Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 8 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Busaco, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Orthes (William Somerby, 40th Foot.) old repairs to right hand side of carriage, otherwise good very fine £2,600-£3,000

Provenance: Lawson Whalley Collection 1875; Sotheby, November 1893; Debenham’s, June 1899; Glendining’s, July 1953.

A unique combination of clasps to the M.G.S. medal.

William Somerby (also listed as Somerly) was admitted to the pension list at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, on 7 June 1816. He had served 10 years as a Private in the 40th Foot and eighteen months in the 7th Royal Veterans, and was then aged 55. He was discharged in consequence of ‘Reduction and wounded right thigh and left leg in Spain.’ Furthermore, he ‘states he was at the storming of Monte Video, was at Vimiera, Badajoz, Salamanca, Rodrigo, Vittoria and Toulouse, wounded right knee and left leg.’

Sold with copied pages from pension register. These show that he was from Wellingborough, Northants. In the Census of 1851 he is shown as an In-pensioner at Chelsea Royal Hospital. He died on 27 November 1857, aged 73, and is buried in a common grave at Old Brompton Cemetery.