Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (Capt. David Power, 2nd Batt. 44th Reg. Foot) fitted with original steel clip and contemporary silver straight suspension bar and matching ribbon buckle, minor marks but generally very fine £6000-8000

David Power was appointed Ensign in the 44th Foot on 5 April 1801, becoming Lieutenant, 18 September 1802, and Captain, 3 December 1807. He proceeded to Holland in November 1813 when, together with the 37th and 69th regiments, the 44th formed part of the first brigade under Major-General Skerrett. Captain Power was severely wounded in the assault on the strong fortress of Bergen-op-Zoom on 8 March 1814, and was one of twelve officers of the 44th to be taken prisoner on that occasion. Released a few weeks later, he served with the regiment whilst stationed at Ostend until June 1815 when the 44th joined Picton’s division in the renewed campaign against Napoleon.

Captain Power was again severely wounded at Quatre Bras on 16 June, when the 44th were caught in line and attacked by French lancers. This attack was decisively repulsed. “Never, perhaps,” wrote Captain Siborne, “did British infantry display its characteristic coolness and steadiness more eminently than on this trying occasion. To have stood in a thin two-deep line, awaiting, and prepared to receive, the onset of hostile cavalry, would have been looked upon at least as a most hazardous experiment; but, with its rear so suddenly menaced, and its flanks unsupported, to have instantly faced only one rank about - to have stood as if rooted to the ground - to have repulsed its assailants with so steady and well-directed a fire that numbers of them were destroyed - this was a feat of arms which the oldest or best-disciplined corps in the world might have in vain hoped to accomplish; yet most successfully and completely was this achieved by the gallant second battalion of the 44th British Regiment, under its brave commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Hamerton.”

Power exchanged to the half-pay of the 9th Foot on 16 October 1817, and died in 1821.

See previous Lot for the Gold Medal awarded to his twin brother, Thomas, a Captain in the 47th Foot.