As today is the 240th Anniversary of the battle of Albuhera which Thomas played a part in, so a little history for you

[SussexBoi]

A toast to the Immortal Memory. Today is the 204th anniversary of the Battle of Albuhera. This battle saw three of our forebear regiments distinguish themselves in the chaos of a messy and brutal battle.

In 1811 Britain and Napoleonic France were engaged in a ferocious battle whcih engulfed Europe and the far flung colonies. The French Army were the most feared in Europe by a long way; rarely beaten and always formidable they had brought most of the continent to their knees, but with the victory at Trafalgar in 1805 the Royal Navy had prevented an invasion of Britain. Britain committed troops to the continent when France invaded Portugal and the Spanish rose up against their conquerors.

The early campaign was not hugely successful, but with Arthur Wellesley in command, a French invasion of Portugal repulsed and General Beresford forging a new Anglo-Portuguese Army things were beginning to look better by 1811. In order to prevent another invasion and to have the freedom to operate in Spain Arthur Wellesley needed to control the two major passes into Portugal each of which was itself controlled by two major forts.

In the South the Fortified town of Badajoz guarded the routes into Portugal. Wellesley sent General Beresford South with a small army in order to drive out the French garrison. As he laid siege to the city word reached Beresford that the undefeated French commander Marshall Soult was en route to break the siege. Beresford could not continue the siege and had the choice between withdrawing back into Portugal or bringing Soult to battle.

He marched a day East and set up a strong defensive position behind the small river that runs East of the village of Albuhera. He anchored the left of his line on the village itself and the right was anchored a piece of high ground now known as Spanish Hill. Elements of the King's German Legion would hold the village and Berseford's Spanish allies would hold the high ground. The bulk of the Anglo-Portuguese forces were strung out between the two with the 2nd Division to the rear holding the road and possible route of withdrawal.

As dawn broke on the 16th of May it became clear that the Spanish were not in the right position. A painful process of reorganisation began. Relations with the Spanish were not good and this strained them further. At around seven Polish Lancers of the French Army crossed the river (in reality barely an obstacle) and probed the Anglo-Portuguese positions. It was noted many were already quite drunk. The lance and cavalry charge were highly effective weapons, but well positioned infantry in a defensive position could hold them at bay. French infantry also moved into position in the East supported by artillery. Beresford was quite convinced that the attack was coming, as expected, from the East.

Other voices in his headquarters differed. The area to the South was heavily wooded by dust clouds could be seen rising from above the treeline which appeared to indicate large numbers of troops moving around to the right flank. Beresford took some time to acknowledge the possibility and perhaps an hour was lost before the order was given to move the Spanish forces to face South.

The Spanish were a mix of the old army and new recruits. They were not well regarded by the British. The French Army had had few defeats, had beaten the British at Corunna and came on in columns yelling "Vive lImpreur" and beating drums led by the assault pioneers - great bearded giants of men, with white aprons and huge axes they would use to clear the companies' path of scrub or enemy. They advanced aggressively and the Spaniards held their fire until the French were within eighty yards.

The Spanish line opened fire and halted the French advance in one stroke. The dead and wounded fell mangled throughout their columns and there followed a slogging match of cannon and musket fire. The French commander rotated his division but over the next few hours the battle raged in an exhausting blow for blow match in which the heroism of the Spanish was widely recognised even by the usually dismissive British officers.

After some time it became clear that the exhausted Spanish needed relieving and Beresford ordered a British division South to take their place. The Middlesex, Surreys and Buffs were all within that division. The Middlesex would take up position on Spanish hill but not before Colborne's Brigade containing the Buffs and Surreys had moved into the open ground to the West.

The division's commander Stewart had ordered the brigade to move up in column and waited until they were level with the Spanish position before ordering a complex manoeuvre by which the rear battalion the Buffs would move beyond the other three battalions before moving into position. The result was that the Buffs were well ahead of the allied positions when they started to manoeuvre into position. At that point the Polish Lancers entered the fray.

Infantry in square were well placed to repel a cavalry charge but the battalion was in line and still forming. The ensuing battle was a slaughter. The Buffs were to suffer over 80% casualties including almost all their officers. Even so their defence was heroic. They did as much damage as they could and fought hard to retain the colours. The ensigns carrying them were killed and Lt Laytham seized the King's colour fending off a Lancer whose sword vritually severed one arm. He took a lance to the face before finally collapsing.

The second and third battalions fared a little better, but only the Surreys had time to form square and in doing so were able to survive the onslaught. Spectators commented on the brave little battalion amidst the chaos standing firm.

The Middlesex took up a position on the high ground and awaited the French infantry. The French had been exhausted too and brought up fresh troops. This pause may have saved the allies who would have been in severe difficulty had the French attacked whilst they were conducting the relief in place. The Middlesex suffered hours of bombardment and assault holding steady throughout. Soult bitterly said afterwards that:

"There is no beating these troops in spite of their generals. I always thought them bad soldiers, now I am sure of it. I turned their right, pierced their centre, broke them everywhere; the day was mine, and yet they did not know it and would not run."

The battle was not yet won. Beresford was a brilliant organiser but not a great field commander. He seemed to be losing his mind and was absent from the field chasing down one of his own commanders. As the Middlesex and their colleagues suffered under the French onslaught Beresford's deputy realised this could be the critical moment. He rode north and spoke with the commander of the 2nd Division imploring him to come South and join the battle in spite of his orders to hold the road. He did so and the force of two Brigades including the Fusiliers started marching South.

Soult had launched his reserve too and the two forces met in the open ground to the West of Spanish hill. The familiar scene of French column being cut down by allied line was repeated. The British advanced and Soult realised his army was too badly broken to continue. He began a withdrawal leaving thousands of casualties on the field and losing many more soldiers who deserted as he began the slow march to safety.

As the British advanced they found a hideously wounded officer with a severed arm. He seemed to be dead, but someone noticed signs of life. Inside Lt Laytham's jacket the King's colour was found folded up. His actions are commemorated in a silver table piece held by the second battalion. The Regimental colour was retrieved by the Fusiliers who found it amongst the retreating French.

The British were not in a much better position and could not pursue them. The Middlesex had suffered 66% casualties, but would be back in the line by the end of the year earning them the nickname the resurrectionists. That night the surviving officers and seniors drank a silent to toast to the immortal memory of those who fought on that day. A tradition which has been carried on on operational tours, in barracks and even in a Japanese prisoner of war camp ever since.

 

 

39

[SussexBoi]

Did no one spot my mistake, it should have been 204 years not 240 years..sill me.

OK a little bit more for you.

Albuhera

We start off looking at the Battalions celebration of Albuhera with the silent toast.

The Silent Toast is to the ‘Immortal Memory’ of all members of our forebear regiments, who fell at Albuhera and have subsequently died in all subsequent operations. This is drunk by all officers and senior NCOs serving together in each Battalion on the 16th May each year. The tradition was originally inherited from The Middlesex Regiment. After the battle, the surviving officers and sergeants gathered at an inn by the battlefield and swore to meet annually to commemorate the slaughter of their comrades on that dreadful day. The toast is drunk individually in silence from a silver ‘loving-cup’.
The original cup was reputedly made out of the silver accoutrements of the 57th Foot officers who had fought at Albuhera. It is adorned with the medal of Colour Sergeant Holloway, who won it at the battle whilst serving as an eleven-year-old Drummer Boy. He was the longest living survivor of the battle.