Three: Private John Jenkins, 1st Royal Dragoons, later Buckinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry Hussars

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Vittoria, Toulouse (John Jenkys, 1st Royal Dragoons); Waterloo 1815 (John Jinkyns, 1st or Royal Dragoons) fitted with original steel clip and replacement steel bar suspension; Coronation 1821, Buckinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry Hussars, G.IV.R., silver (John Jenkins 2d Reg. B.Y.C.H.) note variations in spelling of surname, very fine and better (3) £2500-3000

Private John Jenkins served at Waterloo in Captain Ralph Heathcote’s No. 4 or “C” Troop.

The 1st Dragoons formed part of the ‘Union Brigade’, together with the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons. Their first charge at Waterloo was against D’erlon’s corps which was threatening to pierce the centre of the British line. The brilliant dash of the Union Brigade broke and dispersed the French corps, capturing the ‘eagle’ of the 105th Regiment of Line and taking some 2,000 prisoners. However, in attempting to carry the enemy’s batteries on the other side of the ravine, they were met, exhausted and disorganised after their charge, by the French Cuirassiers and the brigade was driven back with heavy loss, including their commander, Sir William Ponsonby.

The eagle of the 105th was taken by Captain Alexander Kennedy Clark (afterward Lieutenant General Sir Alexander Clark-Kennedy, K.C.B., K.H.), of the 1st Dragoons, who, after a desperate fight in which he was severely wounded, handed it to Corporal Francis Stiles to convey it to the rear. Stiles claimed the honour of the capture, being promoted to Sergeant and later given an ensigncy in the West India Regiment. However, the true story was recognised in 1838, when Colonel Clark received an augmentation to his family arms indicative of the action, and the regiment was permitted to wear the eagle among its badges.