Description
A very rare 18th century Sergeants spontoon for the none commissioned officer of the Prince of Wales own Irish regiment of foot. The spontoon of 7 feet 4 inches with an 18 inch socket fitting and an ash or beach shaft. The spear point and flattened cross bar for a stylised prince of Wales feathers.
Having been formed in 1793 the 87th soon found themselves engaged with the French republic and saw action at Flanders ( 1794). In October 1796 the 87th embarked to the West Indies, seeing action at Puerto Rico in 1797. They then did a tour of duty round the West Indies from Saint Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Barbados, Curacao, Antiqua and Saint Kitts before embarking home in July 1804. In 1806 to 1807 they took part in a disastrous expedition to South America, seeing action at Montevideo and Buenos Aires before returning home. The first battalion saw action in India before being amalgamated with the second battalion in 1817. The second battalion 87th Prince of Wales own Irish regiment of foot saw action during the Napoleonic war and saw action during the Peninsular war 1809, Battle of Barossa in 1811 when Ensign Edward Keogh and sergeant Patrick Masterson captured the French imperial eagle of the 8th regiment de Ligne. Keogh was shot, bayoneted and killed but Masterson after killing several men took the eagle from the dying bearer Lieutenant Gazan. The actions continued and the 87th took part in the siege of Tarifa in 1812, battle of Vitoria in 1813, battle of Nivelle in 1813, battle of Nive 1813, battle of Orthez 1814 and the battle of Toulouse in 1814.
