WELLINGTON RIFLES

“ON 1 AUGUST THE MEN OF SECOND BATTALION, 95TH RIFLES WERE THE FIRST TO STEP FOOT ON THE IBERIAN PENINSULA”

In early June 1808 four companies of the Second Battalion, 95th Rifles, numbering 443 officers and men, embarked at Dover, bound on an expedition to South America. However, following Portugal’s plea for aid against the French invasion, the force was diverted to the Iberian Peninsula. Sir Arthur Wellesley, who would later become the First Duke of Wellington, was placed in charge of the army sent to support the Portuguese. More men, including two companies from the First Battalion, 95th Rifles, were being assembled in southern England to reinforce Wellesley’s army.

After discussions with Spanish and Portuguese officials, it was decided that the best place to land the force was at Mondego Bay, around 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Lisbon. The main force arrived there on 30 July, and on 1 August the men of Second Battalion, 95th Rifles were the first to step foot on the Iberian Peninsula.

The wait for the order to disembark was far from comfortable, as describedamong our wine glasses and crockery.” Once ashore, the men of the regiment helped secure the landing area with advance guards and picquets. They soon set off southwards, covering around ten kilometres (six miles) before halting near the village of Lavos. Further marches through Leira, Batalha and Alcobaca saw the advance guard, of which the 95th were a part, move to the village of Obidos, where the French had infantry and cavalry.