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1304

SCARCE TO THE LIFE GUARDS //

WATERLOO MEDAL NAMED TO: RICHARD AHRILL. 1st. LIFE GUARDS.

Condition: VF.

36% Casualty rate at Waterloo.

Confirmed on the roll.

Comes with research.

Born in the Parish of St. Nicholas, Lanark c 1790. Enlisted in the 1st LIFE GUARDS on April 1808 aged 18 years. A gardener. Served on the Flanders Campaign of 1815 and was present at Waterloo. Discharged from Hyde Park Barracks on 2 June 1818 on account of ill health. Description at discharge aged 28 years.

The 1st Cavalry Brigade, commanded by Maj. Gen. Lord Edward Somerset, `consisted of 1st Life Guards, 228 men; 2nd Life Guards, 231 men; Royal Horse Guards, 237 men 1st Dragoon Guards, 530 men.

On 17th June, French cavalry advanced in great force, pressing on Quatre Bras, 1st Life Guards were directed to charge French Lancers, and pursued them thru streets of Genappe. On 18th June, battle started about 10:30 in the morning. Repeated charges were made by the French cavalry upon the British infantry, but were uniformly unsuccessful, and afforded opportunity to the British cavalry to charge, in which Lord Edw. Somerset's Brigade highly distinguished itself. They battled till dark, during which the 1st. Life Guards had eleven times, charged into the French. The Anglo-Allied Army consisted of 67,661 men, the French had 71,947 men.

$7,500.00

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1306

WATERLOO MEDAL named to: JAMES. TOMKINS. 16th. OR. QUEEN'S LIGHT DRAGOONS.

Confirmed on the roll.

Comes with research.

Condition: GVF.

8% Casualty rate at Waterloo.

SOLD 

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1307

WATERLOO MEDAL named to: GILES. LOVETT. 15th. OR KING'S REGT. HUSSARS.

Confirmed on the roll.

Condition: NEF.

SOLD

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1308

FROM MY PRIVATE COLLECTION // SCARCE

After the heavy vollies from the British into the French Guard Wellington started shouting "Go on Go on! They won't stand. Don't give them a chance to rally."

PTE. RICHARD BROWN. 52nd. REGT. FOOT.1 ST. BATT. (OXFORDSHIRE LT. (INFTY)

Condition: GVF.

19% Casualty rate at Waterloo.

Napoleon's last attack at Wellington's center was made by The Old Guard.

The 52nd suffered heavy casualties, nine officers killed or wounded, and 11 Sergeants and 186 rank and file killed or wounded.

Major-General Frederick Adams' brigade, which had been sheltered a little to the rear from the artillery, had been brought directly into the line. The attacking Guards came up in such a way that Adams' brigade, the 52nd, was on the French left. The regiment's commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Colborne, watched the charge. He had a plan. It was daring. It could only be executed with great risk not only to his troops but to his whole military career. Fighting in Spain, he had gained a reputation for innovation, but he had done nothing compared with what he planed now. On his left were the British Guard. It appeared that they would take the main attack. If he could wheel his regiment outside the line he would be able to fire directly on the nearest flank of the Old Guard. the destructive fire coming  from the British troops directly to the front of the advancing French, coupled with the flanking fire from the wheeling 52nd, would be sure to destroy the charging enemy. First he would wheel the left company of the 52nd to its direct left. It would swing as a gate opens and then stand on the flank of the advancing troops. The movement had to be precise. Any disorder at all and there could easily be a huge gap opened for the French to plunge through. All they have to do was just veer a little more to their left.

Colborne explained his orders to his Lieutenants. It was about time to act. The Guard was approaching through heavy smoke. Colborne yelled out his command. The left company pivoted with drill-field precision. The rest of the regiment began to form up on the front company. Colborne had no orders for this action. It was entirely on his own responsibility. Adams, the brigade commander, rode up quickly and asked what Colborne was doing. Over the roar of musketry Colborne pointed to the French and yelled "To make that column feel our fire". Adams approved of the maneuver so completely that he dashed off to bring up another regiment to support. Through the smoke the vanguard of the advancing French had almost reached the top of the ridge. And then suddenly on their flank they saw the 52nd regiment. The shock of seeing their flank imperiled shook the whole column. For a moment the Guard froze. But second later the Imperial Guard recovered. It wheeled some of its troops around and opened a heavy fire against Colborne's regiment. Colborne retaliated with a murderous volley. Other regiments, other units including part of the 95th regiment and the 71st regiment, had been brought up in support. They threw in a volley after volley. Colborne's maneuver must be shattering or it would fail. He screamed "Charge, charge!" and the 52nd flew at the Guard with their bayonets.

$6,500.00

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1309

PTE. THOMAS PEARSON. 23rd REGT. LIGHT DRAGOONS.

Condition: VF.

20% Casualty rate at Waterloo.

SOLD 

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1310

Waterloo medal named to: PTE. WILLIAM WATT. 2nd. REGT. DRAGOONS (ROYAL NORTH BRITISH or SCOTT'S GREYS).

Suspender is of the period.

51% Casualty rate at Waterloo.

Condition: GVF.

The most famous charge in the history of Britain.

The Charge of the Heavy Cavalry (The Scot's Grey's or (2nd or R.N. Brit. Regt. Dragoons) at Waterloo played a key roll in the defeat of the French. Napoleon's Grand Strategy was to attack the British Center (although many of his Generals disagreed with this strategy). The Charge of the Heavys played a major role in breaking up the French attack to the British center. While Wellington observed the the line in the center beginning to falter, the commander of the British Cavalry, Lord Uxbridge, ordered the the Heavy's to attack the advancing French infantry. It was a  necessary decision, although costing Wellington almost half his Cavalry strength in the early hours of the Waterloo battle. The attack by the Heavys changed the course of events for the remainder of the battle -- as Hougoumont changed from a diversion to a French blood bath and the Prussians appeared on the battle field in the late afternoon sealing Napoleon's and the French Army's fate, the heavys had done their work.

Sgt Ewart captured the French standard from the 45th French Infantry Regiment. Ewart cut down two French soldiers and the standard Bearer to keep hold of the Eagle and standard, he was ordered to take it to the rear. By Being ordered to the rear, This probably saved his life and also the standard for the regiment, as the rest of the regiment continued charging forward to French artillery positions, much further than they should have gone, now with very tired horses and unable to rally, the Scots Greys were attacked by Farine's Brigade of Cavalry (6th and 9th Cuirassiers.) and later by the 4th Lancers, very few managed to return to the British Lines. 

The Greys adopted the captured French eagle as the regiment’s badge. It is still the badge of the present regiment: the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

SOLD

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1311

WATERLOO medal named to SERJ. GEORGE SMITH. 3rd BATT. GRENADIER GUARDS.

Condition: VF+.

59% Casualty rate at Waterloo.

Grenadier Guards at Waterloo

In the campaign of Waterloo the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the First Guards, under Maitland, and the 2nd battalions of the Coldstream and Third (Scots) Guards, under Byng, formed the First Division of the army. They rendered service never to be forgotten. The Division reached Quatre Bras about half past six on the evening of June 16th, having met many wounded who said the day was going badly for us. Maitland was at once directed to clear the Bots de Bossu, on the right of the position, and his men straight away rushed into the wood with a cheer, and drove all before them, but the French turned their gun fire upon the wood, and many were killed or injured by trees cut down by the balls. Maitland's Guards were then formed outside the wood, where they were furiously charged by cavalry. Taking shelter therefore at the edge of the thicket and supported by some Black Brunswickers, they almost annihilated their assailants and, with heavy loss, held the ground.

At Waterloo the light companies of both brigades were posted in the wood and gardens of Hougoumont, where they were reinforced at midday by four more companies of the Coldstreamers, while the brigades themselves were on the ridge of the position to the rear, on the extreme right of the line. At Hougoumont the First Guards fought with heroic valour. It was a conflict worthy of Titans. In vain did Prince Jerome throw his strength against the old château, to the possession of which Bonaparte attached high importance. The walls were loop holed, and the place was held in strength, but repeatedly the French came on to achieve a temporary success, and then to be driven out again. A desperate struggle took place in the wood, where on one side or the other, men retreated fighting from tree to tree. Not less than 8,000 Frenchmen were put hors de combat in the tremendous onslaught made upon Hougoumont. But Lord Saltoun maintained his position, and renewed attacks were in vain. The loss, however, was terrible and the light infantry were almost annihilated when the Coldstreamers came to their aid. During this momentous struggle, the farm buildings were set on fire by the guns, adding immensely to the difficulty of the defence, and consigning many wounded to an agonizing death.

While the attack on Hougoumont was thus being made, a tremendous fire was poured on the allied line. When it ceased, the Imperial Cavalry, at headlong speed, charged the steady squares of the Guards, and the decimated ranks recoiled, but to hurl themselves anew on our bayonets.

The 3rd battalion of the First Guards was one of the regiments most exposed to this terrible onslaught. "It was upon these troops," says Siborne, "that fell the first bursts of the grand early attacks, and it was upon these troops also that the French gunners seldom neglected to pour their destructive missiles." Through all that terrific day the vast masses of gallant Frenchmen were broken against the iron sturdiness of the British squares, which stood like stony islands amid the lapping waves of a sea of fire. General Cooke, commanding the division of Guards, and Colonels D'Oyly and Stables, in command of battalions, retired wounded from the field, and Lord Saltoun, who had returned from Hougoumont, succeeded to the 3rd battalion. At length, as the day wore on, Bonaparte, seeing the oncoming of the Prussians, concentrated his furious cannonade mainly on the position held by the Guards preparatory to his grand attack, and but for the shelter of a hollow way, they must have been annihilated. At this time, Maitland, by the Duke's orders, formed his two battalions into line four deep, and scarcely was the change made, when 5,000 men of the Old Imperial Guard, led by Ney, were seen advancing at the pas de charge to the attack. Shouting Vive l' Empereur! they came steadily on, but, when they reached the crest, the Guards rose up like a wall and poured out a pitiless volley, the rear ranks passing with loaded muskets to the front. What matters it, says Lord Saltoun, whether Wellington cried "Up Guards and at 'em!" or no? He never heard the words only "Now Maitland, now's your time!" Thus was the iron shower set free. The Old Guard wavered and when at length the column reeled, shattered and broken, Saltoun cried out, "Now's the time, my boys!" and the Guards sprang forward, and drove the enemy over a hedge of dead and dying down the hill. In that conflict of giants, and at Quatre Bras, the First Guards lost 181 killed, including 7 officers, and had 853 wounded, making a total of 1,034. They had rendered glorious service, and earned undying fame. "Guards," exclaimed Wellington, "you shall be rewarded for this." and so it happened that, as a distinguished honour, they became "The First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards."

$8,500.00

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1314

              JOHN. MARTIN. 2nd. REGT. DRAGOONS (ROYAL NORTH BRITISH or SCOTT'S GREYS).

Condition: VF+.

51% Casualty rate at Waterloo.

John Martin:

Born Barony near Glasgow. Enlisted at Kilmarnock on 2nd January 1813 aged 17 years. Served 24 years 199 days in the U.K., Flanders and at Waterloo. He was discharged from Dundalk Barracks 21st July 1835.

Residence: Leeds

Died Leeds Aug. 3, 1862.

Comes with research including Attestation Papers.

The most famous charge in the history of Britain's Military .

The Charge of the Heavy Cavalry (The Scot's Grey's or (2nd or R.N. Brit. Regt. Dragoons) at Waterloo played a key roll in the defeat of the French. Napoleon's Grand Strategy was to attack the British Center (although many of his Generals disagreed with this strategy). The Charge of the Heavys played a major role in breaking up the French attack to the British center. While Wellington observed the the line in the center beginning to falter, the commander of the British Cavalry, Lord Uxbridge, ordered the the Heavy's to attack the advancing French infantry. It was a  necessary decision, although costing Wellington almost half his Cavalry strength in the early hours of the Waterloo battle. The attack by the Heavys changed the course of events for the remainder of the battle -- as Hougoumont changed from a diversion to a French blood bath and the Prussians appeared on the battle field in the late afternoon sealing Napoleon's and the French Army's fate, the heavys had done their work.

Sgt Ewart captured the French standard from the 45th French Infantry Regiment. Ewart cut down two French soldiers and the standard Bearer to keep hold of the Eagle and standard, he was ordered to take it to the rear. By Being ordered to the rear, This probably saved his life and also the standard for the regiment, as the rest of the regiment continued charging forward to French artillery positions, much further than they should have gone, now with very tired horses and unable to rally, the Scots Greys were attacked by Farine's Brigade of Cavalry (6th and 9th Cuirassiers.) and later by the 4th Lancers, very few managed to return to the British Lines. 

The Greys adopted the captured French eagle as the regiment’s badge. It is still the badge of the present regiment: the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

SOLD

$10,500.00

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1315

WATERLOO medal named to: ROBERT. BRANCH. GUNNER. ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY.

MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE medal named to: R. BRANCH. GUNNER. R.H.A.

Clasps: VITTORIA, PYRENEES & TOULOUSE.

Condition: VF (Waterloo medal). GVF. MGS.

Lt. Colonel May's "H" Troop.

Privately engraved unofficial clasp on the Waterloo medal: "Three Expeditions". A great touch.

Comes with research.

Confirmed on the roll.

$10,750.00

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1316

WATERLOO medal named to: JAMES WARD. GUNNER. ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY.

Captain MERCER'S Troop.

Captain Mercer's Troop had a very high casualty rate.

(Captain Mercer's participation at Waterloo is a classic story and his renowned memoir about the battle is widely to believed to be one of the finest.)

Condition: VF.

This medal was once in the collection of Colonel Gascoignes 1901.

This is the only Gunner medal to a man in Capt. Mercer's Troop I have ever come across.

$12,500.00

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1317

WATERLOO medal named to: CPL. BEN. BARTENSHAW. 3rd. BN. GRENADIER GUARDS.

 MGS medal named to: B. BARTENSHAW. 1st. FOOT. GUARDS.

Clasp: CORUNNA.

Condition: VF.

Comes with a copy of the roll.

$14,495.00

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1318

WATERLOO medal named to: THOMAS. KISBIE. 1st DRAGOON. GUARDS.

Wounded at Waterloo

Condition: VF

Comes with copy of the roll and further research.

WOUNDED TO THE CAVARLY AT WATEROO ARE SCARCE //

$12,000.00

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1319

WATERLOO medal named to: JAMES GIBSON. 1st BATT. 27th REGT. FOOT

GIBSON joined the Regt. 4th May 1805 and served 11 years 174 days. Discharged 13th Dec. 1816.

Born 1780 in Ireland.

Condition: VF.

The 27th Foot suffered grievous losses whilst standing in the square at the hottest place on the battlefield.  The 1/127 yielded not an inch of ground for which it paid a shocking price. Of 15 officers present 14 became casualties whilst of the 670 other ranks 498 were either killed or wounded.

The regt. suffered a 68% casualty rate. One of only three infantry regiments to have such a high casualty rate in the entire battle of Waterloo.

I HAVE ONLY SEEN TWO MEDALS TO MEN IN THIS REGIMENT COME UP FOR SALE.

$8,500.00