SINGLE CAMPAIGN MEDALS
‘Desperate were now my struggles to extricate myself from leading strings. My youthful appearance caused the Colonel to appoint me
to the company of the oldest and steadiest officer in the regiment, Captain (afterwards General) William Turnor, who took great care of
me – much too great, according to my then mode of thinking – made an inventory of my “kit,” sent my clothes to the wash, and even
superintended the darning of my stockings. All these acts of real kindness were repaid with ingratitude by me, and obtained for him in
the regiment the nickname of “Keppel’s dry nurse.”
The Earl of Albemarle also included in his biography a letter written by Captain Turnor describing Turnor’s own experiences at
Waterloo (this same letter is also contained in The Historical Records of the 14th Regiment edited by Captain H. O’Donnell).
‘In the absence of my letter to my father, which was lost, I give the following letter from the captain of my company, William Turnor,
my “dry nurse” as he was called by his comrades, addressed to his friend, J. P. Clarke, Esq., Welton Place Daventry:
Mont St. Jean,
The field of battle ten miles from Brussels
19th June, 1815
Tho’ the papers will give you better information relative to the sanguinary conflict of yesterday, I am unwilling to permit a courier to
proceed to England without acquainting you that your friends in the 14th are well. The contest just terminated commenced at twelve
o’clock, and lasted without intermission till nine in the evening. It was the most bloody as well as the most decisive battle that has been
fought since the commencement of the French revolution, and its result will be more important than even that of Leipzig. The
cannonade was tremendous on both sides. The French fought with desperation, and I am fully convinced that no troops on earth
except the English could have won the victory. They are in action savagely courageous. The cavalry of the enemy particularly
distinguished themselves, and charged our infantry when in squares of battalions, four, five, six times, but they were not to be broken.
Our infantry has immortalized itself, and its conduct has never been surpassed, indeed never equaled. We are so fortunate as not to
have suffered very great loss, having been posted on the right of the line to hold in check a very strong body of the Imperial Guard. The
whole day we were exposed to the fire of several batteries of artillery, and particularly to that of two pieces brought to bear upon us.
The situation was trying in the extreme, but our young soldiers behaved well. They would have been glad to have been led against the
infantry, but we dared not lose sight of the cavalry. Many regiments both of infantry and cavalry are almost annihilated, but it is said
that some regiments of dragoons were not so forward as they ought to have been. One regiment of hussars is particularly mentioned as
having refused to charge. The field of battle exhibits this next morning a most shocking spectacle, too dreadful to describe. Every effort
was made by Buonaparte to turn our right, within 200 yards of which we were posted; he showed the greatest courage, led in person
many charges both of infantry and cavalry. Those officers who were in the Peninsula describe the battles as mere combats in
comparison with that of yesterday, and this may easily be credited when we reflect that napoleon fought for a crown, and was opposed
to the greatest General of the age. The escape of Lord Wellington is next to a miracle, for he was exposed the whole day to the hottest
fire. We know not the extent of our loss, but it must be great indeed.’
The final mention of Captain Turnor by the Earl of Albemarle was during the occupation of Paris where they also served together:
‘July 8th – The next day Captain Turnor and I strolled into the Tuileries. Huissiers in embroidered uniforms were posted at the doors of
the several apartments, but we were allowed to pass unquestioned. While we were gazing at the pictures, a body of gentlemen in
court-dress advanced towards us from the opposite end of the room. The only one in plain clothes we at once recognized by his
portraits as Louis XVIII. The King was dressed like an English country gentleman of the period – a blue coat with gilt buttons, pantaloons
and Hessian boots. We had only just time to draw up on one side, to assume the attitude of “attention,” and to greet his Majesty with a
military salute as he passed – a mark of respect which was acknowledged by a bow and the most gracious of smiles. Why we were
permitted to penetrate into the Royal sanctum is to me a riddle. Perhaps the King – he had only been twenty-four hours on the throne –
had given orders to allow British officers a passpartout.’
Sold with full research including extensive copied extracts from Albemarle’s autobiography and from Historical Records of the 14th
Regiment.
669
WATERLOO 1815 (Jervis Hague, 1st Batt. 52nd Reg. Foot), old replacement steel clip and ring suspension, clip slack and
obverse lightly polished, otherwise better than very fine £1400-1800
Jervis Hague was born in Manchester and enlisted in the 52nd Foot in Kent in April 1805. He subsequently served with the Colours for
14 years, was present at Waterloo in Captain W. Rowan’s Company, and was discharged in France in March 1817, aged 38 years, as a
result of a reduction of the establishment; sold with copy discharge papers and roll verification.
670
WATERLOO 1815 (Serjt. E. Evatts, 54th Foot) with steel clip and replacement ring suspension, renamed - old engraved
large capitals, edge bruising, very fine £300-350
With copied roll extracts.
671
WATERLOO 1815 (Samuel Miller, 1st Batt. 95th Reg. Foot) replacement
silver loop and ring suspension, edge bruising, contact marks, good fine
£2000-2500
During the ‘Waterloo Campaign’ Private Samuel Miller, served in Captain E.
Chawner’s Company in the 1st Battalion, 95th Regiment of Foot. Heavily
involved at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, the Battalion suffered 28 killed and 190
wounded, Samuel Miller being included in the latter number.
www.dnw.co.uk
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