Almanza

Britannia Journal
cover

The Badge of Britannia.
At Almanza, on 25 April 1707, as Steuart’s Regiment of Foot, the Regiment distinguished itself in being the only regiment that did not lay down its arms.
It fought to the last, covering the retreat of its General, the Earl of Galway.
When the Regiment returned to England a year later it was barely 100 strong, such were the casualties at Almanza.
Tradition states that for this memorable feat of arms Queen Anne awarded the Badge of Britannia, to be worn on the Colours and accoutrements.
In April a service is held in the Regimental chapel to commemorate Almanza.

Click photographs to enlarge

Carving on a pew in
The Chapel

At the annual Almanza Service held in the Regimental Chapel on Sunday 28 Apr 2002, during the address given by The Rev Canon JW ‘Jumbo’ Wilson, we were treated to a reading of the poem ‘Almanza’.

The Battle of Almanza

Down by a crystal river side,
I fell a weeping;
To see my brother soldier dear,
Upon the ground lie bleeding.

It was from the Castle of Vino,
We marched on Easter Sunday;
And the battle of Almanza,
Was fought on Easter Monday.

Full twenty miles we marched that day
Without one drop of water;
Till we poor souls were almost spent,
Before the bloody slaughter.

Over the plain we marched along,
All in the line of battle;
To the beat of drums and colours fly
And thundering cannons' rattle.

Brave Gallaway, our General,
Cried, ' Fight on ! while you may;
Fight on! brave-hearted Englishmen,
You're one to five this day.

'Hold back ! nor make the first attack
'Tis what they do desire:
But when you see my sword I draw,
Let each platoon give fire.'

We had not marched some paces three,
Before the small shot flew like thunder
Hoping that we should get the day,
And likewise all the plunder.

But the Dutch fell on with sword in hand
And that was their desire;
Thirty-five squadrons of Portuguese,
They ran and never gave fire.

The Duke of Berwick, as I have been told,
He gave it out in orders,
That if the army should be broke,
To give the English quarter.

'Be kind unto my countrymen,
For that is my desire;
With the Portuguese do as you please,
For they will soon retire.'

Now to conclude and make an end
Of this my dismal story
One hundred thousand fighting men
Have died for England's glory.

But let no brave soldier be dismayed
For losing of a battle;
We have more forces coming on
Will make Jack Frenchman rattle.

www.acronet.net/~robokopp/english/almanza.htm
and
www.sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tialmanza.html
Logan [A Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs, 1869]
from a broadside of about 1760.
The French and Spaniards under the Duke of Berwick defeated the Confederates under the Marquis das Minas and the Earl of Galway,
at Almanza, in Portugal, 25 Apr 1707.

Berwick, James Fitzjames, Duke of (1670-1734), Anglo-French soldier, illegitimate son of James, Duke of York (later James II of England), born and educated in France. His mother was Arabella Churchill, sister of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. After his father was deposed (1688) as King of England, Berwick entered the service of Louis XIV of France and commanded French armies in Spain during the War of the Spanish Succession. His victory over an Anglo-Portuguese army at the Battle of Almansa (1707) helped secure the Spanish throne for Louis's grandson, Philip. Berwick was killed by a cannonball at the siege of Philippsburg in Germany during the War of the Polish Succession. © Encarta

THE GLOUCESTERSHlRE REGIMENT (28th/61st)
www.glosters.org.uk/gl-pre1800.html
A visit to Spain
Early in 1707 the Regiment landed at Alicante in Spain as part of an international force including Dutch, German, Portuguese and British troops under the command of the Earl of Galway. On 27 Apr, Galway's men attacked a French and Spanish army at Almanza some 70 km inland, commanded by the Duke of Berwick, a natural son of James II by Arabella Churchill, and therefore a cousin of Marlborough. The battle began with the British assaulting the enemy with vigour, and driving them back, but suddenly the tables were turned. Berwick saw that the forces on the right of the British line had fled as soon as the first shots had been exchanged. This left the British contingent outflanked and Berwick committed his reserves. After fierce hand-to-hand fighting, Galway's entire army was routed. Mordaunt's Regiment lost 300 officers and men out of a total strength of 532. For the first time, but sadly not the last, the Regiment had been let down by their allies.
Webmaster Note: The date above of 27 Apr appears to conflict with other reports"
The Glos Regt have been informed!

25 Apr 1707 Battle of Almanza
www.balagan.org.uk/war/1700/chronology.htm
In the largest action in the Peninsular a Franco-Spanish army of 25 400 (Marshal Berwick) defeats an Anglo-Portuguese army of 15 500 (Earl of Galway; Das Minas) at Almanza (Condray, 1992; Bickley, 1992; Grant, 1986).
The Portuguese horse are swept away, but the allied infantry fight stubbornly.
Subsequently Valencia, and most of Spain, falls to the Franco-Spanish (Condray, 1992; Grant, 1986).
B&C 101

And see: Tomb of Sir John Moore at Corunna and Another photograph of the tomb taken in 2002 by Martin Housego.

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Editor, Norfolk Section, The Britannia and Castle
B&C Norfolk Editor