An important Georgian commission document of Ensign J. Sarsfield, 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot, who was mortally wounded at Albuhera whilst carrying the regimental colour

34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot, a scarce George III officer’s commission on vellum appointing Sarsfield, Gent., to be an Ensign in the 34th Foot, signed by the King [at a time when he was insane and blind] and given at St James’s 27th June 1810, somewhat faded and lacking seal but generally good condition. Together with Cannon’s Historical Record of the Thirty Fourth Foot, London 1844, with three coloured plates as called for, and a fourth hand coloured plate bound in showing the regimental colour of the 34th displaying the Peninsular honours including ‘Arroyo dos Molinos’, granted after a petition submitted by Wellington and approved by the Queen on 30 May 1845, good condition (2) £500-600

J. Sarsfield was appointed Ensign in the 34th Foot on 27 June 1810. He served in the Peninsula from August 1810 until his death at Albuhera, and was present at the battle of Busaco, siege of Olivença and the first siege of Badajoz. His death at Albuhera is described in Cannon’s history:

‘At a critical moment the Fusiliers mounted the hill on the right of the remnant of the third brigade, at the same time the Tenty-eighth, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-ninth passed on its left; and this gallant line arrested the progress of the French columns, which were pressing forward in anticipation of victory. The heads of the enemy’s masses were broken by the steady fire of the British soldiers, who closed on their numerous adversaries, and sternly contended for victory. The Thirty-fourth were severely engaged; many officers and men fell, and Ensign Sarsfield, bearing the regimental colour, was shot; the colour was seized by another officer, and the battalion pressed forward upon its opponents, who, by a determined and continued attack, were driven from the heights, and the British soldiers stood victorious on the contested hill.’

Ensign Sarsfield was severely wounded in the action and died the following day, 17 May 1811.