Vimiera

The military artist Richard Simkin painted this illustration of the 20th charging at Vimiera and chose the moment when the regiment faced the French dragoons. L B Oatt's history of the regiment says that before embarkation for Portugal the 20th were issued with new uniforms; blue frogged jackets, white breeches and knee boots, peaked leather helmets with bearskin crests and red and white plumes. After their encounter with the French cavalry, however, they were covered in blood and dirt. The officer leading the charge, wearing a crimson waist-sash, is the doomed Colonel Charles Taylor, confronted by the officer commanding the French dragoons.

Regimental Details