Manuscript Peninsular War Journal by [Brooke, Major General William Joseph Eyre] - 1812: Journal of my departure from England for Portugal and return from Salamanca to Lisbon. May 6th 1812…Nov. 9th 1812

Handwritten manuscript. Unbound. 20cm x 25cm. 16pp. Impress mark Bally & Co., Bath. 1808. The De Montalt paper mill was owned by John Bally (1773 – 1854), a bookseller at Homer's Head, 11 Milsom Street in Bath, William Allan or Ellan (1781 – 1832) and George Steart (d.1837), all trading as paper-makers under the name of John Bally & Co.

A historically important unrecorded and unpublished manuscript journal hand written by Major General William Joseph Eyre Brooke (1770-1843).

William Brooke returned to the Peninsula in August 1812 to be appointed by Wellington as officer in charge of courts-martial at Lisbon. This journal is a unique and vivid eye witness account following Wellington's advances. Brooke describes the journey, accompanied by his (un-named) nephew, Assistant Surgeon [James] Harrison and Lieut. Geo Bray. Honourable Capt Josceline Percy of the Hotspur Frigate & Hon Capt Anthony Maitland of The Pique Frigate, Brooke's transport to Lisbon from Portsmouth.

Itinerary: To Villa Franca thro' Sacarem - To Santarem, by Azambuza and Velada –To Gologoa –To Abrantes –To Gavieo - To Niza – To Sarnadas – To Castello Branco –– To St. Miguel – To Petrocha – To Sabugal – To Alberguesia, by Aldeia do Ponto – To Cuidad Rodrigo – To Martin del Rio by St Espiritu – To Calzada de Diego – To Salamanca - To Mantilla – To Martin del Rio – To Cuidad Rodrigo – To Aldeia do Bispo – To Freshadas – Fortress of Almeida – To Celerica - Mondego River – To Sampayo –Cortico – Carapichana – Villa Corteza – House of the Prior – St Jago - To Galezies – Tinozelo – Chamusca –Venda Nova – Lourosa – Fidalgo – Farinha Podre – Venda da Porca – Venda da Valle – Moita – To Riva – Coimbra – To Condeixa – To Pombal– To Leyria – To Molianos – Monastery of Batalha - To Rio Mayor – To Alcoentra – To the same Villa Franca – Sacarem – To Lisbon.

Major General William Joseph Eyre Brooke (1770-1843)

Born 1770 in Fort St George, Tamil Nadu, India

Son of Henry Brooke of Hatheley Kildare (died 1786) and Mary (Allbury/Aubury) Brooke. His mother, Mary Brooke (formerly Allbury/Aubrey/Albeary) 1738-1787, born in Ireland of mother unknown, was a daughter of Friedrich Ludwig (Frederick) Prince of Wales formerly Hannover or Hanover, von Hannover 1707-1751. Little is known about Mary Allbeary (also known as Aubury) but what information there is, came originally from the late Sir Robert Mackworth-Young KCVO, Librarian of Windsor Castle Library. "Daughter of Frederick Prince of Wales born of an undisclosed mother. She was married on 25 August 1764 at Fort St George Madras to Henry Brooke (1725-86) and she died 23 years later on 12 August 1787 at Dublin."

Early Service: West Indies 1794-1796.

Peninsular War: Assistant Adjutant-General 1810. Served with his regiment 2/48th.

On staff Lisbon 1812 - 1814.

Major General 1813, Lieutenant General 1825, General 1841.

Husband of Mary (Nicolls) Brooke — married June 12, 1815 in St Marylebone, England.

Brother of Catherine (Brooke) Wahab, Henry Brooke, Thomas Henry Brooke, Robert Brooke of Bath, Edward Brooke, Arthur Brooke, Mary Anne Brooke and Sarah Brooke.

Died 9 September 1843 at Alfred Place, Bath. A photocopy of the "Will of William otherwise Joseph Eyre Brooke, Lieutenant General in His Majesty's Service of Bath, Somerset", PROB 11/1989/183, 22 December 1843 is included.

Peninsula War

Major William Brooke was captured by French forces at the Battle of Albuera on May 16th 1811. His vivid journal of that time from May 18th to September 28th 1811 was later discovered in the papers of Sir James Stevenson Barnes and published by Charles Oman in Revival: Studies in the Napoleonic Wars, titled A Prisoner of Albuera (1929). Brooke escaped from Seville and returned home to Bath in the autumn of 1811.

In 1812, Wellington finally captured Ciudad Rodrigo. He then moved south quickly, besieged the fortress of Badajoz for a month and captured it during one bloody night. He then routed the French at the Battle of Salamanca on 22nd July.