74 Battery (The Battle Axe Company) Royal Artillery - History

History

74 Battery(The Battle Axe Company)Royal Artillery. was raised at Kilkenny on 1 April 1801 from men of the disbanded Royal Irish Artillery. During the Napoleonic Wars it helped capture the Caribbean island of Martinique on 24 February 1809. Having distinguished itself the Force Commander wished to give a captured French gun to the Company. The Battery Commander petitioned that the gun be replaced by something more easily carried and two French trophies captured at Martinique were given in its place. These trophies were a Brass Drum(lost over board on the way home) and a Battle Axe. The Company has been known as Battle Axe Company Royal Artillery since, although the title was not officially recognised in Army Orders until 1926, 117 years later.

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