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Great Britain - 1811

Battle of Albuera

Obverse:

Uniformed bust of General Beresford, right. MARSHAL GEN. LORD BERESFORD.

Size:

41 mm.

Reverse:

A Polish lancer attacking a British infantryman.

Exergue:

BATTLE OF ALBUERA / XVI. MAY MDCCCXI.

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 1123
Bataille d'Albuera (Webb et Brenet.)

MARSHAL GEN. LORD BERESFORD. Buste en uniforme, à droite.

Rev: Combat entre un guerrier à cheval et un autre à pied. Sous le cheval se trouve un homme sans armes.

Exergue: BATTLE OF ALBUERA XVI. MAY MDCCCXI.

Médaille, 41 mm. - Inédite, cabinet de l'auteur.

d'Essling:

BHM:

AR, AE, WM by T. Webb and N. G. A. Brenet.
AR R; AE N; WM R.
E.P.M. 1888/65; M. 18.
AM; BMAG; ML.

William Carr, Lord Beresford, afterwards Viscount Beresford, the natural son of the first Marquis of Waterford (1768-1854). He entered the army in 1785 and commanded the Connaught Rangers in the reconquest of the West Indies in 1795 and saw service at Corunna. Beresford commanded the Portuguese army in the Peninsular. The battle of Albuera was fought by him holding a strong position on the range of hills that run along the Albuera river. The battle lasted some four hours during which the Allies lost 7,000 men and the French 8,000.

The reverse of the medal refers to an incident during the battle when the Polish lancers, in thick mist, attacked the right flank of the Allies in the rear when in the act of charging the enemy. A rapid advance by Generals Stewart and Cole restored the situation and the enemy was defeated.

One of Mudie's series of National Medals (see No. 1057) issued in 1820. Examples of this medal occur in white metal and are probably restrikes and were not included in the series. This medal is believed to have been struck in gold but no specimen has been met with.

from British Historical Medals 1760-1960, p.175.