Pair: Colour Serjeant W. Beckham, Scots Fusilier Guards, who served in the Peninsula during 1812-14 and 1827-28

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Vittoria, Nive (W. Beckham, Serjt., 3rd Foot Gds.) clasps slightly bent, with silver brooch bar; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 1st issue, large letter reverse, edge dated (W. Beckham, Colour Serjt., Scots Fus. Guards. 1842) with replacement silver ring and straight bar suspension, this latter inscribed, ‘Peninsula’, with silver brooch bar, some edge bruising and contact marks, very fine (2) £1200-1500

William Beckham was born in 1794 at St. Michael at Plea, Norwich. A Silk Weaver by occupation, he enlisted into the East Norfolk Militia and served one year and six months before volunteering to join the 3rd Foot Guards on 5 May 1812, aged 18 years. He was promoted to Corporal in May 1814 and served until 10 May 1819 when he was discharged. He served in the Peninsula during 1812-14 for which he was eventually awarded the M.G.S. with two clasps. Beckham returned to live in Norwich before re-enlisting at London on 21 April 1826. He was once more promoted to Corporal in January 1827, then advanced to Serjeant in October 1832 and Colour Serjeant in March 1842. During his second period of service he was again in the ‘Peninsula’ - with the British force in Portugal under Sir William Clinton, 1827-28. The intervention was made to protect British interests with the onset of the Liberal War, 1828-34. Beckham was discharged in London on 24 May 1842, the same year he received his long service medal and he died in Norwich on 21 March 1867.

With copied research. An article on the medals, For Service in the Peninsula - Twice, by Peter Duckers, appeared in The Armourer, November/December 1997.