Lt. Latham defending the King's Colour | | ... At the battle of Albuera, on the 17 May, 1811, the 3rd Regiment of Foot, or Buffs (owing to an error to which I shall allude more particularly ) was surrounded by a large force of French and Polish cavalry. The ensign (Thomas) who carried the regimental colour was shot dead in the commencement of the struggle, and the colour captured.. The King’s Colour was carried by Lieutenant Matthew Latham. He was attacked by several French hussars, one of whom seizing the flag-staff, and rising in his stirrup, aimed a stroke at the head of the gallant Latham, which failed in cutting him down, but which sadly mutilated him, severing one side of the face and nose; he still however, struggled with the dragoon, and exclaimed, “I will surrender it only with my life.” A second sabre struck severing his left arm and hand, in which he held the staff, from his body. The brave fellow, however, then seized the staff with his right hand, throwing away his sword, and continued to struggle with his opponents, now increased in number; when ultimately thrown down, trampled upon and pierced by the spears of the Polish lancers, his last effort was to tear the flag from the staff as he thus lay prostrate, and to thrust it partly into the breast of his jacket. The number of Latham’s adversaries impeded their efforts to destroy him, and the dragoons were ultimately driven off by the 7th Fusiliers, and 48th regiments, which came up to support the Buffs. The greater part of the latter corps, was, however, made prisoners, and sent to the rear. The brave Latham was turned over by a soldier of the 7th Fusiliers, and the colour which he had thus preserved found under him. Latham was left on the field, supposed to have been killed, and the flag was sent on the evening following the battle to the headquarters of the Buffs, with a statement of the manner of its recovery.
Latham, however, although so desperately wounded, was not killed; in two hours afterwards he crawled on his remaining hand and knees towards the river of Albuera, and was found by some of the orderlies of the army attempting to slake his thirst in the stream; he was carried into the convent, where his wounds were dressed, the stump of his arm amputated, and he ultimately recovered. He immediately received his company in the “Canadian Fencible Infantry,” and an opportunity offering itself soon after, of an exchange into the corps his gallantry had so highly distinguished, he remained with the comrades by who he was so highly loved and esteemed.
The officers of the Buffs entered into a subscription to purchase a gold medal for Latham (value one hundred guineas), on which his gallant action was represented in higher relief, and to which the sentiment he had uttered as stated above, served as a motto. The permission of the Sovereign was applied for, through the Commander-in-Chief, and officially granted, that Captain Latham should wear the medal presented by his comrades in arms, suspended by a scarlet riband, edged with buff, at his breast; which he ever did whilst he remained in the corps, and, no doubt, still preserves with care that honourable badge.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, John Morrison, M.D., Late 1st Regt. Dragoons, and formerly Assistant Surgeon 3rd Regt. Foot, or Buffs 12 Arundel-street, Strand, London, April 12, 1840
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