Orders, Decorations and Medals

An important manuscript Standing Order book for the 13th Light Dragoons, circa 1814, with ownership signature of Captain Allan MacLean to inside cover, and earlier ownership identity of Captain James Gubbins to front cover, neatly hand written text with index and introduction, the content of a fascinating nature, including ‘Section 24’, the ‘Guard Room and Black Hole’, in fact an uncomfortable solitary confinement cell for serious offenders, 118pp., old, worn red/green binding with remnants of cotton securing tassel, contents generally good £300-400

Allan Thomas MacLean was born in May 1794, second son of Archibald Maclean of Pennycross and Carsaig, Argyllshire. Appointed an Ensign in the 2nd West India Regiment in January 1810, aged 16 years, he transferred a few months later to the 13th Light Dragoons as a Cornet.

Advanced to Lieutenant in July 1811, while on active service in the Peninsula, he was present in all the actions fought by his regiment from December 1810 until the end of the war, including Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Nive, Nivelle and Orthes. He was thanked by Sir John Byng for his conduct in the Pyrenees on 25 August 1813 and by Sir Henry Fane for his conduct at an action two days before Orthes but was wounded and taken P.O.W. at Conches in France on 13 March 1814.

MacLean, who was afterwards present at Waterloo, eventually attained the rank of Major-General and was appointed Colonel of the 13th Light Dragoons.

James Gubbins attained the rank of Captain in the 13th Light Dragoons in February 1811. He was killed by a cannon ball when charging with the regiment at Waterloo - ‘the moment of his death was that of victory’; see the Gentlemen’s Magazine for 1815, II, p. 275 for an obituary notice.