The rare Peninsula and Waterloo pair awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Croker, 18th Hussars, who was severely wounded at the brilliant capture of the bridge at Croix d’Orade by the regiment, without which the action of Toulouse could not have been fought; he was second-in-command of the 18th at Waterloo and rewarded with a Brevet Majority

Military General Service 1793-1814, 5 clasps, Sahagun, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (Rd. Croker, Lieut. 18th Hussars.); Waterloo 1815 (Capt. Richard Croker, 18th Regiment Hussars) fitted with steel clip and ring suspension, nearly extremely fine (2) £5000-6000

Provenance: Payne Collection 1911; Glendining’s, June 1934; Spink, December 1988; since held in the collection of John Goddard.

The only Sahagun clasp to the 18th Hussars and a unique combination of clasps for this medal.

Richard Hare Croker was born circa 1786, the second son of Richard Croker, of Ballynagarde, County Limerick, by Margaret Anne, sister of 1st Earl of Listowel, and daughter of Richard Hare. He was commissioned an Ensign in the 18th Light Dragoons on 27 June 1805, and was promoted to Lieutenant on 2 January 1806. He served in Spain from September 1808 to January 1809 where, according to the Peninsula Roll Call by Captain Lionel S. Challis, he was wounded at Benevente. Promoted to Captain on 9 July 1812, Croker returned to the Peninsula in September 1813, being present at the battles of Nivelle and Nive, the affair at Mendionde, 18 December 1813, when he was again wounded, the battle of Orthes, and the action of Croix d’Orade, 8 April 1814, when he received a severe sabre-wound in the face.

Action at Croix d’Orade

Of this gallant action, Captain Kennedy says:- “It was necessary to secure possession of the Bridge of Croix d'Aurade (sic), on the river Ers, and over which we had to pass to attack Toulouse. This bridge was defended by three regiments of French Cavalry, amongst them the 22nd Chasseurs, and the Regiment was sent forward to attack the enemy's outposts, this being done by our riflemen dismounted, and afterwards to clear the village on our left - from whence we had been fired on - and this bridge. It was about five o'clock in the evening, and, as we advanced, in full view of Lord Wellington, Sir Stapleton Cotton, and Marshal Beresford, all of whom were on a height and watching us (for at this time no other regiment was engaged), while on the opposite side, only a mile or so off, stood Soult and the whole French Army as spectators. The 1st King's German Hussars were in support of us. In column of troops left in front, on went the Regiment, having Colonel Vivian in command, but before we reached the bridge he was wounded in the right arm, and had to be led away to the rear; but before leaving ordered Major Hughes to conduct the charge, and this was immediately done. The enemy received us with a volley of musquetry, but the Regiment was not to be driven by a musketry fire, and the charge sounded. In an instant we were on to them, jammed them on the bridge, and sabred their front ranks, their rear ranks going off in disorder. In less than a minute, as it seemed, the whole column was routed, and we captured 120 of them with their horses. We pursued them at full gallop for nearly three miles in the very highest style, almost to the gates of Toulouse. The ranks of the French were so close together, that had we had Artillery there would have been a terrible butchery, but they got off the road, which was broad and straight, unmasking their guns in so doing, and we were ordered by Sir Stapleton Cotton to retire, but reformed on the bridge, which we guarded. Lord Wellington was in the greatest delight all the time, and exclaimed “Well done, the Eighteenth. By God, well done.” Besides Colonel Vivian, Captain Croker was the only officer wounded. It happened to the latter officer that his mare, carrying him several yards in advance of his Hussars, he was borne into the enemy's ranks, when he received a severe sabre cut on his face; the French Dragoon who wounded him was immediately after sabred by Sergeant-Major Black. In our retirement we lost two horses killed, two wounded, and one Hussar wounded. On being relieved by Infantry, we returned to quarters in the village of Bidache. Captain Croker was taken to a small house where was also Colonel Vivian, about a mile in the rear of the now historic bridge of Croix d'Aurade.”

Croker served subsequently with the 18th Hussars at the battle of Waterloo, where he was the senior Captain and, due to the absence of some more senior officers, effectively second-in-command of the regiment. He was rewarded with a brevet Majority for Waterloo. During the three years spent with the Army of Occupation, the Regiment kept a pack of hounds, of which Major Croker was the M.F.H.

Croker was placed on half-pay in November 1820, and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1837. He retired by the sale of his commission in 1843 and died at Leamington on 15 January 1854. One of his younger brothers, Charles Croker, became a Captain in the Royal Navy and received the Naval medal for the boat service action of 4 May 1811 and the action at Pelagosa on 29 November 1811.

For related Croker family medals see Lots 4, 163, 228, 421 and 424.