Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Major W. L. Peto, 73rd Foot

South Africa 1834-53 (Lieut. W. L. Peto, 73rd Regt.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Major W. L. Peto, 73rd Regt.) good very fine (2) £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Nicholson Collection of medals to men who fought in the Kaffir Wars of 1834-53.

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William Lawes Peto was born at Worth, near Sandwich, Kent, on 1 January 1825. He was appointed Ensign in the 73rd Foot by purchase on 10 May 1844, and served in South America from December 1844 to August 1846, becoming Lieutenant, by purchase, on 26 May 1846. He served at the Cape of Good Hope from August 1846 to January 1849, taking part in the Kaffir War of 1846-47. He became Captain, by purchase, on 8 February 1849, and served again at the Cape from February 1850 to March 1858, when he went to the East Indies for service during the Indian Mutiny, March 1858 to May 1859. He exchanged to the 13th Light Infantry on 11 May 1859, retired on temporary half pay in August 1863, and died at Preston, near Faversham, Kent, on 28 May 1864.