Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (John Richards, 1st Batt. 40th Reg. Foot.) fitted with replacement silver clip and silver bar suspension, engraved on one side ‘& Peninsula’, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £1,800-£2,200

Provenance: Sotheby, November 1903.

John Richards was born in the Parish of Torrington, Devonshire, and enlisted into the 40th Foot at Portsmouth on 25 April 1805. He was discharged on 6 February 1821, in consequence of ‘chronic rheumatism and general debility induced by long foreign service; was severely wounded in the left leg in 1807 in South America and has been wounded twice in the Peninsula.’ His conduct was described as ‘very good’ and that he ‘served in South America, Peninsula, North America and at Waterloo and was severely wounded in the left leg at Monte Video, slightly in the right side at the assault and capture of Badajoz, and in the left foot on the 18th July 1812.’ He did not live to claim the M.G.S. medal.

Sold with copied discharge papers.