SINGLE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 18
A fine Field Officers’ Gold Medal and Bar awarded to Major William Campbell, 36th Foot, for his command of a ‘Light Battalion’ at the battles of the Pyrenees and Nivelle; he was afterwards severely wounded at the battle of Toulouse
FIELDOFFICER’S GOLDMEDAL 1808-14, for Pyrenees, 1 clasp, Nivelle (Major Willm. Campbell, 1st Bn. 36th Foot) complete with gold ribbon buckle, extremely fine
£18000-2200
William Campbell was first appointed Ensign in the 36th Foot on 27 October 1799, becoming Lieutenant in March 1800, and Captain in December 1804. After participating, as part of Picton’s Brigade, in the disastrous expedition to the Walcheren, July to December 1809, Campbell accompanied his regiment to the Peninsula in March 1811.
He saw service at Barba del Puerco, at the siege of the Forts of Salamanca in June 1812, and at the battle of Salamanca which took place the following month. He next took part in the failed siege of Burgos in September and October, the subsequent retreat from which place brought to an end his campaigning that year.
Campbell took no part in the great victory at Vittoria in June 1813, but the following month found him in the hills of the Pyrenees, in command of the light company of the 36th, ‘detached in smart skirmishing’ during some fighting near Pampeluna on 28 July. On the 30th Campbell’s light company was again detached with orders to expel the enemy from the village of Sorauren. For his services on this occasion Campbell was presented with a medal for the battles of the Pyrenees and received promotion from Captain to the brevet rank of Major.
At the crossing of the Bidassoa his battalion took part in the action at Urdax on 7 October, clearing the way for the advance towards Nivelle, reckoned by Wellington to be his greatest victory. In the battle which followed on 10 November, ‘it was the proud lot of the sixth division, of which the Thirty-sixth formed part, to charge and carry the enemy’s breastwork and principal redoubt on the heights of Ainhoa, with the loss of one drummer and five rank and file killed.’ Both Major Cross and brevet Major Campbell of the 36th were honoured with the medal [or clasp] for the battle of Nivelle.
In December 1813, the 36th were stationed at Ville Franque, engaged in the severe duty of the blockade of Bayonne, and did not rejoin the army until 26 February, just in time to share in the battle of Orthes on the following day. Campbell next took part in the affairs of Vic Bigorre and Tarbes on 19 and 20 March, and in the pursuit of Soult’s army on retreat towards Toulouse. In the battle of Toulouse on 10 April 1814, the 36th had the honour of commencing the attack of the 6th Division.
Wellington subsequently wrote in his ‘Toulouse’ despatch, ‘We did not gain this advantage, however, without severe loss, particularly in the brave sixth division. The Thirty-sixth, Forty-second, Sixty-first, and Seventy-ninth regiments lost considerable numbers, and were highly distinguished throughout the day.’
Campbell was severely wounded in this action, in which the 36th had two officers, three sergeants and thirty-five rank and file killed, and nine officers, eight sergeants, and ninety-seven ranks and file wounded, from of an original strength of only two hundred and fifty, all ranks.
Major William Campbell was placed on half-pay in April 1829, and died in 1840.
www.dnw.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268 |
Page 269 |
Page 270 |
Page 271 |
Page 272 |
Page 273 |
Page 274 |
Page 275 |
Page 276 |
Page 277 |
Page 278 |
Page 279 |
Page 280 |
Page 281 |
Page 282 |
Page 283 |
Page 284 |
Page 285 |
Page 286 |
Page 287 |
Page 288 |
Page 289 |
Page 290 |
Page 291 |
Page 292 |
Page 293 |
Page 294 |
Page 295 |
Page 296 |
Page 297 |
Page 298 |
Page 299 |
Page 300 |
Page 301 |
Page 302