The Royal Anglian Regiment Battle Honour: Minden 1759

 

The battle of Minden took place during the seven years war, which broke out in 1759 when the balance of power was upset and Britain and Prussia were allied against the Empires of France, Russia and Austria. Britain and France were both competing to increase their colonial power, while Prussia was fighting for the control of the German-speaking peoples in the Austrian and Russian Empires. The Colonial wars were waged by Britain, but on the continent the main battles were fought by the Prussians, under Fredrick the Great, on the eastern and southern frontiers of Prussia. The British troops on the continent were involved only involved on the western front.

 The object of the campaign on this front was to secure Hanover and keep the French army occupied, so as to leave Fredrick free to fight his battles on the other front. It was not a war-winning battle, but it will always be remembered as an outstanding example of the discipline, courage and professional skill of the ordinary British infantry soldier.

The Battle of Minden was the culminating and only major battle of the campaign in 1759. In the space of a few hours on 1^st August, Marshall Contades, commander of the numerically superior French forces, saw the accumulated advantages of his brilliantly executed three month campaign dissipated, largely because, against all the odds and all the rules, nine battalions of infantry, (six British and three Hanoverian) marched through the cross fire of sixty enemy cannon against the whole of the French cavalry and shot them to pieces.  The 12^th Foot was the senior of the British Battalions and was therefore on the right of line.

On 1^st August Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, one of the most able allied commanders, had formed up his troops near Minden with the infantry in the centre facing the French cavalry. Though a mistaken order the infantry advanced unsupported towards the French line with Colours flying and Drums beating.

Eleven Squadrons of enemy cavalry charged on the leading three Battalions – the 12^th, 37^th and 23^rd regiments of foot. They held their fire until the enemy were within ten yards of them, then, in the words of an eyewitness, ”a crashing deadly volley strewed the ground with horses and riders and the surviving cavalry fled in confusion.

The infantry were charged six times by the French cavalry, and each time, by their steadfastness and accurate musketry, they repulsed the charge.

In spite of the resulting casualties and the gaps being torn in their lines by grapeshot by sixty enemy cannon, they continued to advance. Seventeen Regiments of French cavalry then deployed towards the right flank of the two allied brigades in order to stop them, but the 12^th and 37^th wheeled and, with deadly accuracy, delivered volley after volley of accurate fire into the ranks causing considerable casualties. Confusion and panic spread in the French ranks and when the German cavalry attacked from a flank, they broke and fled.

The French Grenadiers, their finest troops, then attacked in their turn but were also beaten back. Since they had rifled barrels they withdrew out of musket range and caused a number of casualties to the British infantry.  The British quickly closed up on them and delivered several volley’s at short range into the Grenadiers ranks, whereupon they to broke and fled.

While closing their ranks, more French infantry attacked the leading Brigade, but in spite of the casualties, it was able to rally and hold them off until the second Brigade moved forward from the second line and with one volley caused the French infantry to break and run.

The French defeat would of been a complete rout, except that Lord George Sackville and the English cavalry did not carryout their orders to charge the fleeing French and they escaped, although badly mauled in the English artillery.

As the Infantry passed through the rose gardens on the morning of the battle, the soldiers picked roses which they fastened to their hats.

In honour of this battle, The 1^st Battalion continues the custom of wearing red and yellow roses in the head – dress on 1^st August and has the Battle honour “MINDEN” on the Regimental colours.

Red and yellow roses are also worn on the occasion of the sovereign’s birthday, but this is memento of a different occasion, the Battle of Dettingen, when King George II placed himself directly in front of the 12^th Foot. In recognition of their conduct, the King granted the Regiment the privilege of wearing laurel wreaths on their colours on those occasions when the sovereign was present and on his birthday. Roses were adopted in place of laurels and are still so used at present.

12^th Foot (Suffolks) 1759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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