Chapter IX: Battle Honours

Battle honours, or honorary distinctions as they are officially termed, form so important a part of the embellishments of regimental colours that it is necessary before concluding to give some short account of them. The reader must not expect in the following pages to find a complete history of every event, for such would fill many volumes; all that is aimed at is to give a few salient facts, such as will recall to mind the stirring deeds for which the battle honours stand.

In previous chapters we have given the honours accorded to each regiment, but it may be well to point out that some regiments possess honours which do not figure on their colours. Also, we may add, some battalions fly colours with honours not really won by them. This happens where two regiments have been amalgamated. In such cases, the unit which becomes the second battalion gives its distinctions to the first battalion and _vice versâ_. It is thus clear that regiments which are composed of two old regiments may have their honour rolls considerably lengthened by the process of amalgamation. For this reason, it is not always a fair test to judge the glory of a regiment by the number of distinctions which it owns. On this and other accounts, we have carefully refrained from giving a list of the various Army units ranged in order as indicated by their honours. All that we shall say on this matter is that the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, were we to compile such a list, would take first place and, unfortunately, it has no colours on which to display its fine prowess.

=Abu Klea.=—Battle fought on January 17th, 1885, by a small British
army during the unsuccessful endeavour to reach Gordon in Khartoum.
Colonel Burnaby was killed and the British square broken but
reformed and the Mahdi’s tribesmen were beaten off.

=Abyssinia.=—This expedition was directed against Theodore, the
Negus of Abyssinia, who seized the British subjects resident in his
territory, because the English had refused to share in his quarrels
with the Egyptians.

=Aden.=—Captured from the Arabians in 1839 by the British.

=Affghanistan, 1839.=—An expedition to place the ex-king
Shah-Soojah, on the Afghan throne; led by Sir John Keane.

=Afghanistan, 1878–80.=—To avenge the murder of Sir L. Cavagnari,
and to secure the passes overlooking the valley of the Punjab from
being perpetually harassed, Lord Roberts, V.C., advanced on Cabul
and fought a number of successful engagements.

=Ahmad Khel.=—During Sir D. Stewart’s march from Kandahar to Ghuznee
and then on to join Lord Roberts, he encountered a force of Ghazis
at Ahmad Khel and secured a victory over them.

=Albuhera.=—Probably the hardest fought battle of the Peninsular
War. Marshal Beresford attempted to prevent Soult from advancing to
the relief of besieged Badajoz. The Middlesex Regiment here earned
its name of the “Diehards” and a desperate charge of the Royal
Fusiliers turned the day, and “fifteen hundred unwounded men, the
remnant of six thousand unconquerable British soldiers, stood
triumphant on the fatal field.” (Napier).

=Ali Masjid.=—A fort attacked by a column under General Sir S.
Browne, at the opening of the Afghan War, 1878.

=Aliwal.=—One of the battles of the first Sikh War.

=Ally Ghur.=—The first engagement in the Mahratta War. (September
4th, 1803).

=Alma.=—The first battle of the Crimean War. Here the British and
French landed and successfully stormed the heights. R. Gibb’s famous
picture, “Forward 42nd,” refers to this battle.

=Almaraz.=—A defeat for the English in Spain by Louis XIV. during
the War of the Spanish Succession.

=Amboyna.=—An island in the Moluccas, where disputes with the native
and English traders has led to a series of unfortunate differences
with Holland, to whom it belongs.

=Arcot.=—A fort in the Carnatic held by Clive. By making it a
stronghold he was able to draw Dupleix from the hard pressed
garrison in Trinchinopoly, and thus relieve, in a measure, its
vicissitudes.

=Arroyo dos Molinos.=—One of the lesser engagements in the
Peninsular War, in which the Border Regiment outflanked a French
regiment and took prisoners the men of a whole battalion.

=Ashantee, 1873–4.=—The Dutch gave to the British all their rights
in this country in exchange for territory in Sumatra. The native
king raised certain objections and also treated British missionaries
in a cruel manner. Human sacrifices were among his abominable
practices. When the British Government demanded that he should rule
decently, he declared war.

=Atbara.=—A prelude to the Battle of Omdurman, fought against the
Dervishes on Good Friday, 1898.

=Ava.=—Near this town the last fighting in the first Burmese War
took place. (February, 1826).

=Badajoz.=—A strong fortress in Spain taken by us from the French,
by assault, during the Peninsular War, 1812.

=Badara.=—A British victory which terminated Dutch influence in
India.

=Balaklava.=—(October 26th, 1854). A battle in the Crimean War
resulting from Mentschikoff’s attempt to get to the coast and so cut
off the British from their base. Noted for the stand of the “thin
red line,” i.e., 93rd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and the
desperate charges of the “Heavy and Light” Brigades of Cavalry.

=Banda.=—Islands in the Malay Archipelago which have been twice
taken from the Dutch and twice restored to them.

=Barrosa.=—(March 5th, 1811). A battle in the Peninsular War in
which we suffered serious losses owing to the incapacity of the
Spanish general, La Peña. His army looked on while 4,000 British
defeated 9,000 French.

=Beaumont.=—Battle fought near Cambrai and Le Cateau, during the
campaign of 1794. A dense fog enabled our troops to surprise the
French with a resulting gain for us.

=Bhurtpore.=—A very powerful fortress in Rajputana. General Lake had
failed to capture it in 1805 and it was considered by the Indians to
be impregnable. The British had guaranteed the throne to the
rightful heir, but his uncle usurped it, and war followed. It was
brilliantly taken by assault in 1826 and its capture did much to
establish our reputation in India.

=Bladensburg.=—An action in the great American War which took place
on August 24th, 1814.

=Blenheim.=—(August 13th, 1704). One of the greatest of Britain’s
victories; fought by Marlborough to prevent the capture of Vienna by
the Marshals of the French King, Louis XIV., and the Bavarians.

=Bourbon.=—A French island, near Mauritius, taken by the British
during the Peninsular War in order that our shipping might be
protected from enemy raiding vessels which issued from the island
harbours.

=Burma, 1885–87.=—A war occasioned by the treatment with which the
native King Theebaw harassed British traders.

=Busaco.=—(September 27th, 1810). A battle fought just prior to
Wellington’s withdrawal to the lines of Torres Vedras.

=Bushire.=—One of the battles of the Persian War, 1856–7.

=Buxar.=—The army of Oude was defeated by Munro here on October
23rd, 1764.

=Cabool, 1842.=—Town in Afghanistan entered by General Pollock after
he had defeated Mahomed Akbar Khan.

=Candahar, 1842.=—The stronghold of General Nott during the Afghan
War. He advanced from this town to assist General Pollock and found
him in Cabul, where the British flag was flying victoriously.

=Canton.=—Bogue Forts surrendered to Sir Hugh Gough in the first
China War, 1841. Bombarded in 1857 after the “Arrow” incident.

=Cape of Good Hope, 1806.=—Date of British occupation; formerly in
possession of the Dutch.

=Carnatic.=—Hyder Ali invaded this southern portion of Hindostan
with 80,000 troops in 1780, and was thrown back by Sir Eyre Coote in
the following year, but completely defeated in 1782. Tippoo Sahib
overran this district in 1790, but with little success to his
credit.

=Central India.=—Refers to the fighting, under Lord Straithnairn,
which took place during the first six months of 1858, following on
the Indian Mutiny. [Statue in Knightsbridge bears on this campaign.]

=Charasiah.=—Lord Roberts met the Afghans here and routed
them, 1879, after an outrage had been committed on British
plenipotentiaries in Cabul.

=Chillianwallah.=—A bloody encounter of the second Punjab War
(January 13th, 1849), in which the 24th Regiment (South Wales
Borderers) lost heavily.

=Chitral.=—Sir George Robertson’s campaign against Umra Khan and
Amir-ul-Mulk, when the latter murdered his brother, whom the British
considered to be the rightful ruler.

=Ciudad Rodrigo.=—A siege of the Peninsular War, January, 1812.

=Condore.=—An Indian engagement in which the British, under Ford,
met the French, under Conflans. By misleading the French, Ford was
able to entice them to charge and then brought into action a
regiment of British soldiers which had been hidden in a field of
Indian corn. The result was a victory for the British.

=Copenhagen.=—The occasion when Nelson placed a telescope to his
glass eye and claimed that he could not see Sir Hyde Parker’s signal
to cease the action. (April 2nd, 1801).

=Corunna.=—Here, after Sir John Moore’s masterly retreat, was fought
the battle which permitted the British to embark in safety. Moore
was killed in this Peninsular battle.

=Defence of Kimberley.=—A siege of the Boer War lasting 123 days.
The town was relieved by Lord French on February 15th, 1900.

=Defence of Ladysmith.=—A siege of the Boer War, lasting 121 days.
The town was relieved by Sir Redvers Buller on February 28th, 1900.

=Deig.=—A battle of the Mahratta War, 1804.

=Delhi, 1857.=—The stronghold of the rebels during the Indian
Mutiny; besieged and stormed against desperate odds by Sir John
Nicholson’s troops.

=Detroit.=—In 1812, an American army crossed into Upper Canada, but
met a force under Major-General Brock which necessitated its
retirement to Fort Detroit. Brock invested the fort and demanded its
surrender, which ensued on August 16th.

=Dettingen.=—One of the battles of the War of the Austrian
Succession. (June 27th, 1743). Last battle at which a King of
England (George II.) commanded.

=Douro.=—A Peninsular battle fought on May 12th, 1809, by
Wellington. The River Douro was crossed in the face of strong
opposition and the French defeated.

=Egmont-op-Zee.=—One of the battles of the Napoleonic War; took
place in Holland, 1799.

=Egypt, 1882–84.=—A campaign which owed its inception to the
rebellion of Arabi Pasha, whose object was to rob Prince Twefik of
his position as khedive and to repudiate the treaty obligations and
debts of Egypt.

=Emsdorff.=—The 15th Hussars were allowed to wear the following
inscription on their helmets, bearing on this battle honour: “Five
battalions of Foot defeated and taken by this Regiment, with their
colours, and nine pieces of cannon, at Emsdorff, 16th July, 1760.”

=Ferozeshah.=—A two days’ fight during the Sikh War (December
21st-22nd, 1845).

=Fuentes d’Onor.=—One of the Peninsular battles, fought by
Wellington to bar the way to Almeida which Massena was endeavouring
to reach. (May 5th, 1811).

=Ghuznee.=—Besieged during the Afghan War, 1839; the enemy forces
were commanded by the notorious Hyder Khan. Later, the town was
recaptured by the Afghans and the British inside it massacred. The
British, however, took it once more in September, 1842.

=Gibraltar, 1704–5.=—British attacked it under the command of Sir
George Rooke, Sir John Leake and Admiral Byng on July 21st, 1704,
and took it three days later. During the month of October it was
besieged by large forces of Spaniards and French, but the handful of
British held out and Sir John Leake raised the siege in March, 1705.

=Gibraltar, 1779–83.=—General Eliot was besieged by overwhelming
forces of French and Spaniards. His “red-hot potatoes” and other
novel devices caused terrific havoc among the enemy and the blockade
ceased on February 5th, 1783, wholly in our favour.

=Goojerat.=—The last battle of the second Punjab Campaign. (February
22nd, 1849).

=Guadaloupe, 1759–1810.=—An island in the Antilles belonging to the
French. Captured from them in 1759 but returned to them in 1763.
Taken from them a second time in 1794 and returned in 1803. Again
taken in 1810. Became a possession of Sweden in 1813. Now French.

=Guzerat.=—See Goojerat.

=Hafir.=—A battle of the Dongola expedition. (September 29th, 1896).
The precursor of our fresh advance under Kitchener to reconquer the
Soudan.

=Havannah.=—Captured by the Earl of Albemarle in 1762.

=Hyderabad.=—A battle of the War of Scinde, occasioned largely by
the temerity of the ameers who had taken note of our reverses in
Afghanistan. Under Sir Charles Napier, our forces were victorious
(1843) and he is credited with having sent home the terse message
“Peccavi,” which means “I have sinned” (Scinde).

=Inkerman.=—A battle of the Crimean War fought, in a fog, on
November 5th, 1854.

=Java.=—When Napoleon obtained power over Holland, it became
necessary for the British to turn their attentions to the Dutch
colonies. Accordingly, an expedition was directed against Java,
which we occupied in 1811.

=Kabul, 1879.=—See Afghanistan, 1878–80.

=Kandahar, 1880.=—See Afghanistan, 1878–80. Lord Roberts’ army made
a wonderful march through mountainous country from Cabul to Kandahar
to avenge our defeat at Maiwand.

=Khartoum.=—This honour was awarded to the regiments which fought in
the battle of Khartoum following on the success at Omdurman in
September, 1898.

=Khelat.=—A hill fort and capital of Baluchistan, invested by the
Ghilzees in 1842, and commanded by Captain Craigie.

=Kirbekan.=—A battle of the Sudan Campaign, in which Major-General
Earle, commanding the force journeying up the Nile, was killed.

=Kirkee.=—Lord Hastings’ defeat of the Pindarries, a horde of
freebooters, on November 5th, 1817.

=Koosh-ab.=—The Persians defeated by the English on December 10th,
1856.

=Leswarree.=—A great victory for General Lake in the Mahratta War
(November 1st, 1803).

=Lincelles.=—General Lake defeated the French (August 18th, 1793).

=Louisburg.=—Captured on July 26th, 1753, by Amherst, Wolfe and
Boscawen.

=Lucknow.=—Besieged in 1857–8. An heroic defence was made by Sir
Henry Lawrence.

=Maharajpore.=—Lord Gough defeated the Maharattas, December 20th,
1843.

=Maheidpoor.=—Sir Thomas Hislop defeated the Pindarries on December
21st, 1817.

=Maida.=—Stuart routed the French, July 4th, 1806.

=Malplaquet.=—One of Marlborough’s victories, September 11th, 1709.

=Mangalore.=—The Mysore War terminated by the Treaty of Mangalore,
by which Tippoo was recognised as sultan of the Carnatic Balaghaut
and the English were entrusted with the protection of Travancore.

=Martinique.=—An island in the Caribbean Sea which has seen
encounters between the British and French in 1762, 1794, and 1809.

=Masulipatam.=—This refers to a mutiny of troops of the Madras
European Regiment during the month of May, 1809.

=Meeanee.=—Sir Charles Napier defeated the Ameers on February 17th,
1843.

=Minden.=—Defeat of the French, August 1st, 1759, during the Seven
Years’ War.

=Modder River.=—An engagement which occasioned a heavy list of
casualties, fought by Lord Methuen on November 28th, 1899. Later,
Lord Roberts, V.C., met the Boers here on February 9th, 1900.

=Monte Video.=—Taken February 3rd, 1807; afterwards returned to
Spain.

=Moodkee.=—Lord Hardinge defeated the Sikhs December 18th, 1845.

=Mooltan.=—Besieged during the second Punjab Campaign. The Sikhs
were repulsed November 7th, 1848.

=Mysore.=—See Mangalore.

=Nagpore.=—Captured by the British, November 26th, 1807.

=Namur, 1695.=—Then a strong fortress; taken by William III. from
the French at the close of his brilliant campaign in the Low
Countries.

=New Zealand.=—Trouble in 1844 arose from the murder of British
settlers by a native chief, Hone Heke.

=Niagara.=—The English took this fort on July 24th, 1759; there was
also another engagement against the Americans in 1812.

=Nieuport.=—A centre of attack on the French army during the
revolutionary war, 1793.

=Nile, 1884–85.=—The campaign which was directed against the Mahdi
to rescue General Gordon. We failed to reach Khartoum in time and
Gordon perished.

=Nive.=—Several encounters took place here between the British and
the French. (December 10th-13th, 1813).

=Nivelle.=—Soult defeated by Wellington whose strategy forced the
former to retire to Bayonne. (November 10th, 1813).

=North America, 1763–64.=—This battle honour refers to the fighting
between the British, under Colonel Bradstreet, and certain Indian
tribes.

=Nundy-droog.=—A stronghold near Bangalore, assaulted by Cornwallis,
which fell after a three weeks’ siege. (October, 1791).

=Orthes.=—Wellington defeated Soult, February 27th, 1814.

=Oudenarde.=—A Marlborough victory in Belgium. (July 11th, 1708).

=Paardeberg.=—A battle of the Boer war in which Lord French beat
Cronje and forced him to surrender a few days later (February 18th,
1900), on the anniversary of our defeat at Majuba, during the first
Boer war.

=Pegu.=—An issue of the second Burmese War, 1852.

=Peiwar Kotal.=—One of the attacks of the Afghan War, 1878–80,
successfully carried out by Lord Roberts, V.C.

=Pekin, 1860.=—The “Arrow” incident brought matters to a head and
the second Chinese War began in 1857. Owing to the massacre of
English residents, Pekin was occupied by British and French troops
and the famous Summer Palace razed to the ground.

=Pekin, 1900.=—This refers to the Boxer rising.

=Peninsula.=—The campaign between the British and French; under the
leadership of the Duke of Wellington.

=Persia.=—A war which sprang from the relations of Persia and Russia
and comprised the engagements of Reshire, Bushire, Koosh-ab, etc.
1856–7.

=Plassey.=—Here Clive, to avenge the “Black Hole of Calcutta,”
defeated the Nabob of Bengal, Surajah Dowlah, on June 23rd, 1757.
Probably in no important battle have we met greater odds, which were
nearly fifty to one. From this battle dates our paramount position
in India. There was a prophecy that the “British Raj,” or rule, in
India would last a century, and the Mutiny broke out in 1857.

=Pondicherry.=—A French colony which has seen much fighting. The
Dutch took it in 1693, but it came into French possession once more
in 1697. In 1761, the British took it and restored it in 1763; took
it again in 1778; French again possessed it in 1783 by the terms of
the Treaty of Versailles; later, the British also took it in 1793
and in 1803.

=Punjaub.=—The second Sikh war, a campaign necessitated by the
murder of British officials on their arrival at the fortress of
Mooltan where they were about to take up their appointments, 1848.

=Punniar.=—One of the two successful battles fought in the Gwalior
Campaign, 1843.

=Pyrenees.=—Soult defeated by Wellington, July 28th, 1813.

=Quebec, 1759.=—Wolfe was victorious but mortally wounded, September
13th. This success secured for us Canada from the French.

=Queenstown.=—Americans who had invaded Canada were defeated October
13th, 1812.

=Ramillies.=—The French defeated by Marlborough, May 23rd, 1706.

=Relief of Kimberley.=—Boer War, February 15th, 1900.

=Relief of Ladysmith.=—Boer War, February 28th, 1900.

=Reshire.=—See Persia.

=Rohilcund.=—A settlement of the Rohilla tribe, from Afghanistan, in
North East India. They owed money to the Sultan of Oude, and as
payment was refused, the latter obtained the use of a British force,
lent by Warren Hastings, and conquered the settlement. Burke claims
that Hastings was to be condemned for lending the force for such
purposes.

=Roliga.=—Often written “Roleria,” one of the first battles of the
Peninsular War, August 9th, 1808.

=Sahagun.=—Sir John Moore checked Soult here on December 20th, 1808.

=St. Lucia.=—An island in the Windward group which has suffered much
change of possession. By the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748, it
became neutral; became French in 1756; taken by British in 1778;
given to the French in 1783 for Grenada; taken by British in 1794
and again in 1796 by Sir Ralph Abercromby. By the Treaty of Amiens,
given to the French in 1802; taken from them by the British in 1803.

=St. Sebastian.=—Stormed by Graham, August 31st, 1813.

=St. Vincent.=—The reference is to the defeat of the Spanish fleet
on February 14th, 1797. This honour is possessed by the Welsh
Regiment and was won when they were serving as Marines on board the
“Agamemnon.”

=Salamanca.=—Wellington defeated Marmont, on Sunday, July 22nd,
1812.

=Scinde.=—See Hyderabad.

=Seringapatam.=—Besieged by Lord Cornwallis in 1762 and later by
Lord Wellesley in 1799 owing to the hostile attitude of Tippoo
Sahib. Tippoo was killed May 4th.

=Sevastopol.=—The siege of, commenced October 17th, 1854, against
the Russians. Its capture completed the Crimean War.

=Sholinghur.=—A strong position taken up by Hyder Ali from which he
was dislodged by Sir Eyre Coote in September, 1781.

=Sobraon.=—Gough defeated the Sikhs, February 10th, 1846.

=South Africa.=—1834–5, the first Kaffir War; 1846–7, engagements
against the Gaikas; 1851–3, a third Kaffir rising led by Sandilli.
(The “Birkenhead” was carrying troops to take part in this war when
it foundered). 1878–9, the Zulu War; 1899–1902, the Boer War.

=Suakin, 1885.=—Defended by military and naval forces in 1884–85
against the troops of the Mahdi and Osman Digna.

=Surinam.=—Taken from the Dutch in 1799 and again in 1804, but
restored to them later.

=Taku Forts.=—After the Chinese ignored the Treaty of Tientsin the
Taku Forts were stormed, 1860.

=Talavera.=—Wellington defeated Victor on July 27–28, 1809.

=Tangier, 1662–80.=—Given to the British by the Portuguese in 1662,
as a dowry, when Charles II. married Catherine of Braganza. The 2nd,
or Queen’s Regiment (Kirk’s Lambs), was raised to garrison it.

=Tarifa.=—The most southerly town in Europe, south of Gibraltar. The
French attacked the British there in 1811–2.

=Tel-el-Kebir.=—This was the important engagement after the
bombardment of Alexandria, during the Egyptian campaign, (q.v.) It
took place on September 13th, 1882; after a trying night march of
Sir G. Wolseley’s men through the desert the Egyptian encampment was
rushed at dawn.

=Ternate.=—A small Dutch island in the Malay Archipelago. It was the
scene of fighting during the Napoleonic war. Lord Minto was in
command.

=Tirah.=—A N.W. frontier campaign in India, in the years 1897–8.

=Tofrek.=—A battle of the Sudan campaign which followed shortly
after the fall of Khartoum. (March 22nd, 1885).

=Toulouse.=—Wellington defeated Soult. (April 10th, 1814).

=Tournay.=—In southern Belgium, the scene of much fighting and some
sieges during the years 1793–4.

=Villers-en-Cauchies.=—The British and Germans met the French here
in 1794. The Emperor Frances II. of Germany was on the point of
being taken prisoner when the 15th Light Dragoons rescued him.

=Vimiera.=—An early battle of the Peninsular War. Wellesley defeated
Junot. (August 21st, 1808).

=Vittoria.=—Wellington defeated King Joseph. (June 21st, 1813). The
greatest of our victories during the Peninsular War.

=Wandiwash.=—Sir Eyre Coote defeated Lally in India; an engagement
of the Seven Years’ War. (January 22nd, 1760).

=Warburg.=—The Prince of Brunswick defeated the French. (July 31st,
1760).

=Waterloo.=—(June 18th, 1815). The battle in which Napoleon was
finally overthrown and which restored peace to Europe after the long
revolutionary and Napoleonic wars which had lasted a quarter of a
century.

=Wilhelmstahl.=—Defeat of the French, 1762.

=Willems.=—The Guards, Dragoons, Lancers, etc., have this honour; it
is “Wilhelmstahl” on the colours of the line regiments.

=April 12th, 1782.=—Rodney’s naval victory over De Grasse.

=June 1st, 1794.=—(The Glorious First of June). Lord Howe’s naval
victory.