British Cemetery Elvas - Graves

Graves

Known graves include:

• Major General Daniel Hoghton, who fell at the head of his Brigade in the Battle of Albuera, on 16 May 1811. General Hoghton was the 41-year-old younger son of the late MP Sir Henry Hoghton Bt. Gazetted into the 8th Foot, he was in command of a Brigade in Stewarts 2nd Division. At the start of the battle this Division was in reserve but was shortly moved to the south to relieve the Brigade of Zayas’ Division of Spanish infantry, which had held the French attack. For the rest of the day, Hoghton's Brigade was at the centre of the battle and gave no ground but at horrific expense. 63% of the Brigade were casualties and at the end of the day the senior officer of the Brigade was a Captain. In one battalion the Ensign of the Colour tore it from its staff and stuffed it in his jacket to prevent its capture. His body was found and buried by the only remaining members of his company - one sergeant and one corporal.

Generals Beresford and Stewart, citing the 1654 Anglo-Luso Treaty, requested the Governor of Elvas that General Hoghton be buried in the British Cemetery, Elvas. Memorials were placed in St. Paul's Cathedral, London and St. Leonard's Church, Walton-in-the-Dale, Lancashire.

• Lieutenant Colonel Daniel White commanded the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment of Foot which formed part of Gen Hoghton’s Brigade at the Battle of Albuera. He died in Elvas on 3 June 1811 of wounds received in that battle. His stone was installed in 2003 upon the discovery of his obituary in the Gentleman’s Magazine.

• Lieutenant Colonel James Ward Oliver was a Captain in the 4th (King’s Own Royal Border Regiment) until 1809, when he volunteered for service in the Portuguese Army and was twice promoted. First he was promoted Major on the General Staff of the British Army and then Lieutenant Colonel in the Portuguese Army. He commanded the 14th Regiment of Portuguese Infantry at Albuera and at the second siege of Badajoz where he received wounds from which he died in Elvas on 17 June 1811.

• Major William Nicholas Bull died in Monforte on 14 February 1850 aged 50. He served in the 20th and 21st Battalions of the 2nd Regiment of the Brigada Real da Marinha. The Friends of the British Cemetery has a copy of a letter of May 1833 regretting his recent resignation and requesting reinstatement in his original rank of Lieutenant.

• Caroline Bull died on 28 June 1863.

Lt.Col. Charles Bevan, who was buried on 11 July 1811 in Portalegre, is honoured with a plaque on the west wall.