A Regency Silver Model of the Napoleonic Imperial Eagle Captured by the 87th Foot (Royal Irish Fusiliers) at the Battle of Barrosa in 1811. The model hallmarked London 1827-28
Height of eagle; 4 2/8 ins (11cm)
Price: £7500

Near mythical status was attributed to capture of a Napoleonic Eagle as the embodiment of the French Emperor and the regiment which carried it on campaign. By the command of the Prince Regent the capture of an Eagle by British troops was invariably marked with a formal presentation ceremony in London with H.R.H. at the centre of proceedings.

The French 8th Regiment d’Infanterie de Ligne lost its eagle to Wellington’s Peninsula Army when a force under Sir Thomas Graham joined battle at Barrosa with Marshal Victor’s forces besieging Cadiz on 5 March 1811. During the fight the French 8th Regiment was caught in line formation during a counter-attack by 2nd Battalion 87th Foot, sparking a desperate bayonet encounter. Lieutenant Edward Keogh of the 87th struck down the French Eagle-Bearer Gillemain, and helped by Sergeant Patrick Masterson seized the Eagle, but it was recovered. Amidst the melee a savage hand-to-hand fight for the Eagle ensued during which two French officers, two French sergeant majors and three French private soldiers were killed successively in defence of their standard and an eighth, Lieutenant Gazan was severely wounded, finally leaving the prize in hands of Masterson, the only unhurt British combatant in the small group assailing the standard. Raising the trophy aloft, Masterman was heard to exclaim, " By Jaysus, boys, I have the Cuckoo! “

After the London presentation ceremony, the Eagle was deposited in the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, from whence it was stolen on the 16 April 1852 and never recovered. A popular story of the time maintained that the Eagle had been repatriated by a loyal Frenchman.