St. Vincent, February 14, 1797.
This battle honour has been conferred on the Welsh Regiment in recognition of the services of a detachment of this regiment, under Lieutenant Pierson, when acting as Marines in Lord Nelson's ship, the Captain, at the battle which gave Sir John Jervis his peerage. The gallantry of a sergeant of the 69th, who smashed in the quarter gallery of the Spanish flag-ship, was specially mentioned by Nelson, who also begged to be allowed to retain the services of Lieutenant Pierson on board his ship.[26]
Fishguard, February 24, 1797.
This distinction is borne on the appointments of the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry, and, with the exception of "Jersey, 1781," borne on the colours of the three regiments of Jersey Militia, is the only battle honour granted for services in the United Kingdom. It recognizes the promptitude with which that regiment turned out to repel an incursion of French troops on the coast of Pembrokeshire on the date above mentioned. Strangely enough, in the despatches in which Lord Cawdor, the senior officer on the spot, and Lord Milford, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, report the circumstance to the Duke of Portland, the Prime Minister, no mention whatever is made of the Yeomanry being present. Lord Cawdor wrote that, hearing that three French ships of war and a lugger had anchored in a small roadstead near Fishguard, he at once proceeded to the spot "with a detachment of the Cardigan Militia and all the provincial forces" he could collect. He found that 120 men had disembarked, and in the course of the evening the French commandant surrendered unconditionally. Lord Milford, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, reported that "before the troops arrived many thousands of the peasantry turned out, armed with pikes and scythes, to attack the enemy." It does not appear that any shots were exchanged, or that Monsieur Tate, Chef-de-Brigade, made any effort to regain his ships or to oppose the armed peasantry who were ready to attack him. The name Tate has not a very Gallic flavour. One of the French ships, La Résistance, was captured on March 9 by H.M.S.
Nymphe, and brought into the navy under her new name Fishguard, thus connecting the navy with her battle honour.
1800.
This distinction is borne on the appointments of the King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia, and has been awarded to that corps for its services during the defence of the island against the French.
Copenhagen, April 2, 1801.
This distinction has been conferred on the Berkshire Regiment and the Rifle Brigade for the services they rendered as Marines on the fleet under Sir Hyde Parker and Sir Horatio Nelson when the Danish fleet was destroyed at Copenhagen. The casualties suffered by the troops were slight. It is worthy of remark that the Queen's, Worcester, and Welsh Regiments have been granted permission to add a naval crown to the dates of the fleet actions which they bear on their colours. The Berkshires and Rifle Brigade have not been accorded this augmentation.