First Brigade—Brigadier Robert Prescott: 15th (East Yorkshire), 28th (Gloucester), 46th (Cornwall Light Infantry), and 54th (Border Regiment).Second Brigade—Brigadier Sir H. Calder: 27th (Inniskilling Fusiliers), 35th (Sussex), 40th (South Lancashire), and 49th (Royal Berkshire).Third Brigade—Brigadier W. Meadows: 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers), Grenadier Battalion and Light Infantry Battalion, made up of the flank companies of all regiments present.
First Brigade—Brigadier Robert Prescott: 15th (East Yorkshire), 28th (Gloucester), 46th (Cornwall Light Infantry), and 54th (Border Regiment).
Second Brigade—Brigadier Sir H. Calder: 27th (Inniskilling Fusiliers), 35th (Sussex), 40th (South Lancashire), and 49th (Royal Berkshire).
Third Brigade—Brigadier W. Meadows: 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers), Grenadier Battalion and Light Infantry Battalion, made up of the flank companies of all regiments present.
In addition, there were two companies of Royal Artillery and a troop of Dragoons. Knowing that Admiral d'Estaing, with a fleet outnumbering his own three to one, had already left Boston to oppose him, Admiral Barrington set sail from Barbados on December 10, and the following day entered in Cul de Sac Bay, on the western coast of the island. Two brigades were at oncedisembarked, and they, carrying the French entrenchments, made themselves masters of a strong position overlooking the main works of the enemy at Castries. On December 12 the remainder of the troops were landed, and an attack on the French entrenchments at the Morne Fortunée was successfully carried out, and by evening we were in possession of all the forts and batteries defending Castries Bay. Two days later the French fleet, carrying 9,000 troops, appeared in the offing, and d'Estaing at once attacked Barrington's squadron, which was anchored across Cul de Sac Bay. Foiled there, he stood to the northward, with the intention of turning General Grant's position at Castries, and, under cover of the guns of the fleet, several thousand French were landed. Here, however, they met with stout opposition. Meadows, at the head of the Northumberland Fusiliers and the Light Infantry Battalion, repulsing several most determined attacks, in which the French lost 400 dead left on the field, with some 1,200 wounded, our casualties in killed and wounded barely reaching 175. D'Estaing re-embarked his men on the 28th, and withdrew his fleet to Martinique, whereupon the French commandant had no option but to surrender.
Casualties at the Capture of the Island of St. Lucia in 1778.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Royal Artillery--124th King's Own----5th North. Fus.-222015th E. Yorks-1-127th Innis. Fus.----28th Gloucester1112L.I. Battalion--64835th R. Sussex-1-140th S. Lancs-11146th Corn. L.I.-13949th Berks----55th Border Regiment-1-2Grenadier Batt.--376
Note.—I am indebted to the courtesy of the Army Council for the above casualty list.
Note.—I am indebted to the courtesy of the Army Council for the above casualty list.
This distinction, awarded in 1909, is borne by the following regiments—
Royal Warwick.Norfolk.East Yorkshire.Royal Scots Fusiliers.East Surrey.North Stafford.Northampton.Dorset.York and Lancaster.
—and commemorates the second capture of the island from the French. Considerable care had been bestowed on the preparation of this expedition. Its command was entrusted to capable hands, Sir John Jervis—afterwards Lord St. Vincent—having charge of the naval, and General Sir Charles Grey of the military forces. These last were divided into five brigades:
First Brigade—Brigadier Sir C. Gordon: 15th (East Yorkshire), 39th (Dorset), and 43rd (Oxford Light Infantry).Second Brigade—Brigadier Thomas Dunbar: 56th (2nd Essex), 63rd (1st Manchester), and 64th (1st North Staffords).Third Brigade—Brigadier J. Whyte: 6th (Royal Warwick), 58th (2nd Northampton), and 70th (2nd East Surrey).Fourth Brigade—Brigadier Campbell (subsequently replaced by H.R.H. Duke of Kent): Three battalions, composed of the grenadier companies of all regiments in Ireland and Flanders.Fifth Brigade—Colonel Myers: Three battalions, composed of the light companies of the same regiments.
First Brigade—Brigadier Sir C. Gordon: 15th (East Yorkshire), 39th (Dorset), and 43rd (Oxford Light Infantry).
Second Brigade—Brigadier Thomas Dunbar: 56th (2nd Essex), 63rd (1st Manchester), and 64th (1st North Staffords).
Third Brigade—Brigadier J. Whyte: 6th (Royal Warwick), 58th (2nd Northampton), and 70th (2nd East Surrey).
Fourth Brigade—Brigadier Campbell (subsequently replaced by H.R.H. Duke of Kent): Three battalions, composed of the grenadier companies of all regiments in Ireland and Flanders.
Fifth Brigade—Colonel Myers: Three battalions, composed of the light companies of the same regiments.
Profiting by the experience of the expedition in 1762, a number of gunboats—flat-bottomed craft, to assist in the disembarkation of the troops—had been sent out from England in sections, and a number of negroes purchased for the formation of a transport corps. On February 3 the expedition set sail from Carlisle Bay, Barbados, and two days later appeared off the island of Martinique in three divisions, the Commander-in-Chief with the Third and Grenadier Brigades, landing at Trois Rivières, in the extreme south; Dundas, with his own and the Light Infantry Brigade, near Trinité, on the east coast; and Gordon at Case Navire, a little to the north of Port Royal, the capital. By February 12 Grey and Gordon, greatly assisted by the guns of the fleet, had gradually converged on Port Royal, driving the French before them, whilst Dunbar was steadilypushing his way across the island from east to west. On February 17 St. Pierre (the commercial capital) surrendered to Dunbar, and on March 8 Grey commenced to throw up siege batteries for the reduction of the fortifications at Fort Royal; fourteen days later Fort Louis fell to a combined assault of seamen and soldiers, and on the 23rd GeneralRochambeausurrendered.
Leaving six battalions in the island, Grey, who had been reinforced by the Buffs and Norfolks, embarked with these two regiments, the Warwicks, 43rd (Oxford Light Infantry), 63rd (Manchester), and the Grenadier and Light Infantry Brigades, for St. Lucia, which was captured on April 2; then, proceeding to Guadeloupe, he effected the reduction of that island by the end of May, not, however, without very sharp fighting. The casualties we incurred at the capture of Guadeloupe are given onp. 99. At the capture of St. Lucia our losses were trifling; those at the capture of Martinique are given below.
No less than 122 officers of the garrison died of disease before the end of the year:
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Royal Artillery-310186th R. Warwick1-128th King's Liverpool2---9th Norfolks1--112th Suffolks2---15th E. Yorks2-3417th Leicesters1---21st Roy. Scots Fusiliers3---34th Border Regiment1---35th R. Sussex1---Royal Navy241965Three L.I. Battalions-22062Roy. Engineers-11338th S. Stafford----39th Dorsets1-1440th Loyal N. Lancashires1---43rd Oxford L.I.2--344th Essex----58th N'ampton2---60th K.R.R.1---64th N. Staffs----63rd Manchesters--21170th E. Surrey---2Three Grenadier Battalions143074
No battle honour was conferred for the capture of the island on this occasion.
Immediately after the capture of Martinique, on March 25, 1794, General Sir George Grey, with Admiral Sir John Jervis, sailed for St. Lucia with a force composed as under:
First Brigade—H.R.H. Prince Edward (afterwards Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria): Comprising three battalions, made up of the grenadier companies of the whole force in Martinique.Second Brigade—Major-General Dundas: Comprising three light infantry battalions.Third Brigade—Colonel Sir C. Gordon: 6th (Warwick), 9th (Norfolk), and 43rd (Oxford Light Infantry) Regiments.
First Brigade—H.R.H. Prince Edward (afterwards Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria): Comprising three battalions, made up of the grenadier companies of the whole force in Martinique.
Second Brigade—Major-General Dundas: Comprising three light infantry battalions.
Third Brigade—Colonel Sir C. Gordon: 6th (Warwick), 9th (Norfolk), and 43rd (Oxford Light Infantry) Regiments.
On April 1 the squadron arrived off the island, and the Second Brigade was at once disembarked under the guns of theWinchelsea, the operation being executed, to use Sir John Jervis's words, "with neatness and despatch, under the direction of Lord Viscount Garlies." Colonels Blundell and Coote, at the head of their battalions, advanced rapidly on the fortified position on the Morne Fortunée, which was evacuated by the enemy, when the French commander hoisted the white flag, and the island for the second time in its history passed into the possession of the English. Leaving Sir C. Gordon in command with the 6th and 9th Regiments as garrison, Sir G. Grey returned to Martinique.
Owing to the exigencies of the service, and the inability of the Ministry at home to realize the necessity of maintaining the troops in the West Indies at a proper strength, Grey from time to time was compelled to reduce the garrison, so that when, in the spring of the following year, the negroes of St. Lucia, in common with their fellows in the neighbouring islands, rose in revolt, the then Governor, Colonel Stuart, had only some 400 men to make headway against the revolt. In June the island was evacuated.
The only regiments authorized to bear the battle honour are the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Shropshires.
Early in the year 1796 it became necessary to re-conquer practically the whole of the French West India Islands—not, indeed, from the armies of the French Republic, but from the hordes of negroes, whose passions had been inflamed by revolutionary agents, and whose ambitions had been fired by the pernicious doctrines of "the rights of man." The command of the expeditionary force was entrusted to Sir Ralph Abercromby, with whom was associated the ever-to-be-remembered Sir John Moore. The total force numbered some 18,000 men, distributed as under, and was mobilized in Carlisle Bay, Barbados, in March, 1796:
Cavalry: 27th Light Dragoons and Royal Irish Artillery.First Brigade: 14th, 27th, 28th, and 57th Regiments.Second Brigade: 3rd, 19th, 31st, and 35th Regiments.Third Brigade: 8th, 37th, 44th, and 55th Regiments.Fourth Brigade: 38th, 48th, 53rd, and 63rd Regiments.Fifth Brigade: 2nd, 10th, 25th, 29th, and 88th Regiments.Sixth Brigade: 42nd (Highlanders), and two battalions composed of the grenadier companies of all the regiments present.
Cavalry: 27th Light Dragoons and Royal Irish Artillery.
First Brigade: 14th, 27th, 28th, and 57th Regiments.
Second Brigade: 3rd, 19th, 31st, and 35th Regiments.
Third Brigade: 8th, 37th, 44th, and 55th Regiments.
Fourth Brigade: 38th, 48th, 53rd, and 63rd Regiments.
Fifth Brigade: 2nd, 10th, 25th, 29th, and 88th Regiments.
Sixth Brigade: 42nd (Highlanders), and two battalions composed of the grenadier companies of all the regiments present.
Abercromby's first care was to throw reinforcements into Grenada, which was still holding out, and on April 21 the convoy left Carlisle Bay for St. Lucia. On the 26th Moore landed with the 14th and 42nd, and on the following day he was reinforced by the 53rd, 57th, and the 2nd West India Regiment, under Brigadier Hope. By the 28th the whole of the force was ashore, but the operations dragged on until May 15, when the whole island was in our hands. On the 17th of that month there had been a sharp engagement, in which the 31st (East Surrey) lost heavily. Moore complained bitterly of the troops, writing as follows: "It is hard to say whether the officers or men are the worst." Moore was left in command at St. Lucia, whilst Abercromby undertook the reduction of Grenada and St. Vincent. Although the only regiments authorized to carry the distinction "St. Lucia, 1796" are the Inniskilling Fusiliers (27th),and Shropshire Light Infantry (53rd), reference to the casualty lists shows that this selection casts an unnecessary slur on the other corps which bore their fair share of fighting in the reconquest of the island.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.14th W. Yorks-11427th Inniskillings16226528th Gloucester-331831st E. Surrey266110742nd H'landers-1-444th Essex-341748th N'ampton-121553rd Shropshire L.I.31346-
By the close of the year 1796, Moore had buried 1,500 of his garrison. So terrible were the losses we incurred from sickness—losses due to the neglect of the home authorities to provide for the sick—that it was with a sense of relief the army learnt the welcome news that, under the terms of the Treaty of Amiens, St. Lucia was restored to the French. This retrocession, however, necessitated its recapture in 1803.
Note.—The battle honour "St. Lucia, 1803," has been granted to the Royal Scots and North Staffords for their services in the expedition under General Grinfield, in which the 68th Durham Light Infantry and 3rd West India Regiment also shared.
Note.—The battle honour "St. Lucia, 1803," has been granted to the Royal Scots and North Staffords for their services in the expedition under General Grinfield, in which the 68th Durham Light Infantry and 3rd West India Regiment also shared.
Casualties.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Royal Scots-29453rd W. India R.-242364th North Staffords-4633
The regiments authorized to bear this distinction are the Bedfordshire and the North Staffords.
It commemorates the capture of this colony from the Dutch by a combined naval and military expedition on the resumption of hostilities with Holland after the Treaty of Amiens. The colony had been captured in1799 by Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour and General Trigge, but had been restored to the Dutch in 1802.
Carlisle Bay (Barbados) was the rendezvous, the squadron being under the command of Commodore Samuel Hood, whilst the troops were commanded by Major-General Sir Charles Green. These consisted of the 16th (Bedfords), 64th (North Staffords), and the 6th West India Regiment. Leaving Barbados on April 6, 1804, the squadron, delayed by adverse and light winds, did not arrive off the mouth of the Surinam River until the 25th, when the Dutch commander was invited to surrender. To the summons he returned a truculent reply; and the troops, divided into two brigades, under Colonels Maitland and Hughes, were thrown ashore, reinforced by a naval brigade 600 strong. The defence was feeble, and in three days the place fell into our hands. Our loss was trifling, falling on the naval brigade and the North Staffords, neither the Bedfords nor the West India Regiment suffering any casualties.
Casualties at the Capture of Surinam, 1804.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Naval Brigade2215N. Staffords-228Naval Brigade2338Bedfords----6th West India Regiment----
The only regiments authorized to bear this distinction are the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and the West India Regiment.
Our connection with the island dates back to the year 1762, when, on June 11, it was captured by a joint naval and military expedition under Colonel Lord Rollo and Commodore Sir James Douglas, R.N., with theBelliqueux,Dublin,Montague, andSutherland. The troops concernedin this first capture were detachments of the King's Own (Lancaster Regiment), the Cheshires, and the Black Watch. The brunt of the fighting fell on the Highlanders, who lost 2 officers and 19 men killed, 10 officers and 74 men wounded. The possession of the island was confirmed to us by the Treaty of Paris in the following year. In 1778 it was taken from us by the French. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, the Governor, Major-General the Hon. W. Stewart, had reported the precarious position of the island. His total force amounted to 98 men of the 48th (Northamptons) and 28 gunners; of these but 41 were fit for duty. On September 7 a French force of four frigates, convoying 3,000 troops, appeared before the island, and the Governor was perforce compelled to surrender to De Bouillé. By the peace of 1783 the island was restored to us, but in 1805, mindful of their former success, the French made a fresh attempt at its capture. Five line-of-battleships, headed by theMajestueux, of 120 guns, stood into the harbour and overwhelmed the town of Roseau with their fire. The Governor, General Prevost, withdrew to a second position, and refused all summons for surrender, when the French, baffled, left him undisturbed. The garrison consisted of the 46th Foot (now the 2nd Battalion of the Cornwall Light Infantry), the 1st West India Regiment, and some local militia. The casualties of the defenders were slight, but their services were considered sufficiently meritorious for the following notification in theGazette:
"As a distinguished mark of the good conduct and exemplary valour displayed by that regiment in the defence of the Island of Dominica against a very superior French force on February 22, 1805, the 46th Regiment is permitted to bear on its colours and appointments thename 'Dominica.'" For many long years this was the only distinction borne by that regiment.
The casualties were—
Cornwall Light Infantry: 11 men killed, 1 officer and 7 men wounded.The West India Regiment: 9 men killed, 2 officers and 8 men wounded.
Cornwall Light Infantry: 11 men killed, 1 officer and 7 men wounded.
The West India Regiment: 9 men killed, 2 officers and 8 men wounded.
This distinction is borne by the
Royal Fusiliers.King's Liverpool Regiment.Somerset Light Infantry.East Yorkshires.Royal Welsh Fusiliers.King's Own Scottish Borderers.King's Own Royal Rifles.Manchesters.Scottish Rifles.West India Regiment.
Under the terms of the Treaty of Amiens, Martinique, amongst our many other conquests from France, was restored, thus necessitating its recapture on the resumption of hostilities. Had it not been for the fact that it was made a port of call and refit for all the privateers in the Western Atlantic, the island might have been left in peace; but in the interests of our commerce, as well as for military reasons, its recapture was decided on, and General Sir George Beckwith was entrusted with the command of the operations. His divisional commanders were Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost and Major-General Maitland. The Commander-in-Chief himself accompanied the First Division, which comprised the
First Brigade—Brigadier-General Hoghton: Royal Fusiliers, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and a wing of the 3rd West India Regiment.Second Brigade—Brigadier-General Colville: 8th (King's Liverpool Regiment), 13th (Somerset Light Infantry), and a wing of the 1st West India Regiment.Reserve Brigade: The 3rd and 4th Battalions of the King's Royal Rifles and the 4th West India Regiment.
First Brigade—Brigadier-General Hoghton: Royal Fusiliers, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and a wing of the 3rd West India Regiment.
Second Brigade—Brigadier-General Colville: 8th (King's Liverpool Regiment), 13th (Somerset Light Infantry), and a wing of the 1st West India Regiment.
Reserve Brigade: The 3rd and 4th Battalions of the King's Royal Rifles and the 4th West India Regiment.
This force disembarked on January 30 at St. Luce Bay, on the western coast of the island, and on the following day took possession of the town of Trinité without opposition.
First Brigade—Colonel Riall: 63rd (Manchesters) and the York Rangers (a colonial corps which did most excellent service in our West India campaigns).Second Brigade—Major-General Maitland: 15th (East Yorkshire), the flank companies of the 46th (Cornwall Light Infantry), the 8th West India Regiment, and a body of local volunteers, known as the York Light Infantry.Reserve Brigade—Colonel Macnair (90th): 90th (Scottish Rifles) and the 3rd West India Regiment.
First Brigade—Colonel Riall: 63rd (Manchesters) and the York Rangers (a colonial corps which did most excellent service in our West India campaigns).
Second Brigade—Major-General Maitland: 15th (East Yorkshire), the flank companies of the 46th (Cornwall Light Infantry), the 8th West India Regiment, and a body of local volunteers, known as the York Light Infantry.
Reserve Brigade—Colonel Macnair (90th): 90th (Scottish Rifles) and the 3rd West India Regiment.
This force disembarked on the south of the island, near the Three Rivers—a spot at which considerable fightinghad taken place in our previous descents on the island—and here again Maitland encountered some resistance. But his brigades, working over the hills to the left, effected a junction with the Commander-in-Chief, and by February 4, thanks to the effective co-operation of the fleet, the French Governor surrendered.
Amongst the trophies were the colours, or rather the eagles, of the 62nd and 80th Regiments of the French line. One of these fell to the Royal Fusiliers, the other to the 90th, and the Commander-in-Chief selected Captain Wilby, of the 90th, to carry these trophies to England and depose them at the feet of the King. These were the first eagles to be received in England, and His Majesty was pleased to command that they should be escorted in state by the regiments of the Household Brigade to St. Paul's Cathedral, where they were received with all due solemnity. In the early days of the reign of Queen Victoria these eagles were removed to the chapel of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, where they may be seen to this day.
Casualties at the Capture of Martinique, 1809.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Roy. Fusiliers12361198th K. Liverp.10413R. Welsh Fus.011910190th Scot. Rifles-2831W. India Regt.--219L.I. Battalion152671
In the year 1847, when the late Queen Victoria granted a medal to the survivors of the wars against France, Martinique was included in the list of campaigns for which the medal was to be conferred, and a special clasp "Martinique" was issued with both the military and naval General Service Medal.
By the Treaty of Amiens Martinique was handed over to the French, but on Napoleon's escape from Elba itdeclared for the Emperor, and General Leith was despatched with a strong force to recapture the island. Fortunately, the Governor, recognizing the hopelessness of resistance, surrendered without attempting a useless defence, and so for a few months Martinique again became a British possession, only to be handed back when Napoleon was safe under restraint.
The regiments which are authorized to bear this honour are the
East Yorkshire.Scottish Rifles.East Surrey.Manchester.West India.
The island on three previous occasions had been captured, and thrice restored to the French. Once again it became necessary to take measures for its reduction. Sir George Beckwith, who had so successfully carried out the conquest of Martinique in the previous year, was selected for the command of the expedition, with Generals Hyslop and Harcourt as Divisional Generals under him. The force was distributed as under:
First Division: Major-General Hyslop.Third Brigade—Brigadier-General McLean: 90th Light Infantry (2nd Scottish Rifles), 8th West India Regiment, and a battalion composed of the light companies of all the regiments present in the West Indies.Fourth Brigade—Brigadier-General Skinner: 13th (Somerset Light Infantry), 63rd (Manchesters), and the York Rangers (a colonial corps).Second Division: Major-General Harcourt, who also commanded the Third Brigade, which consisted of the 15th (East Yorkshire), 3rd West India Regiment, and a second light infantry battalion.Third Brigade—Brigadier-General Barrow: 25th (King's Own Scottish Borderers), 2nd West India Regiment, and a battalion composed of the grenadier companies of the regiments present.Reserve Brigade—Brigadier-General Wale, under whom were placed a battalion composed of the grenadier companies of the regiments in the West Indies, a detachment of the York Rangers, and 300 artillerymen.
First Division: Major-General Hyslop.
Third Brigade—Brigadier-General McLean: 90th Light Infantry (2nd Scottish Rifles), 8th West India Regiment, and a battalion composed of the light companies of all the regiments present in the West Indies.
Fourth Brigade—Brigadier-General Skinner: 13th (Somerset Light Infantry), 63rd (Manchesters), and the York Rangers (a colonial corps).
Second Division: Major-General Harcourt, who also commanded the Third Brigade, which consisted of the 15th (East Yorkshire), 3rd West India Regiment, and a second light infantry battalion.
Third Brigade—Brigadier-General Barrow: 25th (King's Own Scottish Borderers), 2nd West India Regiment, and a battalion composed of the grenadier companies of the regiments present.
Reserve Brigade—Brigadier-General Wale, under whom were placed a battalion composed of the grenadier companies of the regiments in the West Indies, a detachment of the York Rangers, and 300 artillerymen.
Casualties at the Capture of Guadeloupe, 1810.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Staff-2--Royal Artillery--1313th Somerset L.I.-15-East Yorkshire-1--40th Cornwall L.I.---3King's Roy. R.-241163rd M'chesters---190th Scottish Rifles-139West India Regiments-4784York Rangers4528102
In the year 1847 the General Service Medal was granted to the survivors of this expedition, with a special clasp inscribed "Guadeloupe."
In the year 1814, on the conclusion of the war with France, Guadeloupe was once more restored; but on the escape of Napoleon from Elba it threw off its allegiance to Louis XVIII., and declared for the Emperor. Once more an expedition was organized for its reduction, and though the futility of resistance was pointed out, the garrison, by its unnecessary loyalty to a dead cause, compelled the General to resort to force. The command of the 1815 expedition was entrusted to Major-General Leith, the regiments selected being the East Yorkshires, who have participated in every expedition to the West Indies since the year 1759; the King's Own Scottish Borderers; the 63rd (Manchesters); and the local West India Regiments. The only casualties were—
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.63rd M'chesters-2320W. India Regt .-21331
BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN, 1802-1898
Egypt with the Sphinx—Mandora, 1802—Marabout, 1802—Egypt, 1882—Tel-el-Kebir, 1882—The Nile, 1884-85—Abu Klea, 1885—Kirbekan, 1885—Suakin, 1885—Tofrek, 1885—Hafir, 1896—Atbara, 1898—Khartoum, 1898.
On July 6, 1802, this distinction was conferred by King George III. on the regiments named below, "as a distinguished mark of His Majesty's royal approbation, and as a lasting memorial of the glory acquired to His Majesty's arms by the zeal, discipline, and intrepidity of his troops in that arduous and important campaign." So ran theGazette.
Five-and-forty years later, after much discussion and not a little opposition, the grant of the Peninsular medal was extended to the survivors of the campaign. The regiments that bear this battle honour are the
11th Hussars.12th Lancers.Coldstream Guards.Scots Guards.Royal Scots.Queen's.King's Liverpool Regiment.Lincolns.Somerset Light Infantry.Royal Irish.Lancashire Fusiliers.Royal Welsh Fusiliers.South Wales Borderers.Cameronians.Inniskilling Fusiliers.Gloucesters.East Lancashire.Dorsets.South Stafford.Royal Highlanders.South Lancashire.Northamptons.Essex.Royal West Kent.Manchesters.Cameron HighlandersRoyal Irish Rifles.Gordon Highlanders.Connaught Rangers.Royal Irish Fusiliers.102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers.2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.113th Infantry.
The only regiments of the Indian Army now left which accompanied the army under Sir David Baird in that memorable march across the desert from Kosseir to the Nile are the 102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers, the 113th Infantry, and the 2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners, a grand offshoot of the Royal Engineers. This distinguished corps, known in olden days as the Madras Sappers and Miners, has no less than thirty-one battle honours on its appointments, all won between the Nile and the Peiho Rivers.
The object of the expedition to Egypt was to drive the French out of the country, to restore it to its rightful owners, the Turks, and to safeguard our Indian possessions, which were then threatened by attempts on the part of Bonaparte to enter into alliances with the independent Princes in Hindoostan. The command of the army was entrusted to Sir Ralph Abercromby, an officer who possessed the confidence of the army and of the country. He had recently effected the conquest of the West India Islands, and was one of the few Generals who had emerged from the late campaign in Flanders with an enhanced reputation. His army of 17,000 men was brigaded as under:
Cavalry Brigade: One troop of the 11th and the whole of the 12th and 26th Light Dragoons.Guards' Brigade—Major-General Ludlow: 1st Coldstream and 1st Scots Guards.First Brigade—Major-General Coote: Royal Scots, 54th (Dorsets—two battalions), and 92nd (Gordon Highlanders).Second Brigade—Major-General Craddock: 8th (King's Liverpools), 13th (Somerset Light Infantry), 18th Royal Irish, and the 90th (Scottish Rifles).Third Brigade—Major-General Lord Cavan: 50th (West Kent) and 79th (Cameron Highlanders).Fourth Brigade—Major-General Doyle: 2nd (Queen's), 30th (East Lancashire), 44th (Essex), and 89th (Royal Irish Fusiliers).Fifth Brigade—Major-General John Stuart: Minorca, De Rolles', and Dillon's Regiments.Reserve—Major-General Sir John Moore: 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusiliers), 28th (Gloucesters), 42nd (Royal Highlanders), 58th (Northamptons), and a wing of the 40th (South Lancashires).
Cavalry Brigade: One troop of the 11th and the whole of the 12th and 26th Light Dragoons.
Guards' Brigade—Major-General Ludlow: 1st Coldstream and 1st Scots Guards.
First Brigade—Major-General Coote: Royal Scots, 54th (Dorsets—two battalions), and 92nd (Gordon Highlanders).
Second Brigade—Major-General Craddock: 8th (King's Liverpools), 13th (Somerset Light Infantry), 18th Royal Irish, and the 90th (Scottish Rifles).
Third Brigade—Major-General Lord Cavan: 50th (West Kent) and 79th (Cameron Highlanders).
Fourth Brigade—Major-General Doyle: 2nd (Queen's), 30th (East Lancashire), 44th (Essex), and 89th (Royal Irish Fusiliers).
Fifth Brigade—Major-General John Stuart: Minorca, De Rolles', and Dillon's Regiments.
Reserve—Major-General Sir John Moore: 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusiliers), 28th (Gloucesters), 42nd (Royal Highlanders), 58th (Northamptons), and a wing of the 40th (South Lancashires).
The artillery consisted of four batteries of 6-pounders, three batteries of 12 pounders, with a small siege-train. Only one battery was horsed, and although officers had been despatched many months before to purchase horses in Syria, the obstacles thrown in their way by the Turkish authorities had effectually prevented either artillery or cavalry taking the field properly equipped. When the army disembarked, the Cavalry Brigade consisted of 320 mounted men—
Regiments.Officers.N.C.O.'s. and MenHorses.Troop of 11th Light Dragoons (now 11th Hussars), C.-in-C.'s escort4556112th Light Dragoons2352712826th Light Dragoons19473131
—whilst for the artillery there were but sixty-four horses, and this despite the promises of the Turkish Government that all horses necessary for the army should be delivered in Marmorice Bay before the army left for Egypt.
The disembarkation of the army on March 8, 1802, was effected under a heavy fire, there being 31 officers and 642 of all ranks killed and wounded. It was carried out by the Reserve, under Sir John Moore, and the Brigade of Guards with a gallantry that compelled the admiration of the whole army. The point selected had been decided on by the Commander-in-Chief in conjunction with the Admiral. By nightfall the whole of the army, with the exception of the horses, was on shore, and on the morning of the 13th Abercromby commenced his advance on Alexandria. The troops moved in three columns, Moore's brigade being on the right, marching parallel to the sea. The centre division was composed of the brigades of Craddock, Coote, and the Brigade of Guards. It was led by the 90th (Scottish Rifles). The left column consisted of Lord Cavan's brigade, a battalion of Marines, and the three foreign regiments; the 92nd (Gordon Highlanders)was in front. In the course of the march the French made a most determined attack, their cavalry charging down on the leading companies of the 90th. This corps and the 92nd, which bore the brunt of the fighting, behaved with the utmost steadiness, thus giving the regiments in rear time to deploy, when the French were driven back on their own position, from which they were driven with loss.
GENERAL SIR RALPH ABERCROMBY.To face page 124.
GENERAL SIR RALPH ABERCROMBY.To face page 124.
GENERAL SIR RALPH ABERCROMBY.To face page 124.
To face page 124.
This battle honour is borne by the Scottish Rifles and the Gordon Highlanders, and was conferred upon these two young regiments in recognition of the gallantry with which they met and repelled the attack of a vastly superior body of French, as related above. The total loss of the army on March 13 amounted to 6 officers and 153 men killed, 66 officers and 1,936 men wounded, the heaviest casualties being those of the two regiments who bear "Mandora" on their colours. The 13th (Somerset Light Infantry), which was in the immediate rear of the 90th, at once moved up to its support, and also suffered very heavily. The 90th (Scottish Rifles) were under the command of their junior Lieutenant-Colonel, afterwards better known as General Viscount Hill, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. He was badly wounded at Mandora, when the command of the regiment devolved on the next senior officer, Major Moncrieff, who a few days subsequently was given the command of the 44th (Essex), on its Colonel being killed. Thence he was moved, at Sir John Moore's request, to the 52nd, in order to train that distinguished corps as a light infantry regiment. Although the 90th at that time had not the designation of light infantry, its founder, Colonel Graham, afterwards Lord Lynedoch had from its earliest days trained it as a light infantry corps, impelled thereto because its predecessor, which had fought so well at the capture of Belleisle, Martinique, and Havana, was at that time (1759-1764) the only light infantry regiment in the British army, and the stout oldScotsman never rested until he had secured the same title for the new 90th.
Casualties of the 90th and 92nd at Mandora.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.90th Scottish Rifles172924292nd Gordon Highlanders-1119110
On March 21 the French made a third and final attack on Abercromby's army, now in the immediate vicinity of Alexandria. This again was repulsed, but our casualties were very heavy, amounting to 75 officers and 1,400 of all ranks killed and wounded, the heaviest loss falling on the 42nd (Royal Highlanders), a corps which in all three actions had shown the most consummate gallantry, its casualties in the three engagements being 506 killed and wounded. In the course of this action Sir Ralph Abercromby received a mortal wound, and the command of the army devolved upon General Hutchinson. Leaving a sufficient force to cover Alexandria, the new Commander-in-Chief at once commenced an advance on Cairo, and on June 13 he had the satisfaction of receiving the surrender of 13,000 French soldiers, who were massed at the capital. Of these, some 8,000 were effectives, and the task of guarding them on the return march to the sea was one that required much acumen, for the total number of British troops at this time at Cairo was barely 4,000. The army at Alexandria had, however, been reinforced by a strong brigade from the Mediterranean, made up of the 20th (Lancashire Fusiliers), 24th (South Wales Borderers), 25th (King's Own Scottish Borderers), 26th (Cameronians), and the 27th (Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers).
A further addition to the British army was now made in the shape of a division which had been despatchedfrom India under the command of a tried and gallant officer, Sir David Baird. It comprised a squadron of the 8th Hussars, the 10th (Lincolns), 86th (Royal Irish Rifles), 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers), 88th (Connaught Rangers), four battalions of sepoys, some English gunners in the Company's service, and some native sappers. The 8th Hussars and 86th (Royal Irish Rifles) had landed at Suez, and marched direct across the desert to Cairo. The other regiments were disembarked at Kosseir, whence they marched to Keneh, on the Nile, a distance of 100 miles; then, taking native boats, they dropped down stream to Cairo. As soon as the convoy of prisoners had embarked to France, General Hutchinson was enabled to turn his attention to Alexandria, in which a considerable garrison was closely besieged.
This battle honour is borne by the Dorsetshires, and commemorates the service of the 54th Regiment in the operations outside Alexandria in the summer of 1802. The old 54th had been entrusted with the task of keeping watch and ward over the French garrison in Fort Marabout, and it was their successful capture of the redoubt at the tomb of a Moslem saint which brought home to General Menou the futility of further resistance. He hoisted the white flag, when he and his army were permitted a safe conduct to France, on giving an undertaking that they would not serve against England during the continuance of the war. The Treaty of Amiens followed soon after the surrender of Alexandria, and on the renewal of hostilities in 1803 the army of Egypt was once more free to act against us.
Before quitting the subject of the Egyptian campaign of 1802, it appears pertinent to remark that there seems to exist no valid reason why the 8th Hussars should not be accorded this distinction. It may be urged that the headquarters of the regiment was not present. The 11th Hussars bear the honour, and but one troop wasin Egypt, so that this contention does not hold good. Again, it may be urged that they were not engaged. This would bear with equal force against the infantry regiments which formed a portion of Sir David Baird's force. All these have been authorized to bear the distinction of "Egypt" (with the Sphinx). Why the 8th Hussars have been denied this privilege is one of the many anomalies which surround the question of battle honours.[10]
Casualties in the Three Principal Engagements in Egypt.