Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse (G. King, Cavy. Staff Corps.) good very fine and rare £400-500

Only four officers and 15 other ranks received the M.G.S. medal for service with the Staff Corps of Cavalry. This unit was formed in 1813 as a replacement for the hard-pressed department of the Provost Marshal. Four troops were raised under the command of Sir George Scovell, and attached to the Adjutant General’s Department. The duties of the corps were to patrol the camps and cantonments, to pick up and deal with stragglers, to protect the local populace from any excesses of the troops, and, on occasion, to provide orderlies for the staff. It had a reputation for being tough but generally fair, and was very highly thought of by Wellington. It was disbanded in 1814 but troops were raised for the subsequent Waterloo campaign.

All other ranks were either reliable senior NCOs or long-service troopers with clean records. Two troops were formed from various regiments on the Home Establishment and sent out to the Peninsula, and another two were raised from regiments in the field, including some from the King’s German Legion. Both officers and other ranks received extra pay for their duties.

Private Goerge King was transferred from the 2nd Dragoon Guards and sent out from England to join the Staff Corps of Cavalry with effect from 19 June 1813. He had enlisted in the 2nd Dragoon Guards on 3 January 1799, and had served all his time on the Home Establishment. He was one of only two men who were transferred from this regiment.