Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private Benjamin Emsley, 32nd Foot

Military General Service 1793-1814, 5 clasps, Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, Pyrenees, Nivelle (Benjn. Elmsley, 32nd Foot.); Waterloo 1815 (Benjamin Emsley, 32nd Regiment Foot) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension, the second with edge bruising and polished, otherwise nearly very fine, the first very fine (2) £2,800-£3,400

Payne Collection 1911, Glendining’s July 1918.

Benjamin Emsley/Elmsley was born in the Parish of St John’s, York, and enlisted into the Durham Fencibles on 1 November 1799, before transferring to the 32nd Foot on 15 March 1801, aged 21. He served 19 years 41 days, including 2 years for Waterloo, where he served in Captain Ross Lewin’s Company. He was discharged at Fort George Barracks, Guernsey, on 11 December 1816, ‘worn out and rendered unfit for further service.’ His commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Hicks, stated ‘This man served at the Capitulation of Copenhagen, the Retreat to Corunna, in the Walcheren Expedition , Peninsula War under the Duke of Wellington, and the Battles of the 16th, 17th & 18th June 1815 - I now recommend him to the favorable consideration of the Board.’ Emsley was consequently granted an Out-pension of 9d per diem on 27 January 1817, raised to 1/- in 1827, and resided at Sheffield where he died on 10 November 1856, aged 75.

Sold with copied discharge and pension papers.