Satisfied, Ellis went to the first rank for the inspection. He ignored Davey and instead placed himself squarely before the soldier stood next to him. Ellis reached forward to grasp one of the crossbelts on the man’s chest, the one that supported the cartridge pouch. He ignored the evil look he got from Tom Miles, in his place as the next one along the rank.
“Surprised they didn’t give you a new one back at the hospital. Fine sight you look on inspection wearing one with a bullet hole!”
He reached inside his own haversack. He had evidently anticipated Joe Pike needing a new one.
“Here, get this on you before Maltby arrives. An’ get the pouch shone up!”
oOo
Footnotes.
At the Battle of Talavera, the heroic conduct of Mackenzie’s Brigade, 2/24th 2nd Warwickshire, 2/31st Huntingdonshire, 1/45th Nottinghamshire, was unheralded at the time for the simple reason that their Divisional Commander, this being Mackenzie, had been killed, and therefore no written report was given to Wellesley which could be included in his report on the battle. The 2/24th suffered 343 casualties out of a complement of 783. It was left to Sir Charles Oman in his History of the Peninsular War decades later to put anything in writing to correct the balance which until then had been almost all in the favour of the 48th Northumberland, heroic as their own efforts had been during the crisis. I have tried my best to add to that correction.
I have taken a liberty with the conversation between Miles, Ellis and a member the 50th Queen’s Own when they meet in Sobral. In my book ‘Close to the Colours’, at the battle of Coruna the 105th are in the place of the 50th above Elvina and also in the place of the 50th at the battle of Vimeiro.
The incident with Captain Drake at the beginning of the Battle of Busaco is taken from what happened to Ensign Robert Blakeney of the 28th Foot, The Gloucesters. During the retreat to Coruna, the Light Company of the 28th were sent back over the half demolished bridge at Betanzos, the Engineers having failed to blow it up. They were attacked by Heavy Dragoons, one targeting Blakeney. He had only a light infantry sabre with which to defend himself and the Dragoon raised his heavy sabre for the fatal blow. Instead what came down onto Blakeney was the French Dragoon, now dead. From behind came the cry from a man named Oates, “Mr. Blakeney, we’ve spun him!”
The Plains of Talavera Page 73
