An Important Collection of Waterloo Medals

Pair: Private James Staples, 7th Hussars

WATERLOO 1815 (7th Regiment Hussars) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspender; MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Orthes, Toulouse (7th Light Dragoons) some edge bruises and contact marks but generally nearly very fine (2)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Important Collection of Waterloo Medals.

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James Staples was born in the Parish of St. Michaels, near Bath, and enlisted at the age of eighteen in July 1809. He served in the Peninsula and at Waterloo where he received a gunshot wound in the thorax and right arm. He was the subject of the following interesting account which appeared in The Times of 24 October 1872: 'A Waterloo Veteran': There is now living in one of St. Bartholomew's Almshouses, at Newbury, a Waterloo veteran, named James Staples, who has nearly attained his 84th year. He was engaged in the Peninsular War, and was present at the defeat of Marshal Soult at Orthes on the 27th of February 1814, and also at Toulouse on the 10th of April following. At Waterloo he fought with the 7th Hussars, the cavalry brigade being commanded by the Marquis of Anglesea. He was in that battle struck in the right shoulder with a bullet which penetrated to his chest, from the left side of which it was extracted. He was raised to the rank of Corporal, but on being wounded left the Army, in which he served 11 years. On his return to Newbury, his native town, he obtained employment at the Iron foundry of Messrs. Plant and Pain, where he worked for 40 years.