Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare and important Regimental Commander’s Gold Cross with four clasps awarded to Colonel The Honourable Sir Robert Le Poer Trench, K.C.B., K.T.S., 74th Regiment (Highlanders)

Army Gold Cross 1806-1814, for Buzaco, Fuentes de Onor, Badajoz, Salamanca, 4 clasps, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Toulouse (Lt. Colonel Honble. R. Le Poer Trench) contained in its original silk-lined fitted red leather case of issue, this excessively rare, together with the original leather-bound campaign diary kept by Trench, for the period May and June 1813, culminating with the Battle of Vittoria on the 21st but ending before the finish of the action, good very fine and rare £30000-35000

See colour illustration on back cover.

Only 21 Army Gold Crosses were issued with four or more clasps (eight with 4 clasps, seven with 5, three with 6, two with 7, and the Duke of Wellington with 9). Only three of these recipients were Regimental Commanders throughout, namely Barnard of the 95th, Ellis of the 23rd, and Trench of the 74th, each receiving the Cross with four clasps. As Barnard and Ellis are both held by their respective regimental museums, Trench remains the only one still in private hands and would seem to be the only cross known in its original case of issue.

The Honourable Robert Le Poer Trench was the fourth son of William, first Earl Clancarty, an old Irish family of Huguenot origin. He was appointed Ensign in the 27th Foot, 30 October 1799; Lieutenant, 67th Foot, 9 December 1800; Captain, 93rd Foot, 25 May 1803; Major, 96th Foot, 25 October 1806; Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel and Inspecting Field Officer of Militia in Canada, 28 January 1808. He was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the 74th Regiment of Highlanders on 21 September 1809, and took the 74th to Portugal in January 1810. He commanded the regiment in every action in the Peninsula except for the battle of Orthes. He was wounded at the storming of Badajoz on the 6th April 1812, and again in the Pyrenees, near Pampluna, on the 30th July 1813. This latter occasion is worthy of note and the following description of the action is taken from the regimental history Proud Heritage:

‘His advance on Pamplona blocked, Soult decided to try another route to turn the British left at Lizasso and march on St Sebastian. He had first, however, to stage a withdrawal from before Sorauren which, with Wellington on the look-out for some such move, was a very difficult operation. As the French retired their left flank was exposed, and Picton was at once ordered to lead the 3rd Division up the Arga valley in an attempt to turn it. The French rearguard, under General Foy, moved along the heights north of the valley, while Picton, covered by two troops of cavalry, marched up the valley itself, parallel with the French.

‘Picton moved with great caution and avoided entanglement. At this time he seems to have somewhat lost his nerve, and the officers of the division began to get more and more impatient as they watched the French getting away unopposed. At length Colonel Le Poer Trench prevailed on him to allow the 74th to ascend the heights and cut out the French rear. A very brisk and exciting action then ensued, taking place in full view of the remainder of the division marching through the valley. The 74th, who were still very few in numbers, scaled the heights, set upon the French, and soon cut out fifteen hundred, nearly all of whom were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. This very creditable performance was not carried out without loss. The Regiment lost six officers and forty-three rank and file out of its small strength, and the wounded included Colonel Trench.

‘For some reason the 74th received no official mention or credit for this affair which, throwing the French rear into confusion, led to the turning of their flank and the success of Wellington’s plans. Wellington evidently had no idea that one regiment had done the work of a division, and that upon the initiative of its own Commanding Officer. His dispatch reads: “The movement made by Sir Thomas Picton merited my highest commendation: the latter officer co-operated in the attack of the mountain by detaching troops to his left, in which Lt.-Col. the Hon. R. Trench was wounded, but I hope not seriously.”’

Although the regiment did not gain the recognition it deserved on this occasion, it was not always so, for its conduct throughout the campaign in the Peninsula was without reproach. Soon after arriving in Portugal, the 74th were reviewed by Wellington, who remembered well the regiment that had delivered his first victory in India. “How many are left in the 74th,” asked Wellington, “who fought at Assaye ?”
“But a bare handful, m’lord,” replied Colonel Trench. “But,” he added loyally, “they are good lads and your lordship need have no apprehension but that they will do their duty.”
“Well,” answered Wellington, as he twitched at his rein and turned away, “if the 74th fight as well in the Peninsula as they did in India, y’ought to be damned proud of’em.”

Their conduct at Vittoria caused them to be singled out for the honourable mention which they were awarded in the Brigade Orders: “Major-General Brisbane has reason to be highly pleased with the conduct of the Brigade in the action yesterday, but he is at a loss to express his admiration of the conduct of the Honourable Colonel Le Poer Trench and the 74th Regiment, which he considers contributed much to the success of the day.”

Colonel Trench was promoted to Colonel on 4 June 1814, received the Gold Cross with four Clasps and was created a Knight Commander of the Military Order of the Bath in 1815. In the same year he was made a Knight of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword, ‘in testimony of the high sense which The Prince Regent of Portugal entertains of the distinguished courage and intrepidity displayed by him, in several Actions with the Enemy in The Peninsula.’ Colonel Trench died in March 1824.