo. At Cuddalore, on June 13, 1783, they lost 10 officers and 196 non-commissioned officers and men. The Commander-in-Chief, General Stuart, thus wrote of their services on this day: "I am also most grateful to Captain Lamont and the officers under his command, who so gallantly led the precious remnants of the 73rd Highlanders"--at that time the regimental number was 73--"through the most perilous road to glory, until exactly one-half the officers and men were either killed or wounded." The 71st furnished a detachment of stormers at the capture of Bangalore; at the fortress of Nundy Droog in 1791; and at Seringapatam, in the following year, they enabled their commander, David Baird, to take a striking revenge for the indignities and cruelties inflicted on their comrades who had fallen into Tippoo Sultan's hands when Baillie met with his defeat. At the storming of Pondicherry the 71st were, as usual, well to the fore, and they formed a portion of the force which added Ceylon to the British Empire. No regiment has a better claim to the battle honour "Hindoostan" than the Highland Light Infantry.

72nd (Seaforth Highlanders).--It was not until the year 1837 that the 72nd were authorized to add the battle honour "Hindoostan" to their other distinctions, and the honour was then granted to commemorate the gallant services of the regiment during its tour of Indian service between the years 1782 and 1793. It had already been granted the distinctions "Mysore" and "Carnatic"--scanty recognition of fifteen years' continuous war. At Cuddalore, in 1783, its losses amounted to 60 killed and wounded, including 3 officers; at Seringapatam (1792) they were rather more severe. At the Siege of Nundy Droog and of Pondicherry the Seaforths did not escape scathless, and, with the 52nd, they aided in the capture of Ceylon from the Dutch.

76th (West Riding Regiment).--This regiment from its earliest days was known as the "Hindoostan Regiment," and was the first regiment to bear the word "Hindoostan" on its colours--a distinction granted to it on the petition of Lord Lake in the year 1807. Few regiments have suffered more severely in action than did the 76th at Allyghur, Delhi, Laswarree, and Deig; whilst in Lord Lake's attempt on Bhurtpore the regiment was again cut to pieces. Throughout the earlier phase of Lord Lake's campaign it was the only British infantry in his army, and, in recognition of its valour, the Commander-in-Chief bestowed upon the 76th a third colour--a distinction which has been disallowed by the War Office.

INDIA.

This distinction is borne by the

Suffolks. West Yorkshire. Hampshire. Welsh. York and Lancaster. Gordon Highlanders. Royal Irish Rifles.

12th (Suffolk Regiment).--On p. 154 I have alluded to the services of the 12th Regiment at the defence of the Residency at Cochin. It was for this and other hard work performed in the early days of the last century that the 12th earned this well-merited distinction "India." During the rising in Travancore they lost heavily. A boat containing the sergeant-major and thirty-three men was wrecked on the coast below Quilon, and every man was massacred. At Quilon itself they lost 53 officers and men in an engagement with the Travancorean troops. Prior to this the 12th had served with General Harris in the war with Tippoo Sultan, and had earned the battle honour "Seringapatam."

West Yorkshire.--The old 14th Foot were actively employed on several campaigns between 1810 and 1825. They furnished the stormers at Bhurtpore when that fortress was captured by Lord Combermere, and they had previously borne a prominent part in the operations which led to the capture of Fort Hattrass in 1817.

65th (York and Lancaster).--This regiment was unfortunate enough to be deprived of the privilege of sharing in the victories gained by the army under Sir Arthur Wellesley in 1803. With the 86th they were selected to maintain order on the line of communications. A detachment was present at the engagements outside Poonah--engagements which are borne on the colours of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers under the name "Kirkee." They were present in many hard-fought actions in Guzerat, and were employed more than once in suppressing refractory Rajahs in the Bombay Presidency. Their conduct in expeditions against the Arab pirates on the Persian Gulf earned the distinction of "Arabia." These are described on p. 224.

67th (Hampshire Regiment).--The old 67th certainly lost more men in putting this battle honour on their colours than they did in the better-known but less arduous campaign in China in 1860. At the capture of the fort of Ryghur in 1817, and, two years later, at the storming of Asseerghur, they lost some 60 officers and men killed and wounded. Indeed, throughout their first tour of Indian service--from 1805 to 1826--they were almost continuously in the field.

69th (The Welsh Regiment).--In the early part of the nineteenth century the 69th was constantly employed on active service. It lost heavily in the suppression of the mutiny of the Madras troops at Vellore, and in the operations in Travancore in the year 1808 it defeated the rebels on more than one occasion, sharing with the 12th (Suffolks) the principal honours of that little-remembered campaign.

75th (Gordon Highlanders).--"Mysore" and "Seringapatam" on the colours of the old 75th testify to the work this fine regiment went through in Southern India; but those honours by no means exhaust its claims on the honour list of the army. In the year 1802 it was engaged in a series of hard fights in Western India, in the province of Cambay, where its casualties amounted to 4 officers and 161 men killed and wounded. At the capture of the fort of Jemlanabad the losses were 67 of all ranks. These were some of the affairs which led King George III. to accord the 75th permission to add the honour "India" to the colours of the old Stirlingshire Regiment, now the Gordon Highlanders.

84th (York and Lancaster Regiment).--The 84th was one of those regiments whose duty it was to do garrison duty in the disaffected districts during the campaign which put "Assaye" on the colours of more fortunate corps. Between the years 1796 and 1819 it was constantly employed in little-heard-of expeditions, which entailed many hardships and not a little hard fighting. On one occasion, in Guzerat in 1801, it lost an officer and 19 men killed, and its total losses in those twenty-two years amounted to close on 200 killed and wounded. It is a strange coincidence that in Guzerat they should have been fighting side by side with the regiment which eighty years later became their 1st Battalion.

86th (The Royal Irish Rifles).--During the operations of the main army, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, the 86th were employed in keeping in check the turbulent tribes in Guzerat, and so they, like the 65th and 84th, missed sharing in the glories of Assaye. Their services in Guzerat, in Cambay, were sufficiently severe. At the capture of Kariah their casualties were no less than 67 of all ranks; at Baroda they lost 37 killed and wounded; at Baroach 4 officers and 39 men; and at Lord Lake's attack on Bhurtpore the losses of the 86th were 112 of all ranks.

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XIV. BATTLE HONOURS FOR MINOR CAMPAIGNS IN THE EAST, 1796-1857

Amboyna--Ternate--Banda--Cochin--Arabia--Bourbon--Java--Persian Gulf--Beni Boo Alli--Aden--Persia--Bushire--Reshire--Koosh-ab.

AMBOYNA, 1796 AND 1810.

This distinction is borne only by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, as the lineal descendants of that most distinguished corps the 1st Madras European Regiment, which certainly has the right to bear with the Dorsets the title of "Primus in Indus."

From the earliest days of our association with the East Indies there had been mutual jealousies between the English and the Dutch merchants with regard to commerce in the Moluccas. So far back as the year 1623 the summary execution by the Dutch Governor of Amboyna of the commander of an East Indiaman nearly led to war between the two nations, and would have done so had not the States General disavowed the action of their colonial official. When Holland threw in her lot with France at the outbreak of the revolutionary wars, and granted the French fleets the hospitality of her Eastern harbours, it was determined to relieve the Dutch of these possessions.

In February, 1796, Admiral Rainier, commanding the fleet in the East Indies, sailed to Amboyna with a squadron consisting of the Suffolk (74), Centurion (50), Resistance (44), Orpheus (32), and Swift (16). The Dutch, recognizing the futility of resistance, surrendered, and Amboyna passed into our possession. The small body of troops employed on this occasion, as well as the navy, reaped a rich harvest in the shape of prize-money, the share of the Commander-in-Chief amounting to £90,000, and that of the Captains of the Royal Navy to £13,000 each. A detachment of the Madras European Regiment, under Major Vigors, was embarked on Admiral Rainier's squadron, and participated beneficially in the booty, the shares that fell to the lot of the soldiers being:

£ s. d. Major in command 13,583 0 0 Captains 1,314 0 0 Subalterns 636 0 0 Sergeants 229 0 0 Privates 44 0 0

At the Peace of Amiens, Amboyna and the neighbouring islands were restored to the Dutch. In the year 1810 it was found necessary to reoccupy them, and Captain Edward Tucker, R.N., with the Doris, Cornwallis, and Samarang, embarked a detachment of 130 men of the 1st Madras European Regiment (Royal Dublin Fusiliers), with 50 men of the Royal Artillery, as well as some sepoys. Slight opposition was encountered, our losses being 3 men killed, 1 officer and 9 non-commissioned officers and men wounded. We maintained a garrison in the island until the year 1814, when by the Treaty of Paris it was once more restored to the Dutch, and the British Empire deprived of one of the richest islands in Eastern waters.

+--------------------------------------------+-----------------------+ | DETAILS OF FORCE LANDED. | CASUALTIES. | +-----------------------+-----------+--------+-----------+-----------+ | | | |Officers.| Men. | | Force Engaged. |Officers.| Men. +-----------+-----------+ | | | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +-----------------------+-----------+--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Naval Brigade | 8 | 235 | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | |Royal Artillery | 1 | 46 | - | 1 | - | 1 | |Royal Dublin Fusiliers | 5 | 130 | - | - | 2 | 4 | +-----------------------+-----------+--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

TERNATE, 1801 AND 1810.

This honour is borne only by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. It commemorates one of the many little oversea expeditions which we were compelled to undertake in the course of our wars with France between the years 1793 and 1815. Ternate is one of the Molucca Islands, and then, as now, belonged to the Dutch. Its harbours, however, were open to the French fleets, and gave refuge to vessels of war and to privateers, which preyed upon our China commerce. It became necessary, therefore, to reduce the island, and in the year 1801 a combined naval and military expedition was despatched for its subjugation. The Madras troops were under the command of Colonel Burr, and they encountered a stubborn resistance. It was not until after a siege of fifty-two days that the Dutch Governor surrendered. As was our custom, on the conclusion of peace in the following year Ternate was restored to its original owners.

In the year 1810 it again became necessary to take possession of the island, and, after the capture of Amboyna, Captain Tucker, with a small detachment of artillery and of the 1st Madras European Regiment, the latter under Captain Forbes, set sail for the island. There was but slight opposition, and on August 31 Ternate once more passed into our hands, only to be restored to the Dutch under the terms of the Treaty of Paris in 1814.

+--------------------------------------------+-----------------------+ | DETAILS OF FORCE LANDED. | CASUALTIES. | +-----------------------+-----------+--------+-----------+-----------+ | | | |Officers.| Men. | | Force Engaged. |Officers.| Men. +-----------+-----------+ | | | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +-----------------------+-----------+--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Naval Brigade | 8 | 200 | - | - | 1 | 7 | |Royal Artillery | 1 | 36 | - | - | - | - | |Royal Dublin Fusiliers | 3 | 74 | - | 1 | 1 | 9 | +-----------------------+-----------+--------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

The troops received a small solatium in the shape of prize-money, the share of a Captain being £270, a Subaltern £120, a sergeant £32, and a private £13.

BANDA, 1796 AND 1810.

This distinction was granted by the Governor of Madras to the 1st Madras European Regiment, and is now borne only by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. It commemorates the two occupations of the Island of Banda, in the Eastern Archipelago, by a detachment of the old Madras European Regiment, the first taking place in 1796, the second in 1810. No medal was issued to the land forces engaged, but on the institution of the Naval General Service Medal in 1847 the naval commanders of the Caroline, Piedmontaise, and Barracouta were awarded the naval gold medal for the capture of the island in 1810, and distinctive bronze arm-badges, in lieu of medals, were bestowed by the Governor of Madras on the sepoys. The detachment of the 1st Madras European Regiment (now the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers) was under the command of Captain Nixon. Their services were cordially acknowledged by Captain Coles, of H.M.S. Caroline, but the regiment does not appear to have suffered any casualties.

ARABIA, 1809.

This distinction was granted to the York and Lancaster Regiment by a notification in the London Gazette in the month of March, 1823, in recognition of the gallant services of the regiment during the operations on the coast of Arabia in the years 1809 and 1821. The old 65th Regiment, as it then was, had not been fortunate enough to have been present at any of the well-known campaigns during its tour of Indian service. Nevertheless, it had been engaged in several arduous and by no means bloodless minor expeditions, in which the soldier-like qualities of a regiment are as severely tested as in campaigns which bring in their train greater honours and rewards. Such were the two expeditions for the punishment of piratical tribes on the Arabian coast.

The expedition in 1809 was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Lionel Smith, of the 65th Regiment. It was accompanied by the frigates Chiffon (Captain Wainwright) and Caroline. The military force comprised the 65th (York and Lancaster), the flank companies of the 47th (North Lancashire), and the 2nd Bombay Native Infantry, now the 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry, with a company of artillery. Nominally the pirates owned allegiance to the Sultan of Turkey, but his sovereignty was very shadowy, and as they had embraced Wahabiism they were looked upon more in the light of rebels than subjects. For years they had interfered with our commerce in the Persian Gulf, and had treated their prisoners with the refinement of cruelty. It therefore became necessary to root them out of their lair.

The little force left Bombay in the month of September, 1809, and proceeded to the pirate stronghold of Ras el Khima, on the Arabian coast. The Arabs fought bravely, but our superior armament and discipline soon told, and the fort, which had originally been built by the Portuguese more than two centuries previously, was dismantled. On December 27 the flotilla arrived at Linga, another piratical haunt, and this, too, after making a show of resistance, was destroyed. Hostages were brought to Bombay as security for the good behaviour of the tribes, and the force then returned to India, its total casualties having been:

CASUALTIES AT BENI BOO ALLI, 1809.

+--------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Navy | - | - | 2 | 16 | |65th York and Lancs Regt. | - | 1 | 2 | 7 | |47th N. Lancs | 1 | - | 3 | 10 | |103rd Mahratta Light Inf. | - | - | 2 | 31 | +--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

NOTE.--For this expedition the 2nd Bombay Native Infantry was granted the battle honour "Beni Boo Alli."

BOURBON, JULY 8, 1810.[18]

This distinction has been granted to the

Welsh Regiment. Royal Irish Rifles. 66th Punjabis. 84th Punjabis. 104th Wellesley's Rifles.

A medal was struck, by order of the Governor-General of India, for distribution to the officers and men of the Company's forces present during the expedition.

In the London Gazette of July 17, 1826, the 69th Foot (now the 2nd Welsh Regiment) was authorized to bear on its colours and appointments the word "Bourbon," in commemoration of the distinguished conduct of the regiment at the attack and capture of that island. Subsequently the same privilege was conferred on the 86th (2nd Battalion Irish Rifles).

Bourbon, now better known as Reunion, was a thorn in the side of the East India Company during our many wars with France. With Mauritius, then known as the Isle of France, it was a harbour of refuge for the many privateers which preyed upon our commerce, and a base of operations for the French fleet in Eastern waters. Its reduction became a necessity, but was from time to time deferred, until at last, in the month of September, 1809, the Governor-General, Lord Minto, despatched a force, under Colonel Keatinge, of the 56th Regiment (now the Essex), to report on the feasibility of the capture of both islands. With Keatinge was associated Commodore Josias Rowley, at the head of a squadron comprising the Raisonnable, Sirius, Boadicea, Nereide, and Otter, with the Honourable Company's cruiser Wasp. Keatinge's force consisted of his own regiment, the 56th (Essex), and the 2nd Bombay Native Infantry (now the 104th Wellesley's Rifles). A descent was made on the island, the forts at the principal port destroyed, and some French men-of-war and armed Indiamen brought away; but the force was altogether too small for Keatinge to retain possession.

In the following July, having received reinforcements, Keatinge and Rowley made a second descent. In the meantime they had occupied the Island of Rodriguez, which served as a valuable base of operations. In addition to the Essex and the Bombay Regiment, Keatinge now had the 69th (2nd Welsh), the 86th (2nd Irish Rifles), and the 6th and 12th Regiments of Madras Infantry (now the 66th and 84th Punjabis); and this force was strengthened by a naval brigade of seamen and Marines from the ships, the total numbering about 3,600 men. The French garrison made some show of resistance, but after a sharp engagement the Governor, seeing himself cut off from all hope of aid, surrendered, and until the conclusion of peace in 1814 Bourbon remained in our possession, Colonel Keatinge being installed as Governor, and a regiment being raised from the Creole inhabitants, which was borne on the rolls of our army as the Bourbon Regiment.

CASUALTIES AT THE CAPTURE OF THE ISLAND OF BOURBON, 1810.

+-----------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +-----------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |12th Suffolk | - | 2 | 2 | 5 | |56th Essex | - | - | 1 | 3 | |69th Welsh | - | - | 2 | - | |86th R. Irish R. | 1 | 6 | 10 | 51 | +-----------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

CASUALTIES AT THE ATTACK ON THE ISLAND IN 1809.

+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Marines | - | 2 | 7 | 17 | |56th Essex | - | - | 6 | 27 | |104th Wellesley's Rifles | - | 1 | 2 | 11 | +-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

The Essex Regiment, by its participation in both descents on the island, seem to have some claim to this distinction.

JAVA, 1811.

This battle honour is borne on the colours of the

West Yorkshire. East Lancashire. Welsh. Seaforth Highlanders. Royal Irish Fusiliers. Governor-General's Bodyguard. 2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.

The expedition was under the command of General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, but the Governor-General of India, Lord Minto, himself accompanied the troops, in order to arrange for the civil administration of the Dutch islands, several of which, as I have shown, had already fallen into our hands.

The troops selected comprised two Madras and one Bengal division, and were brigaded as follows:

First Madras Division--Major-General R. R. Gillespie: 25th Light Dragoons (260), Horse Artillery (152), the 14th (West Yorkshire), a wing of the 59th (East Lancashire), the 89th (Royal Irish Fusiliers), and four companies of European Sappers.

Second Madras Division--Colonel Gibbs, of the 59th (East Lancashire): 22nd Light Dragoons (154), Royal Artillery (98), a wing of the 59th (East Lancashire), the 69th (Welsh), and the 78th (Seaforth Highlanders).

The Bengal division was under the command of Major-General J. S. Wood, and consisted of the Governor-General's Bodyguard, the 1st Battalion of the Bengal Native Infantry, and five battalions of sepoys, who had volunteered from the whole of the regiments of the Bengal army, and who were designated as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Regiments of Bengal Volunteers. On the force being broken up, these men returned to their own regiments, receiving the medal which the Governor-General caused to be struck for the expedition, and so it comes about that, with the exception of the Bodyguard and the Madras Sappers, no native corps bears the distinction "Java" on its colours.

A powerful fleet, under the command of Admiral the Hon. R. Stopford, convoyed the transports. It comprised the following vessels:

Commander-in-Chief: Rear-Admiral the Hon. R. Stopford. Commodore: W. R. Broughton.

GUNS GUNS GUNS Scipio 74 Illustrious 74 Minden 74 Lion 64 Akbar 44 Nisus 38 Présidente 38 Hussar 38 Phæton 38 Leda 38 Caroline 36 Modeste 36 Phœbe 36 Bucephalus 36 Doris 36 Cornelia 32 Psyche 32 Drake 32 Procris 18 Barracouta 18 Hesper 18 Harpy 18 Hecate 18 Dasher 18 Samarang 12

HONOURABLE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CRUISERS.

Malabar. Aurora. Mornington. Nautilus. Vestal. Ariel. Thetis. Psyche.

and fifty-seven transports carrying troops.

The total strength of the expeditionary force amounted to 5,344 British and 5,770 native troops. On August 4 the troops disembarked at a place called Chillingcherry, some ten miles east of the capital, meeting with no opposition; but on the 10th the advanced brigade, under Gillespie, a most dashing officer, who had distinguished himself greatly in the West Indies, had a sharp encounter with the French, who were driven back, our casualties amounting to 90 killed and wounded. On the 20th the siege of Fort Cornelis was commenced, the Admiral landing a naval brigade and some heavy guns to aid in the operations. On the 26th the fort was carried by assault, Gillespie again distinguishing himself, pursuing the beaten enemy with the 22nd Light Dragoons for a distance of thirty-five miles, capturing 2 general, 30 field, and 214 other officers; 280 guns and 6,000 prisoners fell into our hands as a consequence of this bold attack, and the operations were brought to a conclusion by the unconditional surrender of the island. Gillespie, who was left in command on the departure of the Governor-General, experienced some difficulty in inducing the natives to learn submission, and a number of expeditions were necessary ere peace was fully restored. On the institution of the Land General Service Medal in 1847, the survivors of the expedition received that medal with a clasp inscribed "Java." The Governor-General, on his own initiative, at the conclusion of the operations, bestowed gold medals on field officers and silver medals on all other ranks; but the privilege of wearing these was confined to officers and men in the service of the East India Company.

CASUALTIES IN THE EXPEDITION TO JAVA, 1811.

+-----------------------------+-----------------+-------------------+ | | Officers. |N.C.O.'s and Men.| | Regiments. +--------+--------+--------+----------+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +-----------------------------+--------+--------+--------+----------+ |Royal Navy | - | 5 | 15 | 55 | |Royal Artillery | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | |Bengal Artillery | 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 | |Madras Artillery | - | 1 | 2 | 6 | |Bengal Engineers | - | 1 | - | - | |Madras Engineers | - | 1 | - | - | |22nd Light Dragoons | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | |14th West York | 1 | 5 | 11 | 90 | |59th East Lancastrian | 5 | 10 | 18 | 128 | |69th Welsh | 3 | 8 | 14 | 60 | |78th Seaforth Highlanders | 1 | 7 | 33 | 137 | |89th R.I. Fusiliers | - | 8 | 11 | 65 | |Governor-General's Bodyguard | - | 1 | 1 | 5 | |Madras Pioneers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |3rd Bengal Native Vols. | - | - | - | 3 | |4th Bengal Native Vols. | - | 2 | 11 | 28 | |5th Bengal Native Vols. | - | 1 | 2 | 22 | |6th Bengal Native Vols. | - | 3 | 4 | 22 | +-----------------------------+--------+--------+--------+----------+

PERSIAN GULF, 1819.

This distinction is borne only by the 121st Pioneers, formerly the Bombay Marine Battalion, and was awarded to that regiment by the order of the Governor of Bombay in Council as a recognition of its services when employed under Sir W. Grant Keir in the destruction of the piratical strongholds in the Persian Gulf in the year 1819. A previous expedition had been undertaken against the same tribes in the year 1809, when Sir Lionel Smith, with the 65th (York and Lancasters), the 47th (North Lancashire), and the 2nd Bombay Infantry had taught the pirates that they could not attack vessels flying the English flag with impunity. For some years the hot bloods of the Arabian coast abstained from exercising their predatory habits, but in the year 1817 they plundered several vessels, massacring their crews. The vessels of the East India Squadron had more than one sharp tussle with the pirates, but these were always able to escape to their lairs, where the seamen were unable to follow them. It was determined in 1819 to despatch a second expedition against the Joassma, the offending tribe. The command was entrusted to Major-General Sir W. Grant Keir, an officer who had conducted more than one successful campaign in Cutch and against other recalcitrant petty potentates. The troops selected were the 65th (York and Lancaster Regiment), and the flank companies of the 47th (Loyal North Lancashires). These two corps had been associated in the previous expedition in the year 1809. In addition to the British contingent, the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Bombay Native Infantry (now the 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry), the 11th Marine Battalion (now the 121st Pioneers), and the flank companies of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Bombay Infantry (now the 105th Mahratta Light Infantry), also accompanied the force, which was convoyed by H.M.S. Liverpool and several of the Honourable East India Company's cruisers.

The whole force assembled at the Island of Larrack, in the Persian Gulf, on November 24, and the General at once proceeded in the Liverpool to Ras-el-Khima, the pirates' stronghold, where he made a careful reconnaissance. Attempts were made through the Imaum of Muscat to open negotiations with the chief of the Joassma tribe, but to these he returned a defiant reply. The General thereupon sent for the transports, and on December 3 the whole force disembarked unopposed. It was evident that the fort had been considerably strengthened since 1809, and the General borrowed some 24-pounders from the Liverpool in order to construct and arm his shore batteries. Whilst the siege operations were in progress, the Arabs made more than one determined sortie; but when the bombardment commenced in earnest, they made but a feeble reply. This is scarcely to be wondered at. Their guns were all of small calibre, and the Liverpool claimed that she had thrown upwards of 1,200 32 and 24 pound shot into the place in twenty-four hours.

On the evening of December 9 the breach was declared practicable, but when the storming-parties approached the place at dawn on the 10th it was found deserted. Information was received through the Imaum of Muscat that the Arabs had retreated to another stronghold farther inland. The General then re-embarked a portion of his force, and proceeded up the coast to Rhams, which also was found to be abandoned; but here it was ascertained that the tribes were still defiant, and were massed in a hill fort of Zaya, some miles inland. The two British corps, with the artillery, were at once despatched to destroy this work, and on the 18th of the month Sir Grant Keir was able to report to Government the destruction of all the piratical strongholds and the submission of their chiefs.

The expedition had been attended with some loss, but the official report of the casualties in the Bombay Gazette tends to show that these fell on the British, and not on the native, corps engaged. The York and Lancaster Regiment have been accorded the distinction "Arabia" as a recognition of their services; but the 47th (Loyal North Lancashires), although they were twice employed with the 56th on the by no means pleasing duty of chastising Arab pirates, have not as yet been permitted to add the word "Arabia" to the other battle honours which are embroidered on their colours.

CASUALTIES DURING THE EXPEDITION TO THE PERSIAN GULF IN 1819.

+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Artillery | - | - | 1 | 3 | |47th North Lancashires | 1 | - | 2 | 17 | |65th York and Lancasters | 1 | 2 | 4 | 24 | |103rd Mahratta L.I. | - | - | - | 5 | |105th Mahratta L.I. | - | - | - | - | |121st Pioneers | - | - | - | - | +-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

Considerable booty was found, and the sum of £38,958 was remitted to England by the prize agents for distribution amongst the men of the 47th (North Lancashire) and 65th (York and Lancaster) Regiments.[19]

BENI BOO ALLI, MARCH, 1821.

This distinction is borne by the

Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry. 104th Wellesley's Rifles. 105th Mahratta Light Infantry. 107th Pioneers. 113th Infantry. 121st Pioneers.

It was awarded to these regiments by the Governor of Bombay for their gallant services in destroying the strongholds of Arab pirates in the Persian Gulf. The 65th Regiment (York and Lancasters) was also employed in the same service, but it does not bear the honour.

The expedition was under the command of Major-General Lionel Smith, who, as a Lieutenant-Colonel, had carried through successfully a previous expedition in the year 1809.

On this occasion his force comprised the 65th (York and Lancasters), the 1st Bombay European Battalion (now the 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers), the 1st Battalion of the 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry, and the flank companies of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd, 2nd Battalion of the 2nd, 1st Battalion of the 3rd, and 1st Battalion of the 4th Regiments of Bombay Native Infantry, with the Bombay Marine Battalion (121st Pioneers), together with 200 Bombay artillerymen. H.M.S. Topaze, Liverpool, Eden, and Curlew also accompanied the force.

The Arabs were in a most defiant mood. They had inflicted a severe defeat on a native force which had been sent against them a short time previously. This force had been driven back, with a loss of nearly 400 sepoys killed, whilst five British officers were amongst the slain. Sir Lionel Smith's force landed without opposition under cover of the guns of the fleet, and on March 2 the stronghold of the Joassma tribe was carried, after a sharp fight. The Imaum of Muscat now endeavoured to induce the tribes to come to terms, but on the 10th they made a most determined attack on our camp. In this they were worsted, but our losses were considerable, the 1st Bombay Fusiliers and the 7th Regiment of Bombay Sepoys (now the 113th) suffering severely. The destruction of their forts and vessels by the fleet soon reduced the Arabs to reason, and they agreed to send hostages to Bombay for their future good behaviour. Our casualties during this expedition were as follows:

CASUALTIES AT BENI BOO ALLI.

+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Navy | 3 | 3 | 5 | 20 | |65th York and Lancaster | - | 2 | 4 | 35 | |2nd Dublin Fus. | 1 | 3 | 17 | 34 | |113th Pioneers (British) | 1 | 2 | - | - | |113th Pioneers (Native ) | - | 2 | 21 | 122 | +-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

ADEN, 1839.

This distinction is borne by the

Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 121st Pioneers. 124th Baluchistan Infantry.

It commemorates the expedition which transferred the sovereignty of the well-known coaling-station to the East India Company. So far back as the year 1799 an expedition from Bombay had occupied the Island of Perim, at the entrance of the Red Sea, and during the expedition to Egypt in the year 1801 we had a garrison on that inhospitable little islet. At the close of the war with France the garrison was withdrawn. With the advent of steam it became evident that the real route to India would be by the Red Sea, and the value of Aden as a coaling-station was borne on the minds of the Government of our great dependency. Commodore Haines, of the Indian Marine, an officer of exceptional attainments, was entrusted with the task of carrying on the necessary negotiations with the Arab ruler of Aden, and in the year 1835, in return for a cash subsidy and a promise of British protection, we became virtual rulers of the place. Disputes soon arose. The neighbouring chiefs disapproved of the action of the chief with whom we had negotiated, and in the year 1838 it became evident that it would be necessary for us to maintain a garrison there in order to assert our supremacy. No resistance was anticipated, and the force sent was small. It consisted of a wing of the 1st Bombay Fusiliers (now the Royal Dublin Fusiliers) and the 24th Bombay Native Infantry, the whole under Major T. M. Bailie, of the latter regiment. Two ships of the Royal Navy, the Volage and Cruiser, and a squadron of the Indian Marine also participated in the affair. On these were embarked the present 121st Pioneers, then known as the Bombay Marine Battalion.

On the arrival of the expedition at Aden, the Arabs declined to allow the troops to land or to supply them with either food or water. The works were then shelled, and under cover of this fire the troops disembarked and occupied the town, which had been abandoned, the Arabs having taken refuge in one of the forts, from which a white flag was displayed. After a little parleying, these men surrendered; but in the act of disarming them a regrettable incident occurred, in which we lost some sixteen men killed and wounded; otherwise, with the exception of one midshipman, who was hurt in the landing, Aden was acquired without bloodshed.

In the month of November following a half-hearted attempt was made to recapture the place. This was repulsed without loss, and in May, 1840, a second attempt was also repulsed. Since then our hold on Aden has been unchallenged, though on more than one occasion we have been compelled to undertake expeditions against the tribes in the hinterland, none of which, however, have been deemed of sufficient importance for special mention. Indeed, with so many hard-fought actions unrecorded, one is tempted to ask how comes it that the name "Aden" has been selected for a battle honour.

PERSIA, 1856-57.

This distinction is borne by the

14th Hussars. North Staffords. Durham Light Infantry. Seaforth Highlanders. 33rd Queen's Own Light Cavalry. 34th Poona Horse. 35th Scinda Horse. 2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners. 3rd Sappers and Miners. 104th Wellesley's Rifles. 120th Rajputana Infantry. 123rd Outram's Rifles. 126th Baluchistan Infantry. 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis.

It recognizes the services of a force which was employed in Persia during the winter 1856-57, in a campaign for which no less than four battle honours were granted. The army was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram, K.C.B., an officer of the Bombay army, who was affectionately termed the Bayard of India. His force was organized as follows:

First Division: Major-General Stalker.

First Brigade--Brigadier N. Wilson, K. H: 64th (North Staffords), 120th Rajputana Infantry.

Second Brigade--Brigadier R. H. Honnor: 106th (Durham Light Infantry), and 104th Bombay Rifles.

Second Division: Major-General H. Havelock, C.B.

Third Brigade--Brigadier H. Hamilton: 78th (Ross-shire Buffs), 126th Baluchistan Infantry.

Fourth Brigade--Brigadier J. Hale: 123rd Outram's Rifles and 129th Baluchis.

Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier J. Jacob: 14th Hussars, 33rd Queen's Own Light Cavalry, 34th Poona Horse, and 35th Scinde Horse.

The casus belli may be summed up in one word--Herat. That city had long been considered the key of India, and when, early in 1856, the Persians captured it from the Afghans, we insisted on its restoration. On this being refused, it was determined to compel acceptance of our demands. Sir James Outram, who had been nominated to the chief command, was on his way from England, and, in order to lose no time, the First Division of the expeditionary force, under General Stalker, accompanied by a powerful squadron of vessels belonging to the Indian Marine, left Bombay on November 9 for the Persian Gulf. On December 5 the fleet bombarded the fortifications of Bushire, and the following day the troops disembarked unopposed.

No casualties were incurred either at the bombardment of Bushire or at the landing of the troops. It was a very cheaply won battle honour.

BUSHIRE, DECEMBER 5, 1856.

The following regiments have been authorized to bear this battle honour for the bombardment of Bushire:

North Stafford. Durham Light Infantry. 33rd Queen's Own Light Cavalry. 34th P.A.V.O. Poona Horse. 3rd Sappers and Miners. 104th Wellesley's Rifles. 120th Rajputana Infantry. 129th P.W.O. Baluchis.

RESHIRE, DECEMBER 7, 1856.

This battle honour is borne on the colours of the

North Staffords. Durham Light Infantry. 34th Poona Horse. 33rd Queen's Own Light Cavalry. 3rd Sappers and Miners. 104th Wellesley's Rifles. 120th Rajputana Infantry. 129th Baluchis.

On December 5 the first division of the Persian Expeditionary Force had disembarked in the near neighbourhood of the fortified city of Bushire. The Persians were holding an old redoubt which dated from the days of the Dutch occupation. Unfortunately, General Stalker made no attempt to shell the work, and when, in the early morning of December 7, the brigade carried it by assault, the 64th (North Staffords) and 104th Bombay Rifles were met by a well-sustained fire, which, however, died away as they neared the parapet. The Colonel of the 64th--Stopford--who was in command of the brigade, was shot dead as he led the men over the breastwork, and the 104th lost two officers mortally wounded. With this insignificant loss, the formidable work was carried, and on the following day the Governor of Bushire, thinking he had done enough for honour, surrendered the fortifications of the city to the General. The whole brigade now took up its position close to Bushire, to await the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief with the remainder of the army.

CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION OF RESHIRE, DECEMBER 7, 1856.

+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 3 | |64th N. Stafford | - | - | 2 | 5 | |33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry | 1 | - | - | 3 | |104th Wellesley's Rifles | - | - | - | 5 | |120th Rajputana Infantry | 2 | 1 | - | 7 | |106th Durham L.I. | - | - | 2 | 7 | |34th Poona H. | - | - | - | - | |129th Baluchis | - | - | 2 | - | +-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

KOOSH-AB, FEBRUARY 8, 1857.

This battle honour is borne on the colours and appointments of the

North Staffords. Durham Light Infantry. Seaforth Highlanders. 33rd Queen's Own Light Cavalry. 34th Poona Horse. 3rd Sappers and Miners. 104th Wellesley's Rifles. 120th Rajputana Infantry. 126th Baluchis. 129th Baluchis.

It recognizes the services of these regiments at the action of Koosh-ab, during the Persian campaign under Sir James Outram. The Persian infantry, which had been trained by British officers, were well handled, and actually threw themselves into square when threatened by our cavalry. These squares were broken by the 3rd Bombay Cavalry (now the 33rd Queen's Own Light Cavalry), and two officers obtained the Victoria Cross for their conduct on this occasion. Sir James Outram, who had a keen eye for personal gallantry, recommended no less than ten members of the regiment for this much-prized decoration, including some of the native ranks. The casualties which I append below show that the Persians evinced little determination, or else their shooting did not reflect much credit on their training:

+------------------------+-----------+-----------+ | |Officers.| Men. | | Regiments. +-----+-----+-----+-----+ | | K. | W. | K. | W. | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+ |Royal Artillery | - | - | 1 | 7 | |64th N. Stafford | - | 2 | 2 | 10 | |106th Durham L.I. | - | 1 | 2 | 9 | |33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry | - | 1 | 1 | 14 | |34th Poona H. | - | - | 3 | 8 | |126th Baluchis | - | - | 1 | 5 | +------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+

The other regiments present suffered no loss.

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XI. BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN THE PENINSULAR WAR, 1808-1814…

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