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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 440

(x) Military General Service 1793-1814, 5 clasps, Fuentes D'Onor, Salamanca, Nivelle, Nive, Toulouse (J. Mc Kay, 79th Foot), extremely fine

John McKay is confirmed on the Medal Roll with entitlement to these five clasps.
The 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameron Highlanders) served with much distinction during the Peninsula War, no more so than at the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro which was fought over 3 - 5 May 1811.
As part of the 2nd Brigade in the 1st Division, they were given responsibility for garrisoning and defending the village of Fuentes de Onoro itself - the centre of Wellington's position and a vital key to his defensive line. The French knew this too and sent assault after assault against the walls of the village.

A Desperate Struggle

On the first day of the battle the Light Companies of the 2nd Brigade more than held their own against their foe, using the cover of buildings and walls to pick off their opposition with some ease. However, by the final day the French assaults had vastly increased in size: a measure of this was when a whole Infantry Division suddenly rushed the village, cutting-off two companies of the 79th and a number of men of the 71st; holed-up in buildings but hugely outnumbered they were soon forced to surrender.
The impetus of the French attack carried on and would likely have cleared the village, were it not for the tenacious defence of the men of the 79th; the fight for Fuentes de Onoro developed into a bloody hand-to-hand engagement with bayonets and musket-butts being wielded along narrow alleyways and through houses as each side desperately fought for supremacy - and, ultimately, victory.
Happily for Wellington, the Allies, and the remaining men of the 79th the day was saved by Colonel Mackinnon's Brigade, which came charging down from the slopes behind the village and pushed the French out by sheer weight of numbers and impetus. Men such as John McKay could breathe a sigh of relief.

Butcher's Bill

As might be expected, this action resulted in terrible casualties for the Cameron Highlanders - indeed their losses of 14 officers and 224 other-ranks killed, wounded or captured (their commanding officer was amongst the former) were the greatest losses of any single Allied regiment which participated in the battle. Nevertheless they continued to see further service up until the conclusion of the Peninsular War and, indeed, at Waterloo.

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Sold for
£2,500

Starting price
£600