Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Sergeant-Major Richard Wells, Royal Newfoundland Veterans, late 2/59th Foot

Waterloo 1815 (Serj. Richard Wells, 2nd Batt. 59th Reg. Foot) fitted with replacement silver clip and ring suspension; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., large letter reverse (R. Wells, Acting Serjt. Major Invalid Depot. 1838)fitted with original steel clip and replacement ring suspension, the first with edge bruising and contact marks, the second better than very fine (2) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Arnold Jackson.

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Richard Wells was born in the Parish of St Nicholas, Nottingham, circa 1782. He enlisted for the 2/59th at Rye, Sussex, on 4 April 1809, a volunteer from the Notts. Militia, at which time he was a framework knitter by trade, aged 27. He was a Sergeant throughout and served ‘at Walcheren, at the battle of Vittoria 21 June 1813, storming of St Sebastian 31 August 1813, battles of Bidafsoa, Nivelle, Nive, Bayonne, Waterloo 18 June 1815, Cambray 24 June & surrender of Paris 6 July 1815’. Wells had been promoted to Colour-Sergeant in March 1815 and transferred to the 1/59th Foot in January 1816. In June 1823 he was appointed Acting Sergeant-Major to the Provisional Battalion at Fort Cumberland until 26 August 1825, when he became Acting Sergeant-Major at Chatham. On 24 September 1826 he was transferred into the Newfoundland Veterans Companies and appointed Acting Sergeant-Major , 25 December, of the Invalid Depot at Fort Pitt, Chatham.

He was discharged on 9 May 1838, with a total pensionable service of 31 years 36 days, of which 17 years 174 days as a Sergeant and 11 years 204 days as Sergeant-Major. Cause of discharge was in consequence of advanced age, rheumatism, want of activity and being subject to attacks of gout. He received the L.S. & G.C. medal shortly afterwards and took up residence in Ordinance Place, Chatham, as an out pensioner of Chelsea Hospital. On 15 November 1840, he was certified as being unable to leave his bed due to rheumatism and was to be visited to receive his pension. Sergeant-Major Richard Wells died on 1 December 1840.

Sold with copied discharge papers.