Military General Service 1793-1814, 5 clasps, Albuhera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse (T. Jones, R.H. Arty.) extremely fine £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Series of Peninsular War Medals.

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Thomas Jones, a weaver from Whitfield, Lancashire, enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Winchelsea in September 1803, aged 16 years. Subsequently posted to Captain D. Lefebure's ‘D’ Troop, he witnessed active service in the Peninsula, his unit being attached to the 2nd Cavalry Brigade from Albuhera to Toulouse, and the only R.H.A. unit present at the former battle - it was latterly commanded by Captain Bean in lieu of Lefebure’s death in Madrid in October 1812. Unlike the Foot Artillery, R.H.A. Troops were completely self-contained fighting units with an approximate strength of five officers and 180 gunners and drivers, armed with five 6-pounder guns and one 5.5 inch howitzer.

Jones was discharged, without pension, in August 1814.

N.B. Some confusion is apparent in this man’s entry in Mullen's roll, two men by the name of ‘T. Jones’ being listed with post-Albuhera four clasp Medals; however, the above described award is confirmed by Vigors & Macfarlane in The Three Retrospective Medals to Artillerymen, which reveals the existence of just one Thomas Jones on the roll of Horse Artillerymen.