Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Martinique, Guadaloupe (W. M. Mills, Lieut. York Lt. Infy.) old lacquer, otherwise extremely fine and rare £1,600-£2,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the late Roy Painter.

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Provenance: Payne Collection 1911; Glendining, July 1953; Dix Noonan Webb, June 2000.

William Maxwell Mills was born on the Island of St Vincent in 1783, and was appointed Ensign in the York Light Infantry Volunteers on 25 October 1803, becoming Lieutenant in October 1804, and Captain in April 1811. He served at the Capture of Martinique in March 1809, and at the Capture of Guadaloupe in February 1810, both expeditions commanded by Sir George Beckwith. He exchanged into the 18th Royal Irish Regiment in February 1815, to the 6th West India Regiment in February 1816, to the Royal York Rangers in February 1817, and to the 1st West India Regiment in December 1818, becoming Major in that regiment on 24 April 1828.