| |
| 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 Brown's British Historical Medals 1760-1960, p.175. |
