Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (Serjeant John M’Neil, 2nd or R.N. Brit. Reg Drag.) fitted with steel clip and ring suspension, traces of brooch marks to obverse, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £3,000-£4,000

Provenance: Matthew E. Taylor Collection, Christie’s, July 1983.

John McNeil was born at Paisley, Renfrewshire, and enlisted into the 2nd Dragoons in 1793, a hairdresser by trade. He served 23 years with the regiment and was in Captain Edward Payne’s Troop at Waterloo, for which he received an additional 2 years’ service. He was discharged to an out-pension at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, on 20 October 1816, in consequence of chronic rheumatism, at the rate of 1s 10d per diem. He was then aged 40 years and had served the last 5 years 4 months in the rank of Sergeant.