A Collection of Napoleonic-Era Campaign Medals

Pair: Private James McDonald, 94th Foot, a ‘Scotch Brigade’ veteran of the Mahratta Wars who was wounded three times in the Peninsula

Army of India 1799-1826, 3 clasps, Asseerghur, Argaum, Gawilghur (J. McDonald, 94th Foot.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming; Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Salamanca, Vittoria (Jas. McDonald, 94th Foot.) with old ivorine display label, minor edge bruises, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare (2) £10,000-£14,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Napoleonic-Era Campaign Medals.

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Collection

Lieutenant-Colonel Jourdain’s Collection, privately published catalogue 1934; Glendining’s, July 1949.

A total of only 48 clasps were issued for Asseerghur. Another man of this name also entitled to Army of India medal with these three clasps. Only twelve men of the 94th earned both the Army of India and Military General Service medals.

James McDonald was born in the Parish of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, and enlisted into the 94th Foot (Scotch Brigade) on 1 November 1800. He served with the 94th in the East Indies from 16 June 1802 until 12 April 1808, and afterwards in Spain and France. He was discharged at Wexford on 24 December 1814, to a pension of 1 shilling per diem at the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham in consequence of a ‘severe wound and the ball lodged in the left breast received in action with the Enemy at Vic Bigorre in France on 19 March 1814’.

His discharge papers carry the following testimonial from James Campbell, Colonel, 94th Foot: ‘I certify that Private James McDonald has served most honestly and faithfully, is a most deserving good man, was never tried by a Court Martial, has been three times wounded, at the battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813 in the right shoulder; at the battle of Orthes 27 Feby. 1814 in the right wrist; at the battle of Vic Bigorre 19 March 1814, [severe] in the left breast & is hereby most strongly recommended for the consideration of the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham.’

Sold with copied discharge papers and entry from Kilmainham Hospital Admissions book.