Special Collections
Create new listThe following collection of 27 Waterloo Medals, the property of a deceased collector, are all genuine medals that have been contemporarily renamed to some extent or another. In most cases this will have been done at the instigation of the recipients themselves to replace a lost or stolen medal and maybe sometimes to enable a second child to have an historic keepsake of their father. With the possible exception of the first example to Samuel Godley, a notable hero of the 2nd Life Guards, there is no evidence to suggest that any of these medals have been renamed in order to deceive or for any monetary gain. These medals are all sold with the defects described and we are pleased to have had the opportunity to accurately record their existence for the benefit of future medal collectors.
Waterloo 1815 (Samuel Godley 2nd Regt. of Life Guards) naming re-engraved in upright serif capitals, rubbed overall and weak in parts, plugged at 6 o’clock and fitted with replacement clip and split ring suspension, fine £300-£400
This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Contemporarily Renamed Waterloo Medals.
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Samuel Godley was born in the Parish of Whitewell, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire, and enlisted into the 2nd Life Guards at Chesterfield on 2 January 1804, aged 24, a cordwainer by trade. He was discharged at Windsor on 24 November 1824, in consequence of ‘severe wounds of the head at the Battle of Waterloo affecting his brain periodically, and weakness of sight.’
At Waterloo Godley had his horse shot under him and was thrown to the ground losing his helmet. A French cuirassier attempted to cut him down but Godley, although shaken from the fall, and with a head wound, managed to kill him and rode back to his regiment on the Frenchman’s horse. He was known as the ‘Marquis of Granby’ as he was completely bald like the former Marquis of Granby who led the British cavalry in the Seven Years’ War.
After his discharge he found a job in the Baker Street Bazaar and died in a London street on 16 January 1832, from the effects of the head wound he received at Waterloo. His gravestone in St John’s Wood churchyard was erected by the non-commissioned officers of his regiment and is inscribed:
‘In memory of Samuel Godley late Private in the Second Regiment of Life Guards whose daring and heroic courage displayed when charging the French cuirassiers at the battle of Waterloo caused his achievement to be recorded in the annals of war and produced this tribute to his memory from his comrades. He died 16 January 1832 aged 51 years. This stone was established by the non commissioned officers of his regiment.’
Sold with copied discharge papers and medal roll.
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