A Collection of Medals to the 13th, 18th and 13th/18th Hussars

The Waterloo Medal awarded to Captain Brook Lawrence, 13th Light Dragoons, who succeeded to the command of the regiment at Waterloo after Lieutenant-Colonel Shapland Boyse was wounded, and was promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel by the Prince Regent for his ‘conduct in the Battle of Waterloo’

Waterloo 1815(Capt. B. Lawrence, 13th Reg. Light Dragoons.) fitted with original steel clip and silver bar suspension, light marks, otherwise good very fine £4,000-£5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 13th, 18th and 13th/18th Hussars.

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Brook/Brooks Lawrence was appointed Cornet in the 13th Light Dragoons on 24 February 1797; Lieutenant, 16 January 1799; Captain, 3 February 1804; Brevet Major, 4 June 1814; Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, 18 June 1815.

It is evident from the regimental history of the 13th Light Dragoons that Lawrence served in the Peninsula and is mentioned for his presence in the gallant little affair at St Gaudans in March 1814:

‘On the following day the Thirteenth Dragoons pursued the enemy in the direction of Mont de Marsan; and on the 2nd of March, they were engaged in a slight affair at Ayre.
The British divisions continued to move forward, and the French were everywhere driven before the allied army.
The Thirteenth shared with their old comrades of the “ragged brigade,” the gallant Fourteenth, in the advance-duties of the army, which brought them repeatedly into collision with the enemy.
On the 22nd of March, as three troops of the Thirteenth Light Dragoons, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Patrick Doherty, with Major Boyse, Captain Macalister, Lieutenants Doherty, Drought, and Lawrence, and Brigade-Major Dunbar, approached St. Gaudens, four squadrons of French cavalry were discovered drawn up in front of the town. Undismayed by the superior numbers of the enemy, the Thirteenth advanced to the charge, and such was the ardour and determined bravery with which they rushed upon their numerous opponents, that the French horsemen were overthrown at the first shock, and they galloped in disorder through the streets; but they rallied at the other side of the town, and prepared to resist the few British troopers whose audacity they were desirous to punish. The Thirteenth being supported by the Third Dragoon Guards, dashed through the town, and rushing sword in hand upon the French squadrons, broke them in an instant, and pursued them for two miles, cutting many down, and taking above a hundred prisoners, and sixty horses. The ground was covered with cavalry equipments, arms, and dead and wounded men and horses. The conduct of the Thirteenth was highly commended in Major-General Fane's report of this action; the officers and soldiers were also thanked in orders by Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, and the signal gallantry evinced by Captain James Macalister, who commanded the advance on this occasion, was rewarded with the rank of major in the army. The Thirteenth nobly upheld, on this occasion, their well-earned fame as bold horsemen and dextrous swordsmen; and, by their promptitude in rushing to the attack, showed that they possessed the true spirit of good cavalry, adding another to the many proofs they had already given of the insufficiency of the mere preponderance of superior numbers to resist the shock of a determined charge.’

At Waterloo the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Shapland Boyse, while Brook Lawrence, although a Brevet Major in the Army, was the senior Captain in the Regiment and, as will be seen, commanded it by the end of the day:

‘At daylight on the morning of Sunday, June 18, the brigade consisting of the 7th Hussars, 13th Light Dragoons, and 15th Hussars, under the command of Major-General Grant, moved to the right centre of the position occupied by the army, and took up its post on the left of the road leading to Nivelles, in rear of the brigade of Guards commanded by Major- General Byng. A portion of the Guards brigade occupied the house and gardens of Hougomont, and in the rear of this and the orchard, where others of the Guards were, the cavalry brigade took post.

Between 10 and 11 A.M. the furious attacks on Hougomont began, and most sanguinary conflicts took place. But despite the attacks of the enemy again and again renewed, the Guards held their ground and the French were repulsed. Meanwhile the cavalry brigade was exposed to a most heavy artillery fire, which, coupled with musketry, lasted until between 3 and 4 P.M. During this time many casualties took place, men and horses being killed and wounded.

About noon Lieut. – Colonel Boyse had his horse killed under him by a cannon-shot, and in the fall was so severely bruised as to be compelled to leave the field. The command of the regiment therefore devolved on Major B. Lawrence.

Lieutenant Packe and Lieutenant Irving were about the same time wounded, the former by a splinter of a shell which struck him in the hip, and the latter by a spent ball which hit him in the jaw. Both of these officers were removed to the rear. The brigade had not, however, been stationary during these long hours. It had been moved more than once, but hitherto no opportunity had arrived for more active operations. However, the enemy now pushed forward two strong columns of cavalry supported by infantry, in an endeavour to force the British position. The cavalry brigade received orders to charge. It charged, and the charge succeeded. The enemy broke and were pursued until the approach of a fresh body of the enemy’s cavalry on the left flank was detected.

The brigade then retired and formed in the rear of the infantry. Shortly after the regiment was brought on to the attack by Lord Uxbridge and Lord Hill, and charged a square of the enemy’s infantry, which it completely broke, routed, and dispersed. There were several other attacks, till at length the enemy were completely driven from the position. But the losses of the regiment had been most severe. The continual artillery fire of round-shot, shell, and grape, besides musketry, had sadly thinned the ranks. Captain Gubbins was killed by a cannon-shot, Lieutenant Geale and Lieutenant Pymm had both been mortally wounded by musketry fire, while Captain Gregorie and Lieutenant Mill, though with sabre wounds in their hands, yet were able to continue with the regiment in the field.

The afternoon passed, and towards evening the enemy in their last endeavours renewed their attacks, and renewed them with redoubled fury. Forward were sent their massive columns of cavalry and infantry—columns which were received with the utmost determination by the British, and, as all know, repulsed. Lord Hill again ordered up the brigade and also that commanded by General Dornberg, which was formed up on the left. Cheering them on, the two brigades were launched against a heavy column of infantry. At it they rode, delivering their charge amid a most severe and galling fire. But the cavalry brigades were not to be denied. The charge was perfectly successful. The enemy faltered, gave way, and was routed. It was the beginning of the end. In this desperate attack the casualties were also numerous. Lieutenant Doherty received a severe wound: a grape-shot contusion in his groin, which only missed killing him owing to his watch. The watch, a doubled-cased one, was flattened. He was also severely wounded in the head by a musket–shot. Lieutenant Bowers was similarly shot in the head. For nearly three months these two officers lay sick at Brussels, and even when they did join the regiment were not completely cured for some time after. Captain Doherty received a wound in his hand, another a musket-shot in the arm and a contusion in his side by a blow from a sabre. Despite this he did not quit the field. The losses in horses too were heavy. Major Lawrence lost three killed and wounded, and hardly an officer escaped having one at least.’

Brook Lawrence served thirty-eight years in this regiment, and was made Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel for Waterloo. He died at Brompton, London, on 11 August 1823, aged 59.