This was the opening action of the Peninsular War, which, commencing with Roleia in August, 1808, lasted until the final defeat of Soult by the Duke of Wellington at Toulouse in March, 1814.
The following regiments have been authorized at different times to carry the word "Roleia" on their colours and appointments, and the Land General Service Medal, with clasp "Roleia," was granted to all survivors on June 1, 1847:
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Warwick.
Norfolk.
Worcester.
Cornwall Light Infantry.
South Stafford.
South Lancashire.
Sherwood Foresters.
King's Royal Rifles.
Highland Light Infantry.
Argyll Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
They were brigaded as under, the chief command being held by Lieutenant-General the Honourable Sir Arthur Wellesley:
Opposed to these, the French had, under General Delaborde, not more than 6,000 men. The odds, therefore, were considerably in our favour; but the opposition was nowhere very determined, and our casualties were slight. Three regiments, it will be seen from the accompanying return, suffered no loss.
Casualties at Roleia.
| Regiments. | Officers. | Men. | ||
| K. | W. | K. | W. | |
| 20th Hussars | - | - | - | 3 |
| Royal Artillery | 1 | - | 1 | - |
| Roy. Engineers | - | 1 | - | - |
| 5th Northumberland Fus. | - | 2 | 3 | 41 |
| 6th R. Warwick | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| 29th Worcester | - | 7 | 33 | 111 |
| 32nd Cornwall L.I. | - | - | 1 | 3 |
| 36th Worcester | - | - | - | - |
| 38th S. Stafford | - | - | 4 | - |
| 40th S. Lancs | - | - | 1 | 2 |
| 45th Sherwood Foresters | 1 | 1 | - | 9 |
| 50th West Kent | - | - | 2 | 1 |
| 60th K.R.R | - | 2 | 8 | 39 |
| 71st Highland L.I. | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| 82nd S. Lancs | - | 1 | 6 | 18 |
| 91st Argyll Highlanders | - | - | - | - |
| 95th Rifle Brig. | - | 2 | 17 | 30 |
Note.—The riflemen of the 60th and 95th (Rifle Brigade) had been engaged on August 15, when the latter regiment lost one officer killed and another wounded.