An Important Collection of Medals to The King's German Legion, the Property of a Gentleman

Waterloo 1815 (Capt. Fred. Wenckstern, 2nd Line Batt. K.G.L.) fitted with replacement silver ring suspension, contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise nearly very fine £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Important Collection of Medals to The King's German Legion, the Property of a Gentleman.

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Frederick Wenckstern joined the Legion as an Ensign in April or May 1804, and served in Hannover 1805; in the Mediterranean, at Gibraltar, 1806-07, during which period he was promoted to Lieutenant; and in the Copenhagen expedition in 1807. He was one of the few survivers of the disaster which befell his regiment on the return from Copenhagen at the end of that year.

With the greater part of the 2nd Line Battalion embarked in the Salisbury transport, bound for England, the vessel became separated from the fleet on the night of 22 October, and reached Yarmouth on the 8th November, just as the other ships had got under weigh. Despite being nearly exhausted of provisions, the Master thought it better to follow the fleet, and continuing his course, brought the vessel on the 10th, close under Margate where several other ships had already anchored to shelter from the tempestuous storms and heavy seas now running. However, for fear of running into these ships, the Master stood out to sea.

Later that same evening, the helmsman mistook the Kentish Knock light-ship for one of the vessels of the fleet and ran the transport violently onto the sand bank, severely damaging the rudder and causing the powder magazine to flood. With the vessel now quite unmanageable and at the mercy of the wind and waves, the captain tried, by crowding all his sail, to reach the French coast but it was found impossible and about midnight he anchored in twenty-three fathom water.

Flooding badly, the vessel was only kept afloat by the work of the pumps and the incessant exertions of the men, bailing water from the hold with their caps. At length a ship appeared and some sailors attempted to put off to her in a skiff, but no sooner had this craft been lowered down than it was dashed to splinters against the ship’s side and all were lost.

The vessel was now dragging one of her anchors, causing the ballast to shift to one side. This neccessitated the larboard gallery and guns to be cut away and thrown overboard, and the cutting of the anchor cable, once again abandoning the ship to the fury of the elements. Some empty water-casks and spare planks which had been lashed to the side were all that kept her above water, and many men were lost overboard at this time.

At length day broke, and vessels appeared a short distance off which gave hope to those on board the stricken Salisbury. It was not until about 10 o’clock, however, that the storm subsided sufficiently to allow one of the vessels to approach closer. It was decided then to send off the jolly boat to seek her assistance. Captain Scharnhorst and four men embarked in this boat and reached the vessel, but a violent squall then came on and no effort could be made to assist them.

The situation back on board the Salisbury was now so perilous that it was decided to lower the long boat, which was lacking both rudder and oars. Lieutenants Wenckstern and Magens, forty-three soldiers, one woman and child, and the master and twelve of the crew of the transport succeeded in getting in, after which the rope was cut and the long boat set free to the mercy of the waves. The other vessel now made three attempts to throw a line to the long boat, but all met with failure, and the master of the vessel declined to make any further attempts. On board that vessel, however, was Major Robertson with part of the British 8th Regiment of Foot, who at once determined that they should come to the aid of the stricken long boat. Calling for volunteers, several officers and men immediately came forward, from amongst whom the best rowers were chosen, and they gallantly put off in the jolly boat.

After several attempts at throwing a line to the boat of the Salisbury, the brave soldiers at last succeeded in accomplishing their humane object and both boats were hauled up to the transport which now bore away towards the Salisbury. On nearing the vessel Major Robertsonsought to cheer those desperate men on board by calling out to them “you will all be saved,” which they answered with a grateful hurrah! The boat reached the stern of the Salisbury and managed to take on board the Surgeon and four men. But the vessel was now sinking fast and it became impossible to remain alongside any longer. With the preservation of these five persons, therefore, they had to be satisfied, and scarcely had they pulled away, when the Salisbury went down with the loss of nine officers, two hundred and twelve men, thirty women, and five children.

The fortunate Wenckstern went on to serve in the Peninsula from 1808. He was severely wounded by a musket ball in the right leg on the 28th July 1809 in the battle of Talavera. During the two-day battle, the 2nd Light Battalion suffered very heavily and lost 387 officers and men, over half its strength, on the second day.

Wenckstern continued to fight throughout the campaigns in the Peninsula and Southern France until 1814, having been promoted to Captain on 17 August 1813. He next served in the Netherlands in 1814, the campaign of 1815 and at the battle of Waterloo. He was awarded the K.H. and promoted Major by brevet, on the retired list at New Strelitz, in Mecklenburg, and was later a Lieutenant Colonel in the Mecklenberg service. Wenckstern married in December 1816 and had, by 1829, nine children, living to claim the M.G.S. medal with 9 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria, St Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive.