The AA Upfill-Brown Collection

The magnificent Peninsular group awarded to Lieutenant General Sir John Rolt, Portuguese Service, late 58th Regiment, Colonel of the 2nd, Queen's Regiment.

THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH, K. C. B. (Military), a fine breast star by Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, in silver with gold and enamel centre, some chipping to 'Ich Dien' motto and stalks of wreath; THE HANOVARIAN GUELPHIC ORDER, G. C. H., breast star in silver with gold and enamel centre, the wreath now lacking its enamel; ARMY GOLD CROSS 1808-14, for Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, 1 clasp, Toulouse (Lieut. Coll., 17th Portug. Reg.) the edges of the cross with some contact marks; FIELD OFFICER'S SMALL GOLD MEDAL, for Vittoria (Lieut. Colonel), correctly glazed but lacking suspender bar; MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE 1793-1840, 3 clasps, Egypt, Busaco, Pyrenees (Sir, K. C. B., Capt. 58th Foot & Major 13th Portse.); Portugal, MILITARY ORDER OF THE TOWER AND SWORD, Knight's badge in gold with gold riband buckle; Turkey, SULTAN'S MEDAL FOR EGYPT 1801, gold, 37mm diameter, fitted with the suspender from the small gold medal, the field engraved (J.R., 58th Regt. Egypt), unless otherwise described, very fine or better (7)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The AA Upfill-Brown Collection.

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Lieutenant-General Sir John Rolt K. C. B. entered the 58th Foot as an Ensign on 1 March 1800. Later that year he took part in the campaign to eject the French from Egypt by means of a Turkish assault from the Sinai, an attack by a British force from India and a landing, by a third force under Sir Ralph Abereromby, on the Mediterranean shore. The latter force assembled at Malta, where the 58th found themselves part of a large Brigade, known as the Reserve, under Sir John Moore. After six weeks practising beach landings on the Turkish coast, the invasion fleet arrived off Aboukir Bay on 1 March 1801. In the small hours of the 8th, all the landing craft were filled and quietly rowed to an off-shore rendezvous. At 8 a. m. the boats, each carrying fifty men, pulled for the shore, covered by two gunboats. As the range closed, French gunners opened fire, throwing up columns of water drenching the men, while the French infantry poured volleys into the boats. On landing, Moore's Reserve and the Guards Brigade formed up by battalions and advanced up the beach despite the inferno. The 42nd Highlanders, finding themselves under cavalry attack, were saved by the fusillades of the 58th. Both regiments then advanced up the beach to clear their front. While still forming, the Guards, to their left, were also assailed by French horse, but the 58th were at hand and checked the enemy, allowing the Guards, to form a front and help repulse the horsemen. Within two hours, after some further skirmishing among the dunes, the beach-head was secured. The 58th had lost ten killed and forty-seven wounded including Rolt who had been 'shot through the body. 'Between 1802 and 1804 he served with his regiment in Ireland. In 1805, he returned to the Mediterranean with the 1/58th and accompanied the expedition to Naples. Having been promoted Captain on 5 September, he joined the 2/58th in Jersey, the following year, where he remained until 1809 when the battalion left for the Peninsular. In early 1810, he was appointed Major in the Portuguese service and was present at the sieges of Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz. From April 1812, Rolt commanded the 17th Portuguese Regiment until the end of the war and saw extensive action at the Battles of Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive, Orthez and Toulouse. Evidently blessed with a constitution of iron, he was, 'From his landing in the Peninsular in 1809 until the conclusion of hostilities in April, 1814,... never one day absent from his duty. ' For his war services he was made a CB. It is also noteworthy that he appears to be one of less than ten men entitled to both the Gold Cross and the Egypt clasp to the MGS medal. In 1823, Rolt became the commanding officer of the 2nd (Queen's) Foot, following an inspection of the regiment, by Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, which proved a disaster for the then commanding officer, Lt-Col. Jordan. Rolt reliquished this command in 1825 and took up a staff appointment. In 1837, he was made a Knight of Hanover and in 1848 he became a KCB. On the death of Lord Saltoun, in 1853, Sir John accepted the Colonelcy of the 2nd Queen's. He died at Southernhay, near Exeter, on 8 November, 1856.