Royal Anglian Regiment Remember The Battle Of Talavera

Soldiers from Royal Anglian Regiment have been remembering one of their battalion’s most famous battles at a special ceremony in Cyprus. 

The Battle of Talavera happened in 1809 and Talavera Day is held each year to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s victory.

The Battle of Talavera took place near Madrid during the Duke of Wellington’s campaign against the French - known as the Peninsular War.

Twenty thousand British troops and their Spanish allies faced 46,000 French soldiers.

After several assaults on the British lines, the French eventually withdrew with more than 7,000 men killed or injured.

The 48th of Foot, the Royal Anglian’s antecedent regiment, were in the thick of the battle.

To remember the Battle and those who lost their lives in it, 375 soldiers from the Regiment marched on the parade square at Alexander Barracks in Dhekelia. 

Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Weston, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Batallion, Royal Anglian Regiment said: 

"As with all infantry regiments, we all have our regimental days and it's Talavera Day for us so it's a battle honour from the Peninsula War.

"So, we hold it every year, it's a day where we must come together as a Batallion, with our family, friends, with the wider regimental family to remember what it really means to be a Poacher."

Stephen Lillie, British High Commissioner to Cyprus, was also in attendance. He spoke to Forces News.

"There are plenty of different military connections between the UK and Cyprus., including the British peacekeeping on the green line but also the sovereign base areas.

"The sovereign base areas are some of the most important UK defence assets that we have. We're living in an increasingly challenging and difficult world so the role of the bases are becoming more important."

Talavera Day also includes an afternoon of sport and an evening of celebration, giving soldiers from Royal Anglian Regiment the chance to party.