Post
by wdrenth » Mon Mar 10, 2014 3:29 pm
hi Tim,
Only info I have is that the regiment numbered 422 men prior to the battle. Five officers were killed, and 16 other officers were taken prisoners together with 217 other ranks. Number of other ranks killed is unknown.
The regiment itself was discontinued early 1708, in order to free funds for the prisoners taken in that battle. Though half-pay was granted to officers after their release, the regiment was never officially reduced and did not appear in any precedence lists.
The colonel of the regiment was Frans van Nassau-Ouwerkerk, brother to the 1st Earl of Grantham. In English, Ouwerkerk is usually written as Overkirk, in French as Auverquerque. The regiment was indeed a Huguenot one. Though the colonel was not a Huguenot, most of the officers were and were drawn from the Irish Pensioners list. It was raised, together with a handful of other Huguenot regiments, for a planned descent on the French coast in support of a Huguenot rising in the Cevennes. Better known as Lord Rivers' expedition. This never materialized, and the regiments ended up in Spain.
Frans van Nassau was to meet his death in the battle of Almenar in July 1710, as colonel of a regiment of dragoons.
kind regards,
Wienand