Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Major Robert Marsh, 24th Foot, who was wounded at Nivelle in November 1813; he afterwards served in the Nepaul campaign of 1815-16 and the Mahratta war of 1817-18

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes (R. Marsh, Ensn. 24th Foot); Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Nepaul (Lieut. R. Marsh, 24th Foot) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, both with original ribbons but the latter rather frayed and distressed, attractively toned, extremely fine (2) £5,000-£7,000

Morton & Eden, November 2017.

Robert Marsh was born on 15 September 1795, at Hoveton St. John, Norfolk. He joined the British Army at the age of 16, being commissioned as an Ensign in the 24th Foot on 31 October 1811. Taking part in the fighting in Spain and France during the latter stages of the Peninsula War, he saw action at Vittoria, in the Pyrenees, at Echalar, at Nivelle, where he was slightly wounded on 10 November 1813, and at Orthes. For his wound he appears not to have received any allowance, for reasons unknown. He continued to serve in the Nepaul during the campaign of 1815-16, being present at Harriapore on 1 March 1816. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 13 February 1817, having also taken part in the Mahratta War of 1817-18, and was latterly promoted to Captain on 14 April 1829. Serving in Canada, he was present during a trial of rebels' in Montreal on 21 November 1838, and was later promoted to Major on 3 April 1846. Living into old age, he retired to Erpingham, Norfolk, and was recorded as being amongst the very last survivors of the Battle of Vittoria on 27 June 1883, on the occasion of the battle's 70th anniversary.