Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Royal Artillery47420Roy. Engineers3314111Coldstream Gds.-1320Scots Guards--124Royal Scots8151183102nd Queen's--114th K.O. Lancs.561171707th Royal Fus.---69th Norfolks6126217720th Lancashire Fusiliers112923rd Roy. Welsh Fusiliers-14427th Roy. Inniskilling Fusiliers1-5238th South Staffords5123317440th South Lancashires-13843rd Oxford L.I.1-21047th Loy. North Lancs7610613048th N. Staffs-14152nd Oxford L.I.121753rd Shropshire L.I.--2159th E. Lancs81210920895th Rifle Brig.-271
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.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.General Staff5---Royal Artillery1---12th Lancers---1Coldstream Guards-1-92nd Queen's--226Buffs-138K.O. Lancs.-1145th Northumberland Fus.-215109Roy. Warwicks--16Devons-5338S. Wales Bord.-2-527th Inniskilling Fusiliers1395128th Gloucester---231st E. Surrey-111334th Border R.--1238th S. Staffs-2-239th Dorsets--1540th S. Lancs16158042nd B. Watch-2-2543rd Oxford L.I.2966045th Sherwood Foresters---148th N'amptons-475751st K.O. Yorks L.I.22227352nd Oxford L.I.-63420253rd Shropshire L.I.-132057th Middlesex2755058th N'ampton---359th E. Lancs--12King's Roy. R.1375861st Gloucester2553766th Berkshire-253268th Durham L.I.2673276th W. Riding---179th Cameron Highlanders-164482nd S. Lancs.-695883rd Royal Irish Rifles-473684th York and Lancaster--2585th Shropshire L.I.1--1387th Roy. Irish Fusiliers157413391st Argyll Highlanders161310594th Connaught Rangers12106095th Rifle Brig.-81176
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.
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.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.General Staff76--Royal Artillery--21513th Hussars---314th Hussars--2316th Lancers--25Grenadier Gds.2221126Coldstream Gds.-1-13Scots Guards13754Royal Scots-137111K.O. Lancs-1513154Norfolk2626160Devons-111628th Gloucester-51312931st E. Surrey-223232nd Cornwall L.I.--2534th Border R.--11236th Worcesters---338th S. Staffs-4129039th Dorsets-132642nd B. Watch21-1143rd Oxford L.I.--122247th N. Lancs-2125350th West Kent-11209252nd Oxford L.I.-321557th Middlesex34711359th E. Lancs-111813660th K.R.R.-297661st Gloucesters-2-466th Berkshire-196871st Highland L.I.392710076th W. Riding--11579th Cameron Highlanders-152684th York and Lancaster262410085th K.O. Shrop. L.I.-111191st Argyll Highlanders--74792nd Gordon Highlanders4102714095th Rifle Brig.11971
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.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.General Staff-6--7th Hussars-34610th Hussars---113th Hussars-121514th Hussars---215th Hussars---9Royal Artillery11323Roy. Engineers1---N'umberland F.1-531Roy. Warwick2824111Royal Fusiliers-4656Lancs Fusiliers261697Roy. Welsh F.-3167527th Royal Inniskilling F.-11440th S. Lancs--1442nd B. Watch1449045th Sherwood Foresters191410648th N'ampton--11352nd Oxford L.I.-677658th N'ampton-3325King's Roy. R.-233161st Gloucesters--1668th Durham L.I.-132774th Highland L.I.-582182nd S. Lancs-222483rd Roy. Irish Rifles-6114787th Roy. Irish Fusiliers159211688th Connaught Rangers2114121491st Argyll Highlanders-732794th Connaught Rangers-1112
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.
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.
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, HighlandLight 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.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.General Staff-3--5th Drag. Gds.-1123rd Hussars-1-54th Hussars-12510th Hussars114615th Hussars---4Royal Artillery--731Queen's (four companies)---12N'umberland F.---3Royal Fusiliers--13Devon1414121Lancs Fusiliers--29Roy. Welsh F.--1727th Inniskilling Fusiliers25237628th Gloucesters-332534th Border R.-121136th Worcester193810439th Dorsets-1-440th S. Lancs-877142nd B. Watch4225033745th Sherwood Foresters1877248th N'ampton-453950th W. Kent-22852nd Oxford L.I.---553rd Shropshire L.I. (two cos.)-521460th K.R.R.-3114861st Gloucesters1181614071st Highland L.I.--31374th Highland L.I.-7327279th Cameron H.3152617983rd Roy. Irish Rifles---187th Roy. Irish Fusiliers1271788th Connaught Rangers1277691st Argyll Highlanders-6189894th Connaught Rangers--1595th Rifle Brig.-11075
In this fight the 42nd (Royal Highlanders) was wellnigh annihilated.
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.
Action.Date.Casualties.Honours.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Roleia1808August 1742065315Medal,clasp,and battle honour.Vimiera"August 21437185497"""Sahagun"December 21--218"""Benevente"December 29-3523""No battle honour.Corunna1809.January 16????Medal, clasp, and battle honour.Douro"May 24-102386No medal or clasp. Battle honour.Talavera"July 27271716433,295Medal, clasp, and battle honour.Busaco1810.Sept. 27535102408"""Barrosa1811.March 4745182881"""Fuentes d'Onor"May 51162157576"""Albuera"May 16391658502,567"""Arroyos dos Molinos"October 28-7751No medal or clasp. Battle honour.Tarifa"December23724"""Ciudad Rodrigo1812.January860122436Medal, clasp, and battle honour.Badajos"March, April602697512,539"""Almaraz"May 1921232131No medal or clasp. Battle honour.Salamanca"July 22281783602,536Medal, clasp, and battle honour.Vittoria1813.June 21221734902,704"""Pyrenees"July, August282215103,295"""San Sebastian"September35705351,038"""Nivelle"November 10211212371,031"""Nive"December 9-13191402002,055"""Orthes1814.February 27151051921,291"""Toulouse"April 10161342981,661"""
WATERLOO, AND THE ORDER OF THE BATH FOR THE NAPOLEONIC WARS
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 DUKE OF WELLINGTON.To face page 192.
THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.To face page 192.
THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.To face page 192.
To face page 192.
The story of the Battle of Waterloo has been described in the minutest detail by the most accomplished militaryhistorians 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 Blücherarrived—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£1,758,4361815£1,475,632£2,555,473£1,330,1711816£1,796,229£2,382,823£3,241,919
Casualties during the Waterloo Campaign.
Regiments.Quatre-Bras(June 16).(June 17).Waterloo(June 18).Officers.Men.Officers.Men.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.K.W.K.W.K.W.K.W.1st Life Guards-----1892316392nd Life Guards--------1-1640Royal Horse Gds.------35141656King's Drag. Gds.--------3440100Royal Dragoons--1-----498588Roy. Scots Greys--------3896896th Inniskillings--------15721117th Hussars----1-621-6569610th Hussars--------25204011th Hussars-1------14113412th Lancers--------24456113th Hussars--------19116915th Hussars--------23214816th Lancers--------23181818th Hussars-11------21271Royal Artillery-2917----52453211Royal Engineers------------Grenadier Guards (1st Batt.)2423256----155096Grenadier Guards (3rd Batt.)1619235----3681245Coldstream Gds.--------1754242Scots Guards---7----3939288Royal Scots61220180----213131154th King's Own---------81211314th West Yorks---------172123rd R. Welsh F.--------46117827th Inniskill. F.--------21310336028th Gloucesters-41160----1151814330th East Lancs-2528--126124715732nd Cornw. L.I.11621152-----92813733rd W. Riding371667---329339240th S. Lancs--------2103015942nd Roy. Highl.31442228-----653944th Essex2151094-----445751st King's OwnYorkshire L.I.---------292052nd Oxford L.I.--------181617469th Welsh1437110---333145071st Highland L.I.--------2142416073rd Roy. Highl.-44431-3-5124717579th Camerons11628248----2113913292nd Gordons42035226-----6149695th Rifle Brigade (1st Batt.)14851----1112012495th Rifle Brigade (2nd Batt.)---------143417995th Rifle Brigade (3rd Batt.)---------4336
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 sameGazettea number of officers received the decoration for their services in the Peninsular War, and of these not a few also appeared in the WaterlooGazettewith 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 theGazetteof January 2, 1815; but the C.B.'s, both for the Peninsula and for Waterloo, appeared in theGazetteof 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.