Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes (W. Counsell, Royal H. Arty.) edge bruising and marks to obverse, traces of lacquer, nearly very fine £1,000-£1,400

Baldwin’s 1934; Glendining’s 1980

William Counsell, a labourer, was born in the Parish of Mallor, Blackburn, in 1792, and enlisted in the Royal Horse Artillery on 10 February 1809. He initially travelled overseas with “C” Troop, Royal Artillery Drivers, transferring to “A” Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, on 1 June 1812. Serving under the command of Captain Ross, Counsell fought at the Battle of Salamanca on 22 July 1812 where British forces under Wellington charged downhill and subjected the French columns to a storm of bullets and grapeshot; supported by the artillery, 3rd Division rushed the French square at the point of the bayonet, broke the enemy formation and scattered them in confusion. The subsequent rout was further compounded by the drowning of large numbers of French infantry in the River Tormes.

Surviving the engagement unscathed, Counsell went on to fight at Vittoria on 21 June 1813, where the artillery particularly distinguished itself through a rate of fire which broke and destroyed the enemy columns; the French suffered 8000 casualties, losing 151 artillery pieces and 415 waggons - including all the French ammunition and baggage. Sent to the Pyrenees in pursuit, Counsell later witnessed the Light Division engaging the enemy in the gorge of a pass. Driven from their last positions in Spain, casualties amongst the French rose a further 15,000 killed and wounded, the Allies losing 888 killed, 5500 wounded and 705 missing in the mountains. As the winter of 1813-14 set in, the rivers and streams soon became impassable to infantry and artillery and active operations ground to a halt; on 14 February 1814, the British took advantage of a lull in conditions to pursue Marshal Soult’s forces to Orthes. Caught in a deep morass of mud and water - often up to the waist - the British infantry and artillery doggedly gained the heights, but at considerable cost.

Operations concluded, Counsell was later transferred to the detachment of Lieutenant and Adjutant W. Saunders, Royal Horse Artillery. He was discharged at Woolwich on 10 April 1816 following 7 years and 60 days’ service with the Colours, upon reduction of the British Army following the cessation of the Peninsular War.

Sold with copied service record and other research.