Provenance

The flag was captured at the Battle of Vitoria on 21 June 1813 when a combined British, Portuguese and Spanish army under General the Marquess of Wellington (as the Duke of Wellington then was known) defeated the French army under Joseph Bonaparte (the Emperor's brother) and Marshal Jourdan near Vitoria in northern Spain; this success eventually led to victory in the Peninsular War.  Considered not to represent a regiment participating in the battle but believed to be '..an old fanion of the old 4th battalion, which was in the ambulance cart and thus fell into the hands of the enemy...'.

An extract from the despatch from the Marquess of Wellington, dated 22 June 1813 from Salvatierra, to Lord Bathurst, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies reads 'I send this despatch by my A.D.C. Captain [John] Freemantle whom I beg leave to your Lordship's protection. He will have the honour of laying at the feet of H.R.H. The Prince Regent the Colours of the 4th Batt of the 100th Regt and Marshal Jourdan's baton of a Marshal of France [sic.] (RCIN 61176) taken by the 87th Regt. I have the honour to be etc. Wellington'.

The Prince Regent was delighted with the gifts and on 5 July 1813 wrote to Wellington ' You have sent me among the Trophies of your unrivalled Fame, the Baton of a French Marshal and I send you in return that of England. The British Army will hail it with enthusiasm while the whole Universe will acknowledge those valorous Exploits, which have so imperiously called for it...'.