48th Foot Regimental Medal 1819, 38mm., silver, inscribed on obverse scroll ‘Thos. Wills’; reverse inscribed with 11 actions: ‘Oporto, Talavera, Albuera, Rodrigo, Badajos, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse’, fitted with a hinged ring and silver bar suspender, very fine and rare, one of Australia’s earliest recognised pieces of silver £3500-4500

Ref. Balmer R370. This medal was established by the officers of the Regiment 1819, whilst it was serving in Australia, 1817-24. The maximum number of actions is twelve, though eleven is the maximum so far recorded on a medal.

The medals were engraved by Samuel Clayton, who was transported for forgery from Ireland to Australia for seven years in 1816. A painter, engraver and silversmith by trade, he established himself in Sydney as early as January of the following year, rapidly becoming one of the finest silversmiths in the Colony. Amongst other achievements he instigated the establishment of the first Masonic lodge in New South Wales, and designed and engraved the Colony’s first banknotes. He died at Gunning, N.S.W., in 1853.


Thomas Wills was born in the Parish of Weedon, near Northampton, and was enlisted into the 48th Foot at Liverpool on 4 November 1807, aged twenty-one, for unlimited service. He was discharged at Deal on 26 August 1828, having served 20 years 296 days, suffering from ‘chronic rheumatism and worn out in the service’. His conduct as a soldier was described as ‘good’ and his trade as a ‘labourer’. Thomas Wills received the M.G.S. medal with five clasps, for Talavera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca and Pyrenees (Sold by Glendining in July 1920). Sold with copied discharge papers.