Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Corunna, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor (J. H. Reynett, Capt. 52nd Foot & D.A.Q.M.G.) fitted with silver ribbon buckle, toned, nearly extremely fine £2,000-£2,600

Provenance: Sotheby, November 1979, when sold in a group with insignia of Military K.C.B. and Military K.C.H., together with his ceremonial silver key as Groom of the Bed Chamber to William IV.

James Henry Reynett was born in Ireland in 1786, was commissioned Ensign in the 52nd Foot on 25 November 1799, and carried a colour of the Regiment in the action at Ferrol in 1800. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 14 March 1800, and to Captain on 24 March 1804. He served with the 1/52nd Foot and as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General in the Baltic in 1808, and afterwards in the Peninsula from November 1808 to January 1809, including the battle of Corunna, and again from July 1809 to September 1811, including the campaign on the Douro, battles of Talavera, Busaco, Pombal, Redhina, Foz d’Arrounce, Sabugal and Fuentes D’Onor. During the period April 1809 to June 1811, Reynett was employed in the Quartermaster-General’s office as junior assistant/secretary to General Sir George Murray. He was promoted to Major in the 52nd Foot on 8 April 1813, and appointed Assistant Quartermaster-General to the troops in Germany in 1813 and 1814. He was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 June 1814, was placed on half-pay in 1820 and appointed Inspector of Foreign out-patients at Chelsea Hospital. He was appointed Equerry, in 1822, and then Military Secretary, in 1824, to H.R.H. Duke of Cambridge when he was Viceroy of Hanover. Appointed K.C.H. in 1823 and A.D.C. to William IV (and later Queen Victoria, 1830-41. He was Groom of the Bed Chamber to William IV, 1831-37; Deputy Ranger of Richmond Park, 1844 to death; and Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, 1847-52. He was appointed Colonel of the 48th Foot on 25 November 1850, attained the rank of Lieutenant-General on 11 November 1851, and was created K.C.B. in 1862. Lieutenant-General Reynett, whose influential circle of friends also included Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquis of Londonderry and Field Marshal Henry Hardinge, died at Hampton Court Palace on 9 August 1864.