Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The historic and unique Peninsula awards to Troop Sergeant-Major William Hanley, 14th Light Dragoons, who is the only known instance of an N.C.O. being mentioned by name in Napier’s History of the Peninsula War, for his gallant exploit at Blasco Sancho on 25 July 1812, when his patrol of three men of the 14th Light Dragoons and four men of the 1st Hussars of the King’s German Legion captured a piquet of French cavalrymen numbering two officers, two N.C.O.’s and 27 Dragoons; awarded a special Silver Medal by the Officers of the regiment at a full dress parade to commemorate his exploit, he was present in every engagement fought by the regiment in the Peninsula and in North America, and was afterwards appointed Foreman of Stores at the Tower of London until his death on September 1859

Military General Service 1793-1814, 11 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (W. Hanley, Troop Serjeant Major, 14th Light Dragoon) last letter of unit obscured by suspension claw; 14th Light Dragoons, unique silver medal for ‘Blasco Sancho 1812’, engraved, 38mm [Ref: Balmer R77], Obverse: within an engraved wreath ‘Fortitudine Blasco Sancho 26 July 1812. Peninsula.’ Reverse: within an engraved wreath ‘William Hanley Corporal 14th Light Dragoons’, with riveted silver clip and hinged straight bar and silver ribbon slide to contemporary original red ribbon with attached ivorine name label, minor edge bruise and very light contact marks, otherwise toned, good very fine (2) £14,000-£18,000

Fleming Collection 1871; Seaforth (Stewart Mackenzie) Collection 1873; Eaton Collection 1880 (later Lord Cheylesmore) sold Glendining’s, July 1930; Leyland Robinson Collection, principally acquired and added to by F. J. Ridsdale of Johannesburg, and mainly dispersed by Spink & Son in the early to late 1970s; Alan Harrison Collection to present vendor.

One officer and 17 other ranks of the 14th Light Dragoons received the maximum 11 clasps earned by the regiment, all with this same combination. (See Dix Noonan Webb, 17 February 2021, for the example to Sergeant George Kinch.)

This unique pair of medals has not been offered for public sale since the dispersal of Lord Cheylesmore’s Collection at Glendining’s in July 1930 when it is believed they were acquired by Professor A. Leyland Robinson, of Liverpool, who amassed an impressively large collection of Peninsula War medals (over 700 individual lots including many pairs and groups as well as gold awards), some, but not all, of which was consigned to auction through A. H. Baldwin’s at Glendining’s in October 1952 (128 lots) and February 1953 (132 lots). A substantial part of the collection was acquired privately by Francis J. Ridsdale, of Johannesburg, who added further to it, particularly in regard to Officers’ Gold Medals and Crosses. The present cataloguer had the privilege of handling most of this collection when it was consigned to Spink and Son in the early 1970s for private disposal. It is notable, however, that the pair to Hanley were not at that time disposed of, Mr Ridsdale having then recently acquired some original manuscript accounts of the Blasco Sancho affair [sold with Lot] which gave new importance to Hanley’s awards and were the subject of a lengthy article by F. J. Ridsdale published in the Numismatic Circular in April 1974, as follows:

‘SERGEANT-MAJOR HANLEY AND HIS AWARDS

By F. J. Ridsdale, Johannesburg.

As all collectors know, there were no general awards for gallantry or distinguished conduct in being at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, but on very rare occasions Regimental Colonels or the Regiments themselves awarded or subscribed for individual awards. Times and customs have also changed very considerably, because I think there is only one instance in Napier's History of the Peninsula War where someone, not an officer, is mentioned by name; Vol. IV of Warne's Edition, 1886, at page 279. The man was Sergeant-Major Hanley of the 14th Light Dragoons, who with a small patrol captured 29 Frenchmen at Blasco Sancho on the 25th July, 1812. I have long had in my collection Sergeant-Major Hanley's Military General Service with 11 bars for Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D'Onor, Badajoz, Salamanca,, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivell, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse, which is the full tale of bars to the Regiment, and a Silver Medal presented to him by the Officers of the Regiment at a full dress parade to commemorate his exploit. The obverse has, within a wreath, "Fortitudine Blasco Sancho, 26th July 1812, Peninsula" and the reverse “William Hanley, Corporal, 14 Light Dragoons”. The medals were in the Stewart Mackenzie and Leyland Robinson collections, and the regimental medal is in Tancred at p. 311. Quite by chance I was able to purchase a short time ago, a letter written by the Duke of Wellington on the 5th May 1831 to Major, the Hon. W. F. de Roos which enclosed manuscript accounts, not only of that exploit, but of another which took place near Pamplona in July 1813. These read as follows:

May 5th, 1831

My dear de Roos,
Some time has elapsed since I ought to have returned you the enclosed papers. The man is a very good one, but I really do not know what I can now do for him. I have not the most distant recollection of the affair or of the Dispatch. The best thing to do would be to find the Dispatch; and then we will see how we can give the Man an authentic copy of it.

Believe me ever yours most sincerely,

Wellington

(ENDORSEMENT)
D. of Wellington

Serjt Major Hanley
Coventry Barracks
10th July, 1828

Honoured Sir,

Agreeably to your desire I have the honour to transmit a Statement of the Capture of a Picquet of the Enemies Cavalry, consisting of Two Officers, one Serjeant and Twenty Six mounted Dragoons and one private Servant with Two Mules and Baggage at Blascho Sancho in Spain on the evening of the 25th July, 1812, by a Patrole under my command consisting of Four men 1st German Hussars, and four of the 14th Lt. Dragoons.
As soon as the Brigade arrived at Arévola and Picquets posted, I was ordered to proceed with the Patrole as far as Blascho Sancho to ascertain the route of the enemy, my party being small and in an open country it was necessary to move with great precaution. I accordingly sent one Dragoon 200 yards to my right front, another as far to the left, and a third, one hundred yards in advance, ordering them to keep each other in sight as much as possible (and also the patrole) to circle when in sight of the enemy, or fire if suddenly attacked. The Dragoon on my right front (Private Luke Billington 14th Lt. Dn) owing to some accident discharged his Pistol, wounded his horse in the shoulder, and was consequently unfit to proceed. This happened about 7 miles from Blascho Sancho, he was replaced by one of my party and we proceeded until the advanced Dragoon circled; I trotted to the foot of the hill and dismounted the men, I walked to the top and placed myself behind a stone cross where I had a perfect view of a column of Infantry on parade. We waited some time till at length they marched off and disappeared behind an opposite hill. I mounted the Patrole and galloped for that part of the Town they had left, expecting to meet with stragglers or followers of the Army .. A Spaniard who happened to be at a Well drawing water, informed us that a Picquet of Cavalry was in a House at the extremity of the Town; during his discourse we observed four of the Picquet who had been foraging running across the field, we pursued and took them before they reached the Picquet. The Picquet was posted in a house a few yards from the street surrounded with a high wall, had only one door for ingress or egress from which a narrow passage led to the stable yard. I ordered the men to fire as quick as possible into the windows, door etc. The enemy surprised at such an unexpected attack fled to the stable, only the Officer and one man remained in the bedroom, and they could not now escape without being shot, we having the command of the passage, we prevented any of them coming up the passage by a constant fire: As the Picquet seemed determined to resist I summoned the Officer to surrender, threatening to put the premises in flames in case of a denial - he requested permission to go down the passage and see if he could induce his Men; it was granted; a short time after he returned and gave me his Sword, saying they were Prisoners of War, each man leading his horse up the passage until the whole picquet, file after file, came out. I had two men dismounted at the door who took each Man's arms and broke them before he passed the door. I compelled the Landlord to lead the Horses out belonging to those who were taken foraging. The Prisoners I formed in Ranks of four (dismounted) each leading his horse. I had given the word March, when another Officer (who was called Colonel) rode up, followed by a servant Two Mules and Baggage. I placed my Pistol to his breast, and with my left hand drew his sword from the scabbard, he cried Prisonier! and appeared confounded, and added one more to the number. His Pistol very fortunately was not loaded which I took from him. We had not marched more than three miles, when I observed a cloud of dust which the Colonel said was from General Count D'Erlons division, and whom he had left not an hour ago on their March. I seemed to doubt, but quickened my pace, until we arrived at a small village, about 3 Leagues from Blascho Sancho. The men being tired and requesting something to eat, I sent a man forward to the Alcaldi to open the Chapel, get lights, and provide some bread and wine for the Prisoners, leaving a Mounted Vidette at the entrance of the Town; the Alcaldi complied and I marched all into the Chapel, formed them up in the Aisle, gave each a little, and then moved on, till we reached the camp which was not before 2 in the morning.

I fear Sir, I have greatly intruded in calling your attention for such a length of time, and humbly beg leave to refer you to the Testimony (of Major Townsend, who has been pleased to honour me with it) he having been an eye witness to this, as well as, many other circumstances in which I had the honour to be engaged under his immediate command.

Sir, I humbly beg,
With profound respect
To subscribe,
Your most obedient
very humble Servant
Willm. Hanley
Serjeant 14th Lt. Dragoons

To The Honble W. F. De Roos
Major 1st Regt. Life Guards
This Statement of Serjeant Hanleys
I know to be perfectly correct
J. Townsend
Major 14th Lt Dragoons

I have also the honour to state that about the 27th or 28th June 1813 during the Enemies retreat from Pampelina across the Pyrenees I commanded a Patrole of Four Men of Captain Townsend's Troop 14th Lt. D. and that we succeeded in taking a detachment of Infantry consisting of Eighteen Men, at a small village about four leagues from Vilhaba.

Having Patroled about three leagues and hearing from a husbandman that a detachment of Infantry was in the village square cooking, and drinking, that their arms were piled on one, side, having no thoughts of the English and might therefore be easily surprised, I consulted my men who all declared eager to charge; the Village laying round an angle of the road to our right we had not more than 30 yards to go before we were upon them. My orders were first to seize the Arms, and then make prisoners, which was easily effected as they could not look up before we were down upon them, their firelocks were immediately broken. The Prisoners were conducted back to Lieut. Clavering's Picquet who was in advance, and from thence to Vilhaba, which was at this time Headquarters for the Army. In relating these circumstances I do not presume to say that I ever have done more than my duty and circumstances would admit.

I also beg to say I was Field Trumpeter to the Late Colonel Hervey in the gallant charge led by him on 12th May 1809 near the Town of Oporto, in which that brave officer lost his arm, and that I accompanied the Expedition to America under Genl. Pakenham.

I have the Honour
To be Sir
With duty and profound respect
Your most obedient and very humble servant
Wm. Hanley
Serjt. 14th Lt. Dragoons

To The Honble W. F. De Roos
Major 1st Life Guards
London

This statement I know to be perfectly correct, on Sert. Hanley's return to the troop at Zabaldica with his prisoners, I ordered him to take them to the of the ... Regt at Vilhaba one league to the rear.

J. Townsend
Maior 14th Lt. Dragoons’


[Mr Ridsdale continues] I do not think that the memorials signed by Sergeant-Major Hanley are in fact in his own hand - they appear more likely to have been written by a professional writer, or to be copies. The second of them has been amended, probably by Major Townsend whose certificate is written in a different hand.

[William] Hanley, who was born in Carlow, enlisted on the 8th November, 1806 at the age of 14 years and obtained his discharge as being unfit for further service for reasons other than his own "neglect, vice or misconduct" on the 10th June, 1840, then being Troop Sgt. Major. Since he was under age on enlistment he was only entitled to reckon his service as being 29 years and 216 days. His conduct and character were described as having been very good and his accounts were stated as being in order.

The Dispatch to which the Duke of Wellington refers was written to Earl Bathurst from Olmedo on 28th July 1812: the relevant portion of which reads as follows:-

"A non-commissioned officer's patrole of the 14th Light Dragoons and 1st Hussars, from Arevalo, took in Blasco Sancho, on the evening of the 25th., shortly after the King had left the place, 2 officers and 27 of the King's cavalry, who had been left there to follow his rear guard"

I have been unable to find any dispatch relating to the exploit in June 1813. King Joseph left Madrid to join Marmont on 21st July, and heard of the latter's defeat at Salamanca on the 22nd on arriving at Blasco Sancho, between Avila and Arevalo on the 25th; he retreated from there that evening to Espinar.

The letters have another interest in that the recipient became the 23rd Baron de Roos or de Ros, as the spelling was altered about that time. He succeeded his brother Henry William the 22nd Baron who died on the 29th March 1839, and who had been the unsuccessful Plaintiff in an action for libel brought in 1837 against four gentlemen who had alleged that he had cheated at Whist at Graham's Club. A fairly full account of the trial is contained in "Cheating at Cards" by John Williams published by Faber & Faber Limited in 1963. It was said that De Roos's epitaph should read "Here lies de Roos waiting for the last trump"

The Hon. W. F. de Roos succeeded as the 23rd Baron and became a general and Colonel of the 4th Hussars. His mother was a fashionable beauty who was present at the Duchess of Richmond's Ball on the eve of Waterloo and he married Georgiana, the third daughter of the 4th Duke of Richmond, who died on the 15th December 1891, at the age of 91. De Roos is the premier Barony of England having been created in 1215.’

Sold with the original letters and affidavits referred to above together with a comprehensive file of research including copied discharge documents and of another lengthy account by Hanley of the ‘’Blanchez Sanchez” affair originally published in the United Service Journal in November 1840.