What British Regiment captured the first French eagle to be taken in battle?

Question

What Battle and what campaign was this ?

Answer 1

The first French Eagle to be captured by the British was taken by the 87th Irish Regiment from the French 8th Line Regiment at the Battle of Barrosa on 5th March 1811. The first British soldier to touch the battle standard was a young officer, Ensign Edward Keogh, although as his hand grasped it, he was immediately shot through the heart and killed. He was followed by Sergeant Patrick Masterson who grabbed the eagle from the French ensign who carried it, reputedly with the cry "By Jaysus, boys, I have the Cuckoo!".

The 87th was highly honoured for their success, being granted the honour of carrying the eagle as a motif on their Regimental Colours and through being granted the royal title 87th (Prince of Wales' Own) Irish Regiment.

The eagle was taken back to England and put on display in the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. It was around 10 inches tall, set on a plinth marked with the numeral 8. It was made of silver, but gilded, which led many to think it was solid gold. In fact the only golden part of the eagle was a laurel wreath which hung around its neck. This wreath was an honour conferred upon the 8th Regiment by Napoleon himself, and was not common to all eagles at the time. The eagle's right claw was raised. Beneath it should have been a thunderbolt but, on the 87th's trophy, it was missing. It is believed to have been dislodged during its capture.

Several years later, the eagle was stolen from the Royal Hospital. It was broken from its staff and smuggled away to an unknown fate. Many rumours abounded, the strongest being that it had been repatriated by a Frenchman. More likely is that it was melted down and sold. The original staff is still held in the Royal Irish Fusiliers museum in Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Two French regimental eagles were captured during the Battle of Waterloo. French I Corps under the command of Comte d'Erlon was charged by the British heavy cavalry, command by Earl of Uxbridge, the Royal Dragoons captured the Eagle of the 105th Ligne and the Scots Greys captured the Eagle of the 45th Ligne.

Before the Duke of Wellington died in 1852, he had asked that all his battle trophies be carried at his funeral. As the eagle of the 8th was not available, it was decided to make a replica. The mould was made by Garrard's and was designed from a sketch of the original drawn by an officer of the 87th at the time of Barrosa. All contemporary eagles of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, Royal Irish Rangers and Royal Irish Regiment originate from this mould.

Answer 2

The first French Eagle to be captured by the British was taken by the 87th Irish Regiment from the French 8th Line Regiment at the Battle of Barrosa on 5th March 1811.

The Battle of Barrosa was an unsuccessful French attack on a larger Anglo-Spanish force attempting to lift the siege of Cádiz, Spain during the Peninsular War. During the battle, a single British division defeated two French divisions .