SINGLE CAMPAIGN MEDALS
15
MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE 1793-1814, 11 clasps, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor,
Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive,
Orthes, Toulouse (Alexr. McGregor, 74th Foot) original ribbon,
£4000-5000
One officer and 4 men of the 74th Foot received the maximum entitlement of 11
clasps.
Alexander McGregor was born in the Parish of Tumburn, Perth, and enlisted into
the 74th (Assaye) Regiment at Perth on 2 May 1801, aged 18 years, for unlimited
service. He served a total of 15 years 357 days, including 276 days as a Corporal,
and was discharged at Dublin on 25 April 1817, in consequence of a ‘gunshot
wound received at Toulouse in France on the 10th April 1814’. His general
conduct as a soldier was reported as having been ‘Good - served honestly &
faithfully, was severely wounded in the leg & ankle at the storm of Badajos on
the 8th April 1812 & is recommended as deserving any gratuity that shall be
granted to him in the way of Pension’. Sold with copy discharge papers (Royal
Hospital Kilmainham).
16
MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE 1793-1814, 12 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera,
Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria,
Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse (Peter Robins, Serjt. 45th Foot) good very
fine £5000-6000
Ex Gaskell collection 1908, Needes collection 1939, and Darwent collection
2004.
Only 87 medals issued with 12 clasps, including 11 to the 45th Foot.
Peter Robins enlisted as a recruit into the 45th Foot on 17 July 1801. He was
promoted to Corporal on 25 December 1801, and served in England and Ireland
until September 1806, when, having reverted to Private, he embarked at
Falmouth Harbour for South America. He served at Monte Video until June 1807,
when he embarked with his regiment for the United Kingdom. In September
1808 he went to Portugal where he was promoted to Corporal in September
1809, and to Sergeant in March 1810. He served continuously in the Peninsula
and France until June 1814, when he reurned to Cork. He was promoted to
Colour-Sergeant in October 1814, but reduced to Private in August 1817, and
discharged on 8 November 1818, being admitted to Chelsea Hospital as an out-
pensioner on the 25th of the same month.
In January 1853 he was admitted as an in-pensioner and died in Chelsea Hospital on 19 January 1856, aged 77 years. He was buried in
a common grave at Brompton Cemetery, the Royal Hospital graveyard having been closed for burials two years beforehand. The
documents relating to his admission to Chelsea Hospital mention that he was wounded in the left arm but give no details of date or
place. With muster details and copy death certificate.
17
MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE 1793-1814, 13 clasps, Corunna, Busaco, Fuentes
D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St.
Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (Edward Byrne, 52nd Foot)
suspension claw re-fixed, edge bruising, otherwise very fine and rare
£6000-7000
Ex Sotheby November 1894 and Henry Gaskell collection 1907.
Only 3 officers and 48 men of the 52nd received the clasp for St Sebastian,
entitlement to which was supposedly restricted to those actual stormers of that
place. Only 44 medals issued with 13 clasps, including 10 men of the 52nd.
At Busaco the 43rd and 52nd Foot of Craufurd’s Light Division greatly
distinguished themselves. As Loison’s French division advanced up the hill to the
ridge occupied by the British forces and reached its crest, the 43rd and 52nd rose
from their positions in a sunken section of road. Craufurd is said to have called
out ‘Now, 52nd! Revenge the death of Sir John Moore’. Moore had been colonel
of the 52nd. The two regiments poured a volley into the French column at 25
yards and then attacked with the bayonet, driving the French back down the
hillside. A watching artillery officer described the fight as ‘carnage’.
Present at virtually every battle and siege throughout the war in the Peninsular the 52nd had a distinguished career, particularly at the
storming of Badajoz, when the elite Light Division suffered badly, the 52nd alone losing more than 70 killed and 300 wounded, some
40 percent of their fighting strength. They were again distinguished at the battle of Nivelle when the Light Division successfully stormed
the redoubts and forts of the French defences on La Rhune, thus opening the way for the main British assault and the defeat of Soult’s
army. Once more the 52nd suffered heavy casualties, with 34 killed and more than 200 wounded. Sold with copy of the medal roll
which also shows claim for Talavera disallowed.
www.dnw.co.uk
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