The Royal Leicestershire Regiment being merged to create one larger regiment - the Royal Anglian Regiment. The Royal Anglian Regiment still exists now and is composed of three battalions - two regular and one reserve. The legacy of the 44th Regiment of Foot is upheld to this day as the 3rd East Anglian Regiment became the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment. In fiction The capture of a French Imperial Eagle by the fictional South Essex Regiment at the Battle of Talavera in Bernard Cornwell's novel Sharpe's Eagle is based upon the action by the 44th Regiment. The primary historical difference, as admitted in Cornwell's historical postscript, is that no Eagle was captured during the battle. Battle honours The battle honours of the regiment were: Egypt Peninsular War: Badajoz, Salamanca, Peninsula War of 1812: Bladensburg Napoleonic Wars: Waterloo Anglo-Burmese War: Ava Crimean War: Alma, Inkerman, Sevastopol Second Opium War: Taku Forts Victoria Cross awards The Victoria Cross were awarded to the following men of the regiment. Private John McDougall, Second Opium War (21 August 1860) Sergeant William McWheeney, Crimean War (20 October 1854) Lieutenant Robert Montresor Rogers, Second China War (21 August 1860) Colonels of the Regiment Colonels of the regiment were: 1741–1743: Col. James Long 1743–1751: Col. John Lee The 44th Regiment of Foot – (1751) 1751–1755: Col. Sir Peter Halkett, 2nd Baronet 1755–1756: Col. Robert Ellison 1756–1781: Gen. James Abercromby 1781–1809: Gen. Charles Rainsford The 44th (East Essex) Regiment – (1782) 1809–1814: Gen. Sir Thomas Trigge, KB 1814–1820: Gen. John Howard, 15th Earl of Suffolk 1820–1843: Gen. Gore Browne 1843–1855: Gen. Hon. Sir Patrick Stuart, GCMG 1855–1858: Lt-Gen. Sir Frederick Ashworth 1858–1881: Gen. Sir Thomas Reed, GCB References Sources External links Personnel lists of the 44th Regiment of Foot Infantry regiments of the British Army Military units and formations established in 1741 Military units and formations in Essex Regiments of the British Army in the American Revolutionary War Regiments of the British Army in the Crimean War Military units and formations disestablished in 1881