Orders, Decorations and Medals

The impressive Peninsula War group of Decorations awarded to Major Sir John Scott Lillie, C.B., for services as Lieutenant in the 6th Foot, Captain in the Lusitanian Legion, and as Major in the 60th Foot, Commanding the 7th Caçadores in the Portuguese Service

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge in 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarks for London 1815 and maker’s mark ‘TD HD’, complete with gold swivel-ring wide suspension and gold ribbon buckle; Army Gold Cross, for Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse (Major J. S. Lillie, 7th Cacadores); Army Small Gold Medal, for Pyrenees, with 3 clasps for Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse (Major J. S. Lillie, 7th Cacadores); Military General Service 1793-1814, 7 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Busaco, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Nive (Sir J. S. Lillie, C.B. Lt. 6th Ft. Capt. Lusitn. Legn. Majr. 7th Cac.); Order of the Tower and Sword, Knight’s breast badge in gold and enamels, white enamel a little chipped on two arms; Portuguese Commander’s Cross, gold and enamels, for 5 Actions, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse, a fine English made piece with maker’s mark ‘JJE’, some minor enamel damage; Portuguese Officer’s Cross, for 4 Campaigns, gold and enamels; together with another cross in gilt, probably of local manufacture, inscribed on the edges of the cross ‘Lt. Colonel Sir J. S. Lillie, 7th Cacadores’; the group is further accompanied by the following three related items: (a) Prince of Wales’s Lodge, a fine quality badge in gold, silver and enamels, the central Prince of Wales Feathers in silver with Crown in gold, surrounded by blue enamelled Garter with motto of the Order, the plain gold reverse inscribed ‘Ich Dien’; (b) Legion of Honour, Legionaire’s cross in silver and enamels with central medallions in gold and enamels, Type III (circa 1810-12), some enamel chips but otherwise in unusually good condition for a badge of this period, believed to have been picked up on the field of battle by Major Lillie; (c) French Decoration of the Lys, silver breast badge with crown, unless otherwise described, generally nearly extremely fine (11)

See colour illustration on back cover.

Sir John Scott Lillie entered the service as an Ensign in the 6th Foot, 3 March 1807; Lieutenant, 29 March 1810; Captain, 60th (Royal American) Regiment, 11 November 1813; Major, 21 June 1817; Lieutenant Colonel, 10 January 1837. He served in the 6th Regiment with the first expedition to Portugal in 1808 and was present at the battles of Roleia and Vimiera, and capture of Lisbon. In 1809, as Captain in the Lusitanian Legion, he was present in various engagements for the defence of Portugal during the important interval between the embarkation at Corunna and the return of the second expedition to Lisbon. He was subsequently present during the campaign of 1810, at the battle of Busaco, and retreat to the Lines at Torres Vedras. In 1811, at the actions of Pombal and Redinha, capture of Campo Mayor, and siege of Olivença. In 1812, at the siege of Badajoz, battle of Salamanca, capture of Madrid, and retreat from Burgos. In 1813, at the actions at Ardea de Ponte, Osma, and Bridge of Subijana de Morellas (wounded), battle of Vittoria, blockade of Pampeluna, actions in the Pyrenees on the 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th, and 30th July, actions of Irun and St Martial, capture of San Sebastian, passage of the Bidassoa, battles of the Nivelle (wounded), the Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. At this last battle he was severely wounded and left for forty-eight hours on the field of battle, supposed to have been killed. Sir John received the Gold Cross for the battles of the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, and Toulouse; and the Silver War Medal with seven clasps for the others. In 1831 he was selected by the Regent of Portugal to organize and command an expedition to that country with the rank of Major General to support the claims of Queen Donna Maria. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Scott Lillie died in 1868.

The Loyal Lusitanian Legion was an Auxiliary Corps raised in Portugal, under the command of Brigadier General Sir Robert Wilson, for the defence of that country. The reorganisation of the Portuguese army was entrusted to General Beresford who, by handpicking the best men, formed a small serviceable army, distributed with a number of British officers. He further perceived the fitness of the Portuguese for light troops, and by a process of selection formed the famous Caçadores, who proved themselves worthy to be brigaded with the light division. Major Lillie commanded the 7th Caçadores at the four actions represented on his Army Gold Cross and was one of only a small handful of officers to receive the Gold Cross in the rank of Major.