|
|
Lowery Cole made a key contribution to the battle of Albuera on 16th May 1811. His troops arrived in time to join the battle after a forced march and attacked the French left flank. His attack was lead by Fusiliers and Portuguese troops and despite being attacked by French cavalry, infantry and artillery and his being wounded he swept the French from the battlefield. After a brief period as an MP he returned to the Army in time for the Battle of Salamanca in 1812 where again he commanded the 4th Division and was once again wounded. He commanded the 4th Division in the Vittoria campaign by now a Lieutenant-General and fought at the battle of Roncesvalles in July 1813. He went on to fight in the battles of Nivelle and Toulouse but although Wellington asked for him as a Divisional commander in 1815 Cole was on his honeymoon and missed the battle of Waterloo. Cole was known as a kind and fair commander who had respect for all ranks and was popular with his men. After the Napoleonic Wars he became the Governor of the Cape (1828-33) and died on the 4th October 1842 aged 70.
Wellington: A Military Life, Gordon Corrigan. This in an excellent military biography of the Duke of Wellington. It focuses very heavily on Wellington the general, allows Corrigan to describe the wider campaigns in some detail, giving a good idea not only of what Wellington did, but also why he did it. [see more]
