Battle Honours of the British Army From Tangier, 1662, to the Commencement of the Reign of King Edward VII

Vittoria, June 21, 1813. 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. Regiments. Officers. Men. 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. Battlefields in SPAIN & PORTUGAL There were many reasons which compelled Wellington to refrain from prosecuting a vigorous pursuit after the decisive victory of Vittoria. The French were in possession of the two fortresses of Pampeluna and San Sebastian in the north, and they were far superior in numbers to the Allies in the south of the Peninsula. He pushed the enemy back slowly to the frontier, and at the same time he detached two of his own divisions, under Sir Thomas Graham, to reduce San Sebastian, whilst he entrusted the task of besieging Pampeluna to the Spaniards, resolving that, as soon as these two fortresses were in his possession, he would continue the work of expelling the French from the Peninsula. Emboldened by Lord Wellington's tactics, Soult turned and attacked the English at Roncesvalles and in the Maya Pass. At the latter engagement we were compelled to fall back, leaving some prisoners in the hands of the French; but reinforcements coming up, Wellington resumed the offensive, and by August 1 had once more driven the French to the north of the Pyrenees. The fighting during these few days was excessively severe, our casualties amounting to upwards of 4,000 of all ranks killed and wounded. Casualties in the Actions in the Pyrenees, July 25 to August 2, 1813. Regiments. Officers. Men. 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. Regiments. Officers. Men. 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. Regiments. Officers. Men. 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. Regiments. Officers. Men. 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. Regiments. Officers. Men. 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. Regiments. Officers. Men. 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.

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