Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Martinique, Guadaloupe (William Bensley, 63rd Foot.) light contact marks and minor edge bruising, very fine and scarce £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

View
Collection

Usher Collection, Glendining’s, July 1975.

Only 59 Military General Service Medals were awarded to the 63rd Foot: 21 with the single clasp Martinique; 12 with the single clasp Guadaloupe; and 26 with both Martinique and Guadaloupe clasps.

William Bensley was born in Norwich about 1871. He attested for service in the 2nd Battalion of the 63rd Foot at Sunderland on 22 April 1805, having previously served with the East Essex Militia, and transferred to the 1st Battalion at the Curragh on 25 July 1805. He served in Ireland until November 1807 when his battalion took ship to Madeira. In January 1808 his battalion sailed for the West Indies landing at Barbados on 2 February, with the 63rd becoming part of the 2nd Brigade landing at Martinique. On 25 March 1809 he was taken aboard H.M.S. Pompee, as part of the Light Company of the 63rd for service as Marines; H.M.S. Pompee then took part in the blockade off Guadaloupe.

In early 1812, Bensley was promoted Corporal and in 1813 he was promoted Sergeant, though later reduced to Private for some unknown misdemeanour, though he was again promoted Corporal in March 1816. He was invalided out of the army becoming a Kilmainham pensioner in June 1821, but by September that year he had moved to Norwich and became a Chelsea out pensioner. He died on 5 May 1861.

Sold with extensive copied research.