Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A French Napoleonic Hussar Officer’s Silver Pouch and Belt c.1810.
Silver top, bottom, front, and side plates, the front one having a large ‘N’ with crown above screwed to it, gilding worn, 6ins x 4ins x 1.5ins. Top one has a Paris hallmark of diamond frame with an ‘f’ above a hunting horn, large silver ring at either end, black leather body. Tarnished silver bullion cross-belt with a large silver buckle and keeper, one silver stud missing, on mid-blue cloth backing material faded to a mid-green, generally good condition £1,200-£1,600

Sold with a very interesting original manuscript, whose provenance dates back to 1900, at which time it was claimed that the pouch was Napoleon’s and was taken from him at Waterloo by the then owner’s grandfather, Sir Henry Simmonds. However, whilst Captain Henry Simmonds saw Peninsular service in the 31st Regiment of Foot from 1808 to 1813, he was never knighted, nor was he present at Waterloo. The documents with the pouch and belt consist of a note from the then owner sent to Christie’s listing it, together with Simmonds’ MGS with clasps Talavera, Busaco, and Albuera; a miniature of him; one of Napoleon, and stating that Henry Simmonds had commanded the St. Helena Regiment during the life of Napoleon. Christie’s reply is dated 12 December 1900, agreeing to sell the pouch and belt. However, Simmons did later serve in the St. Helena Regiment in 1842, and the Ceylon Rifles Regiment. His M.G.S. with the above three clasps was in the Tinlin Collection 1965, and was sold by Spink 1984.