Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Peninsula War medal awarded to General Sir John Aitchison, G.C.B., Colonel of the Scots Fusilier Guards, who was wounded at Talavera when an Ensign carrying the King’s Colour, which was also shot through, together with his two General officer swords; his letters were published under the title An Ensign in the Peninsular War

i. Military General Service 1793-1814, 6 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive (John Aitchison, Lieut. 3rd Ft. Gds.) minor contact marks, otherwise good very fine

ii. 1831 pattern Victorian General Officer’s mameluke-hilted sword by ‘Henry Wilkinson Pall Mall London’, unnumbered, with slightly curved bright blade double-edged at the clipped-back point and etched over half its length on both sides with foliate decoration, crossed sword and baton, crowned ‘VR’ cypher, one side with monogram ‘JA’ below family crest, regulation hilt with gilt mounts including guard cast and chased on both sides with foliage and centred on a crossed sword and baton within a wreath, ivory grips, in its brass scabbard with two rings for suspension, and complete with its bullion sword-knot, some denting to scabbard, otherwise very good, bright and fresh condition

iii. 1831 pattern Victorian General Officer’s mameluke-hilted sword by ‘Hamburger & Co 30 King St. Covnt. Garden London’, with slightly curved bright blade double-edged at the clipped-back point and etched over half its length on both sides with foliate decoration, crossed sword and baton, crowned ‘VR’ cypher, regulation hilt with gilt mounts including guard cast and chased on both sides with foliage and centred on a crossed sword and baton within a wreath, ivory grips, in its black leather levée scabbard with ornate gilt-brass mounts, the two suspension rings decorated with boldly chased oak wreaths, complete with its bullion sword knot, some wear to leather on scabbard, otherwise very good, bright and fresh condition

All contained in a large and heavy contemporary glazed oak display case with additional provision for G.C.B. (Military) insignia, excellent overall condition as described (3) £8,000-£12,000

John Aitchison was born at Drummore, Musselburgh, East Lothian, on 25 April 1779, son of William Aitchison. He was appointed Ensign in the 3rd Foot Guards on 25 October 1805, and took part in the expedition to the Baltic in 1807, including the siege and capture of Copenhagen. He served in the Peninsula from March 1809 to October 1810, including the passage of the Douro, capture of Oporto and subsequent pursuit of Soult’s Army to Salamonde. At the battle of Talavera he was wounded in the arm while carrying the King’s Colour, which was also shot through. He also served in the campaign of 1810, including the battle of Busaco and the retreat to the lines of Torres Vedras. He returned home in October of that year and received his promotion to Lieutenant & Captain on 22 November 1810. He returned to the Peninsula once more in May 1812, where he remained until the end of the War in April 1814. In this period he was present at the battle of Salamanca, the capture of Madrid, the siege of Burgos, and the retreat from thence into Portugal; the affair of Osma, the battle of Vittoria, affair at Tolosa, the siege of San Sebastian, the battles of the Nivelle and Nive, passage of the Ardour, investment of Bayonne, siege of the citadel, and repulse of the sortie.

He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 15 December 1814, and to Colonel on 20 May 1836, commanding the Scots Fusilier Guards for upwards of four years until promoted to Major-General on 23 November 1841. He served in India from June 1845 to November 1851, as Major-General on the staff of the Madras Presidency, in command of the Mysore Division (including Coorg) and of the Province of Malabar and Canara. In 1851 he was appointed Colonel of the 72nd Highlanders, and was transferred as Colonel to the Scots Fusilier Guards in 1870. In 1859 he had been made a Knight Commander of the Bath and promoted to General in the following year. In 1867 he received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. General Sir John Aitchison, G.C.B., Colonel of the Scots Fusilier Guards died at his residence in Devonshire Place, London, on 12 May 1875, at the advanced age of 87 years. Had he survived just a little longer he would have been made a Field Marshal, to which Queen Victoria had already assented.

The letters of John Aitchison, edited by W. F. K. Thompson, were published in 1981 under the title An Ensign in the Peninsular War. His letters abound with comments on the actions of Wellington, sometimes laudatory, other times highly critical, particularly with regard to the siege of Burgos, where he describes Wellington as ‘impolitic, not to say wantonly reprehensible.’ Aitchison also expresses his admiration for the courage of men under fire; describes the shortage of supplies for the troops and the poor quality of the food available; criticises the Spanish officers ‘a despicable set... always the first to desert’, and the Portuguese; he emphasises the need for news from England, without which ‘we would be perfectly ignorant of what is going on in the rest of the world’. A first edition of this book accompanies the lot.