Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (.ames Herbert, Drummer, 3rd Batt. Grenad. Guards.) with later silver clip and steel ring suspension, first letter of Christian name obscured by suspension clip, ‘Drummer’ re-engraved, edge bruising, very fine £700-900

Provenance: Clive Nowell Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2009.

James Herbert was born in Gibraltar in 1795 and attested for the 1st Foot Guards in London on 11 March 1808. Appointed a Drummer in the first half of 1809, he served with the Regiment in the Peninsula, and was present at the Battles of Barrosa, Nivelle, and Nive (entitled to a Military General Service Medal with 3 clasps). Posted to the 3rd Battalion, he served in Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. James Stanhope’s Company during the Waterloo Campaign, 16-18 June 1815- at the Battle of Waterloo the Battalion spent the day positioned on top of the ridge of Mont St. Jean under fire. When the Imperial Guard attacked it was the 1st Foot Guards that bore the weight of the attack. The Imperial Guard reached the crest of the allied position, where Maitland’s Guards rose and delivered volley after volley into the ranks of the French who were driven back, the battle being as good as won. For their gallantry that day the 1st Foot Guards were granted the title of Grenadier Guards. Herbert reverted to the rank of Private in the latter half of 1817, and was discharged as a ‘casualty’ on 22 December 1825.