Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

13th Light Dragoons Military Merit Medal, a cast silver kidney-shaped award, obv., a high relief trophy of arms, with ‘Lt. 13 Ds.’ engraved in the upper field, rev., engraved inscription, ‘peninsula / waterloo’ between two sprays of leaves, and ‘for / Military Merit / Awarded / Corpl. Thos. McQualter’, the figures of ‘18’ and ‘16’ flanking the word ‘Awarded’, 34mm. by 58mm., wire loop suspension, generally very fine and excessively rare £600-800

Ex Murray collection.

Thomas McQualter, a native of Ayrshire, was wounded in the right arm and leg at Waterloo. On being admitted to the Royal Hospital Chelsea as an Out-Pensioner in June 1817, he was described as being 44 years of age, with a total of 18 years and 7 months service with the Colours, including two years for Waterloo.

See Balmer’s British and Irish Regimental & Volunteer Medals 1745-1895, Volume I (Regular Army), p. 56, item R74; and item R75 for a similar award, dated 1817, to Quarter-Master William Minchin of the 13th Light Dragoons.