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Latham Centrepiece

centrepiece, centrepiece

Accession Number

NAM.2001-04-1028-1

Description

Latham Centrepiece. Silver centrepiece of The Buffs at the Battle of Albuera, showing Lt Matthew Latham saving the King’s Colours, 16 May 1811. Silver plate, possibly bronze, no hallmark, manufacturer unknown, 1880 (c). Representation of the ‘saving the Colour’ horse with rider holding sword in right hand, Lt Latham with left arm severed, holding Colour in right hand, all on ground of battlefield with wheel, shako, gun and soldier, silver plinth with silver plates, engraved front and back. Thought to be the original bronze model of silver centrepiece now in possession of the Queen’s Regiment. Associated with Sergeants Mess, 1st Bn Buffs (East Kent Regiment). From the collection of the former Buffs Regimental Museum.

Events

Albuera, Battle of, 1811 (Peninsular War 1808-1814)

Units

3rd (The East Kent) Regiment of Foot (The Buffs)

French Army

Polish Lancers

People

Matthew Latham, (1786 (c)-1865)

Charles Adam Walsh

Dimensions

Width: 345 mm Length: 550 mm Text: 790 mm

Inscriptions

inscribed on label recto of plinth, ‘THE ALBUHERA GROUP/ IN MEMORY OF THE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN IN WHICH THE REGIMENT WAS ENGAGED FROM 1808 TO 1814/ ALSO OF THE DISTINGUISHED ACT OF GALLANTRY PERFORMED BY LIEUTENANT LATHAM AT THE BATTLE OF ALBUHERA / IN RESCUING THE KINGS COLOUR OF THE REGIMENT FROM THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY/ AFTER ENSIGN WALSH AND THE SERGEANTS WHO PROTECTED IT HAD FALLEN’ inscribed on label verso of plinth, ‘THIS BRONZE GROUP WAS ORIGINALLY CAST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE OFFICERS THE BUFFS (sic) FOR A CENTREPIECE/ AN EXACT COPY OF THIS GROUP IN SILVER WAS FINALLY DECIDED ON WHICH IS TO THE PRESENT DAY IN THE OFFICERS’ MESS/ THIS (THE ORIGINAL) GROUP WAS DISCOVERED IN A SHOWROOM IN LONDON IN 1897/ AND WAS PURCHASED AND PRESENTED TO THE SERGEANTS’ MESS BY COLONEL A E OMMANNEY AND OFFICERS 1ST BATTALION THE BUFFS’ (NB wrong arm shown cut off!)

Associated collection