Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. & Adjutant Henry Duperier, 18th Hussars), renamed - old engraved large capitals, replacement silver loop and straight bar suspension, with silver buckle on ribbon, contained in an old and damaged gilt shield-shaped glass fronted frame, some edge bruising, good very fine
£600-800

Henry Duperier had originally served in the ranks of the 10th Hussars. Unusual for the time, and through his own extraordinary merit, he was was gazetted Cornet in the 18th Hussars in May 1813 and in July was appointed Acting Adjutant. In September Duperier was with the regiment in the Spanish town of Olite when he was violently attacked and one of the commissary’s men shot by some of the townspeople. His commanding officer threatened to fire the town and fine the mayor if the perpertrators were not given up. The mayor apparently diffused the difficult situation and the regiment continued its advance following up the French army into the Pyrenees and then on in to France.

Duperier was promoted Lieutenant and Adjutant in February 1814. With the regiment he served in that capacity in the Waterloo campaign, the regiment being part of Major-General Sir Hussey Vivian’s 6th Brigade.

A day after the great battle, Duperier wrote a letter to Major Hughes, 18th Hussars, who was quartered at the depot at Lewes. ‘.... Although, dear Major, that I begin in a way as if I intend to make a long letter of this, if I intend to finish it, it must be a short one, for I am in a grate pain, caused by a ball which I receved in my head, charging a French battalion with about 40 of our men. It would have killed an Englishman, having passed through my scull head, opened the scull and out the other side. When I say it would have killed an Englishman it is becaus he has brains, but you know that I have none. ....

We remained very quait on the morning of the 18th, till half past eleven, .... We then began to sho fite and poushed forward in all directions. We manuvered a goodill befor the enemy, and the guns on both sides was tremendious, a little rain now and then but nothing to hurt. At three an express came from the Prutien (Prusians) to say they would be up in an hour, but the roads were so bad that it was pass the time they took a position ... the French stood them well, did not appair the least checked by it, and in a moment opened a good fire on that column and continued so till a second column of Prutiens made its appairance between us and their first, they (the French) was forced to give a way a little on which the whol of the army give three chairs.

Now for the best. .... all the light cavallery and husars wher withdrawn and put for very fue minuts under a Hill concederable on our right and intirely under the position of our army, living, as we wise conguturers generally do, our left flank open. Don’t be alarmed, Major, it was to make place for five thousan of Prutien’s Cavallery, who was cuming for one thing, and the next, as I congectured, and I find I was right, to come on step by steps on the firing infantery, that is the Belgun (Belgian) troope, which I saw of my own eyes, afficers behind them lethering away (as the drover did the cattle in Spain) to make them smell the gunpowder. ....It might be about eight, with the smook and the vue we could not see one another. ... but to pass the time away I done like the belgum officers, every one that faced about I laid my sword across his shoulders, and told him that if he did not go back I would run him through, and that had the desired effect, for they all stood it. I must at this criticulus period in forme you that Lord Uxbridge got a ball in his lage which fracted the bone so much that he was forced to leave us, but he don it so well that nobody saw it. I suspected it by his slow pace and his shaking hand with Gen. Vivian.

I must inform you that when bony part found that he was so close pushed he fibly returned the shots of the Prutiens and put all his force on us with himself at the head of his men premissing the whole toun of Bruxell to plunder if they stood. After a long contest as I have said bifer of perhaps half an hour altogether, but at intire close quarters about tin minutes, Lord Wellington brought some red coated fellows from where I do not know, I could just see them through the cloud of smook who charged, we shouted and the whole of the French army give away that very instant the very finest I ever beheld. We charged, and of course overtook them, in an instant we fell on the cavellery who resisted but feebly; and in running, tumbled over their own infantery. From that we came on the artillery who was not better trited by the Irish lads in atenstions. There was perhaps three 18th Hussars on a regiment of infantery of the French nothing but “Vive le Roi” , but it was to late, becide our men do not understined French, so they cut a way all through till we came to the body of reserve, when we was saluted with a voly at the length of two sords. .... me for one, who got a ball. My grey mare was shot in the first begining of the action. ... You will exques the irregularyty of this, the stoopin is to much. I must close. I will write when I git better. H. Duperier’. (Taken from The Historical Memoirs of the XVIIIth Hussars by Col. H. Malet).

Lieutenant Duperier, surviving his wounds, was placed on Half Pay in November 1821 and was still alive in 1846. For his son’s and grandson’s medals see lots 957 and 974. The above and his son’s group are contained in matching frames.