Albuera, May 16, 1811.
Ten days after Wellington had defeated Massena at Fuentes d'Onor, Beresford, at the head of 32,000 men, of whom only 8,000 were English, repulsed a determined attack on the part of Soult at Albuera. This battle, which was one of the most severe ever fought by British troops, is recorded on the colours of the
3rd Dragoon Guards.
4th Hussars.
13th Hussars.
Buffs.
Royal Fusiliers.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Gloucester.
Worcesters.
East Surrey.
Border Regiment.
Dorsets.
Northamptons.
Royal Berkshire.
Middlesex.
King's Royal Rifles.
The Allies were undoubtedly superior in numbers, but the brunt of the fighting fell on the British division, which lost 3,500 out of 8,000 engaged. The French losses amounted to upwards of 8,000 killed and wounded.
The following table, published in the London Gazette, shows once more that battle honours are bestowed in a very capricious fashion:
Casualties at the Battle of Albuera.
| Regiments. | Officers. | Men. | ||
| K. | W. | K. | W. | |
| 3rd Drag. Gds. | 1 | - | 9 | 9 |
| 4th Hussars | - | 2 | 3 | 17 |
| 13th Hussars | - | - | - | 1 |
| Royal Artillery | - | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| Roy. Engineers | 2 | 2 | - | 3 |
| Buffs | 4 | 14 | 212 | 234 |
| 2nd Batt. Royal Fusiliers | 2 | 28 | 112 | 563 |
| Royal Welsh Fusiliers | 2 | 11 | 74 | 245 |
| 29th Worcesters | 5 | 12 | 75 | 232 |
| 31st E. Surrey | - | 7 | 29 | 119 |
| 34th Border Regiment | 3 | 4 | 30 | 91 |
| 39th Dorsets | 1 | 4 | 14 | 77 |
| 48th N'ampton (2nd Batt.) | 7 | 23 | 116 | 276 |
| 57th Middlesex | 2 | 21 | 87 | 318 |
| King's Roy. R. | - | 1 | 2 | 18 |
| 66th R. Berks | 3 | 12 | 52 | 104 |
Note.—In the casualties for Albuera I have included the losses on May 15, the previous day.
The following regiments figure in the official casualty returns, but they have not as yet been authorized to assume the battle honour:
| Regiments. | Officers. | Men. | ||
| K. | W. | K. | W. | |
| 27th Inniskillgs. | - | 3 | 8 | 66 |
| 28th Gloucester | - | 6 | 27 | 131 |
| 40th S. Lancs | - | 3 | 10 | 18 |
| 97th R.W. Kent | - | - | 7 | 21 |