My Googlefu appears to be on the blink, can someone confirm for me which British Guards battalions actually fought in the Peninsular please ?
Busaco had 1/2 and 1/3 in Stopfords Brig
Salamanca Fermor's Brig as above
Vittoria Stopford's back - same units
Ian Fletcher says 1/1 and 3/1 joined winter 1812, then "rejoined during Wellington's advance into Spain" in 1813.
1/2 seems to have been there from Mar/Apr 1809
1/3 sailed Jan 1809 and don't seem to have left.
Quick reading of "Wellington's Regiments"
Ah thanks very much, I was getting conflicting resources but this confirms the majority
Unless I'm mistaken, 1/2 is 1st batt 2nd (Coldstream)Guards, and 1/3 is 1st batt 3rd (Scots)Guards ?
Indeed yes.
Sorry, was typing with one hand.
1/2nd and 1/3rd Foot Guards were the principal battalions with Wellington's main army from 1809 to the end of the war. I think this is more or less the complete list.
1/1st Foot Guards – Corunna
2/1st Foot Guards – Corunna/Barossa
1/2nd (Coldstream) Foot Guards – Talavera/Crossing The Douro/Busaco/Fuentes d'Onoro/Salamanca/Vitoria
2/2nd (Coldstream) Foot Guards – Barossa (elements only)
1/3rd Foot Guards –Talavera/Crossing The Douro/Busaco/Fuentes d'Onoro/Salamanca/Vitoria
2/3rd Foot Guards – Barossa (elements only)
Thank you kindly both