On Overkirk ’ s right flank, close to Ramillies, ten of his squadrons suddenly broke ranks and were scattered, riding headlong to the rear to recover their order, leaving the left flank of the Allied assault on Ramillies dangerously exposed.

Allied gains of the Ramillies campaign 1706.

" Instead of continuing the momentum of victory, however, cracks in Allied unity would enable Louis XIV to reverse some of the major setbacks suffered at Turin and Ramillies.

Becoming de facto leader of Allied forces during the War of the Spanish Succession, his victories on the fields of Blenheim ( 1704 ), Ramillies ( 1706 ), Oudenarde ( 1708 ), and Malplaquet ( 1709 ), ensured his place in history as one of Europe's great generals.

The centre was formed by the mass of Dutch, German, Protestant Swiss and Scottish infantry – perhaps 30, 000 men – facing Offus and Ramillies.

On their left, on the broad plain between Taviers and Ramillies – and where Marlborough thought the decisive encounter must take place – Overkirk drew the 69 squadrons of the Dutch and Danish horse, supported by 19 battalions of Dutch infantry and two artillery pieces.

In the open country between Taviers and Ramillies, he placed 82 squadrons under General de Guiscard supported by several interleaved brigades of French, Swiss and Bavarian infantry.

Along the Ramillies – Offus – Autre Eglise ridge-line, Villeroi positioned Walloon and Bavarian infantry, supported by the Elector of Bavaria's 50 squadrons of Bavarian and Walloon cavalry placed behind on the plateau of Mont St. André.

At around 15: 30, Overkirk advanced his massed squadrons on the open plain in support of the infantry attack on Ramillies.

He commanded the army's scouting part which located the French army on the morning of Ramillies, and acted as a senior messenger for Marlborough during the battle, recalling Orkney's British infantry from their diversionary attack on the French right flank to assault the French centre around Ramillies itself.

The Battle of Ramillies, the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment | 16th Foot charging the French infantry.

Villeroi still believed ( on 22 May ) the Allies were a full day ’ s march away when in fact they had camped near Corswaren waiting for the Danish squadrons to catch up ; for his part, Marlborough deemed Villeroi still at Jodoigne when in reality he was now approaching the plateau of Mont St. André with the intention of pitching camp near Ramillies ( see map at right ).

De la Colonie, with his Grenadiers Rouge regiment, together with the Cologne Guards who were brigaded with them, was now ordered forward from his post south of Ramillies to support the faltering counter-attack on the village.

Seeing that Schultz and Spaar were faltering, Marlborough now ordered Orkney ’ s second-line British and Danish battalions ( who had not been used in the assault on Offus and Autre-Eglise ) to move south towards Ramillies.

Marlborough realised the great opportunity created by the early victory of Ramillies: " We now have the whole summer before us ," wrote the Duke from Brussels to Robert Harley, " and with the blessing of God I shall make the best use of it.

The regiment served under John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough at the victorious Battle of Ramillies in 1706 against the French in what is now Belgium and in the siege of Ostend.

Blenheim was followed in rapid succession by Ramillies And The Union With Scotland and by The Peace And The Protestant Succession, the three forming together a detailed picture of England under Queen Anne.

The French moved first to Tirlemont, ( as if to threaten Zoutleeuw, abandoned by the French in October 1705 ), before turning southwards, heading for Jodoigne – this line of march took Villeroi ’ s army towards the narrow aperture of dry ground between the Mehaigne and Petite Gheete rivers close to the small villages of Ramillies and Taviers ; but neither commander quite appreciated how far his opponent had travelled.

The battlefield of Ramillies is very similar to that of Blenheim, for here too there is an immense area of arable land unimpeded by woods or hedges.

His centre was secured by Ramillies itself, lying on a slight eminence which gave distant views to the north and east.

Also facing Ramillies Marlborough placed a powerful battery of thirty 24-pounders, dragged into position by a team of oxen ; further batteries were positioned overlooking the Petite Gheete.

The 20 French and Bavarian battalions in Ramillies, supported by Irish dragoons and a small brigade of Cologne and Bavarian Guards under the Marquis de Maffei, put up a determined defence, initially driving back the attackers with severe losses.

Even the squadrons currently being scrambled together by Villeroi behind Ramillies could not withstand the onslaught.

One was written by Joseph Addison, reporting on the debate in the House of Commons over the grant to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and his heirs, following the Battle of Ramillies.

Ramillies was part of a squadron commanded by William's brother, Commodore Francis Holburne.

Bellerophon joined the Home Fleet commanded by Admiral Sir William May, who had once been Evan-Thomas ' commander when onboard Ramillies.

Another locomotive repainted in a special livery was 50019 Ramillies, which was repainted in a variation of BR Blue by staff at Plymouth Laira depot.

The battle honours " Blenheim ", " Ramillies ", " Oudenarde ", and " Malplaquet " were also granted to the 26th, but not until 1882 ; as such, it was only ever borne by its successor, the Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles ).

During the Battle of Ramillies he was shot through the mouth and nearly killed by a French soldier who had returned to plunder the dead.

By the time Marlborough had closed down the Ramillies campaign he had denied the French most of the Spanish Netherlands west of the Meuse and north of the Sambre – it was an unsurpassed operational triumph for the English Duke.

The Battle of Ramillies between the French and the English, 23 May 1706.

* May 23 – Battle of Ramillies: English, Dutch, and German troops defeat the French.

Ramillies, Offus and Autre-Eglise were all packed with troops and put in a state of defence, with alleys barricaded and walls loop-holed for muskets.

The stalemate was broken in 1706, as Marlborough drove the French out of most of the Spanish Netherlands, decisively defeating troops under Villeroi in the Battle of Ramillies in May and following up with the conquest of Antwerp and Dunkirk.

The time was about 16: 30, and the two armies were in close contact across the whole four-mile ( 6 km ) front, from the skirmishing in the marshes in the south, through the vast cavalry battle on the open plain ; to the fierce struggle for Ramillies at the centre, and to the north, where, around the cottages of Offus and Autre-Eglise, Orkney and de la Guiche faced each other across the Petite Gheete ready to renew hostilities.

Several battles are considered classics in history, notably the Grand Alliance victories at Blenheim ( 1704 ) and Ramillies ( 1706 ), which drove the French forces from Germany and the Netherlands, or the French victory at Almansa ( 1707 ).

When they noticed the presence in the escort of the old battleship, HMS Ramillies, they fled the scene, rather than risk damage from her 15 " guns.

Apart from Ramillies, Eugene shared in Marlborough's great battles in the War of the Spanish Succession.

15-inch guns outside the museum ; the nearer gun from HMS Ramillies ( 07 ) | HMS Ramillies, the other from HMS Roberts ( F40 ) | HMS Roberts.

He served as a Midshipman on the battleship HMS Ramillies from 1927 to 1929.

The former Roman road from Bavay to Cologne passes through Ramillies.