Martinique

 30th JANUARY 1809 – ON THIS DAY IN ROYAL WELCH HISTORY

1/23rd landed on Martinique, 1809

Martinique was a French naval base in the West Indies. It was decided to capture the island.  A force landed on 30 January and Morne Bruneau was seized on 1 February followed, on the 2nd, by the heights of Des Sourier, which was taken thanks to the ‘determined bravery of the whole detachment.’  During the action the Regiment captured one redoubt for the loss of 26 men killed and wounded. The resulting French counterattack cost the Regiment a further 126 killed and wounded. The Commanding Officer Col Ellis (later killed as Waterloo) was asked to provide his Grenadier Company to storm the last redoubt. He replied “Sir, I will take the flints out of their firelocks and they shall take it.”  

The Royal Welch were awarded 'MARTINIQUE, 1809' as a Battle Honour which to this day is borne on the Regimental Colour. Furthermore, the Napoleonic Eagle standard the French equivalent of British 'Colours'-of the 82nd Regiment of Infantry, which was captured at Martinique, was presented to the Regiment.