PREVIEW: ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS & MILITARIA: 8 NOVEMBER

The War of 1812 set the Americans against the British in Canada over territorial rights and ambitions, as well as the imposition of Royal Navy blockades on U.S. maritime trade.

In seeking to capture Montreal, divide Canada in two and establish control north of the U.S. border, the American forces engaged in the St Lawrence Campaign, a series of engagements including the Battles of Chrystler’s Farm, fought on 11 November 1813, during which the British and Canadian forces defeated the much larger U.S. formation.

It was a decisive moment, leading the U.S. to abandon the wider campaign.

One of those who drove off the American attack was Henry Ross Gore, at the time a Captain in the 89th Foot. He was one of only three officers of the regiment who lived to claim the clasp for this action for his Military General Service Medal. A further 14 officers from British and Canadian regiments also received the clasp. Noonans sold the medal to Captain J. M. Shand, 89th Foot, on 14 April 2021.

Taken prisoner at Niagara on 25 July 1814, Gore was detained until the end of the American War. It was not the first time he had been a prisoner-of-war, however.

Having been commissioned in the 32nd Foot on 13 November 1800, Henry Ross Gore became Lieutenant in the 89th Foot on 16 March 1803, rising to Captain in the 7th Garrison Battalion on 4 December 1806, before exchanging back to the 89th on 5 February 1807.

He survived the wreck of the transport Isabella on 13 December 1805, on Texel, Batavian Republic, but became a prisoner of the Dutch.

Having served in the War of 1812, he also served with the 89th throughout the Burmese war and commanded a detachment under Major Sale in defence of the lines of Rangoon.

Gore remained in service and ultimately saw promotion to brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, being appointed a Companion of the Bath on the occasion of the Coronation of William IV on 26 September 1831.

Lieutenant-Colonel Gore subsequently held the appointment as Barrack Master at Fethard, Cashel and Tipperary, where he died on 21 April 1853. His Military General Service 1793-1814, with the single clasp for Chrystler’s Farm, is estimated at £14,000-18,000.