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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 9

'I wish very much that some measures could be adopted to get recruits for the regiment, it is the best Regiment in this Army, has an admirable internal system and excellent Non-Commissioned Officers.

Sir Arthur Wellesley, 12 September 1809, commenting on the 29th Foot after the Battle of Talavera

The M.G.S. awarded to Sergeant J. Bromley, 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot - one of 'those excellent N.C.O.s'

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco (J. Bromley, Serjeant, 29th Foot), edge bruising, nearly very fine

The 29th Foot was one of the first British units to deploy during the Peninsular War in July 1808. It fought at Roleia & Vimeiro (1808), Talavera (1809), Busaco (1810) and Albuhera (1811), capturing two French Colours at Talavera.

Roliça

Colonel Lake of the 29th Foot (Centre Division, Nightingale's Brigade) made the mistake of dashing up a gully toward the French position. He arrived behind Delaborde, which cost Lake his life and most of the men in the 29th. This prompted a general attack in relief by the outnumbering British. The fight was rough and uphill with Delaborde hoping for support to arrive from Loison. He repulsed three assaults by the British until nearly 1600hrs At this time Wellesley ordered a general advance to support the 29th & 9th Foot. They swarmed up the rock face using their superior numbers to reach the French positions at the top of the hill and Ferguson arrived over the hills to the east.

Vimeiro

Brenier's brigade, marching to the sound of battle, came on four battalions abreast. At first they enjoyed success when they surprised and drove back two British Battalions. These units had let down their guard after overpowering Solignac. Victorious, the French pressed on in column, but soon ran into the 29th Foot in line and were stopped. The 29th was joined by the other two units, who had quickly rallied. Together, the volley fire of the three British battalions soon routed Brenier's men. Though Wellesley urged him to pursue, Burrard declined to interfere with the subsequent French retreat. General Brenier was wounded in this attack and captured by the 71st Highlanders.

Talavera

After the Battle of Grijó in May, it was engaged at Talavera in July; on 27th, with two other Battalions, it attacked French positions on the hill called Cerro de Medellin. This was taken by the evening and then held throughout the next day, despite a series of French attacks and artillery bombardment; two French colours were captured in a bayonet charge that drove the French regiments from the field. Their performance led Wellesley to offer the aforementioned quote.


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Estimate
£1,800 to £2,200

Starting price
£1600