After the garrison was thus relieved and reinforced a third time, the Court of Madrid gave up all hopes of gaining possession of Gibraltar either by force or stratagem: negociations ensued, and in February, 1783, the Spanish army decamped; the preliminary articles for a treaty of peace having been signed in the preceding month. Thus ended the siege of "Gibraltar," which is celebrated in the military annals of the eighteenth century, and the successful defence of that fortress, ranks among the noblest efforts of the British arms: it exceeded in duration the famous siege of Ostend, in the beginning of the seventeenth century.[17]
The Twelfth regiment of foot was rewarded, with the other corps which took part in this long and arduous service, with the thanks of its Sovereign, and of the Houses of Parliament, and with the honour of bearing on its colours the word 'Gibraltar,' with the 'Castle and Key,' and the motto 'Montis Insignia Calpé,' in commemoration of its services during the siege.[18]
The loss of the regiment during the siege of Gibraltar was—
| Officers. | Serjeants. | Drummers. | Rank and File. | |
| Killed | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
| Died of Wounds | .. | .. | .. | 10 |
| Disabled by Wounds | 1 | .. | .. | 10 |
| Wounded, that recovered | 2 | 4 | 7 | 89 |
| Died of Diseases | .. | 3 | .. | 32 |
| Total | 4 | 10 | 8 | 154 |
During the period the Twelfth were engaged in the glorious defence of Gibraltar, county-titles were given to the several regiments of infantry, and the communication with England having become free, the Twelfth received directions to assume the title of the 'East Suffolk Regiment,' and to cultivate a connection with that part of the country, in order to facilitate the recruiting of the regiment.
J. M. Jopling delt.
Madeley Lith. 3 Wellington St Strand.
TWELFTH REGIMENT OF FOOT.
VIEW OF THE NORTH PART OF GIBRALTAR, AND OF THE ATTACK BY LAND AND SEA SEPTR 13TH & 14TH 1782
For Cannons Military Records