The 88th Foot Order of Merit awarded to Private John Richardson, a remarkable soldier who was one of the Forlorn Hope and wounded at Buenos Ayres in 1807, was again wounded at Busaco and also in each of the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, he was afterwards present at Plattsburg in North America, and when discharged after more than 30 years service the regimental Surgeon described him as ‘perhaps the oldest soldier in the Army’

88th Foot Order of Merit 1818, 3rd class, 26mm but set within an additional silver decorative rim, overall diameter 36mm, the reverse inscribed with 6 battle honours for Fuentes D’Onor, Talavera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Busaco, Salamanca, Badajoz, the edge named (John Richardson) with silver bar suspension inscribed ‘Peninsula’, nearly very fine £1200-1500

Ex Day Collection 1910, Gaskell Collection 1911, and Jourdain Collection.

John Richardson was born in Drogheda, County Louth, and enlisted into the 88th Foot at Hailsham, Sussex, on 3 June 1806, aged 19 years. He was discharged on 23 November 1836, in consequence of being ‘unable to carry his appointments on the march from pains and swellings of the veins of the legs, and general debility, and the effects of wounds long since received’, and being entitled to reckon 30 years one hundred and sixty eight days service.

John Richardson served ‘in South America in General Whitlock’s Expedition, and was one of the Forlorn Hope and wounded at Buenos Ayres; 4 years in the Peninsula; 1 year in North America; 1 and a half years in France; 10 years and 10 months in the Ionian Islands, and the remainder of his service at home, and was present in the following actions, viz “Talavera” “Busaco” (where he was wounded) “Fuentes d’Onor, sieges of “Ciudad Rodrigo” and “Badajos” (wounded at both) and at “Salamanca”; was present at Plattsburg in North America.’

Surgeon R. A. McMunn, 88th Foot, in his medical report, described Richardson as ‘perhaps the oldest soldier in the Army, he has been 30 years in this Regiment and it is with difficulty and only of late that he feels he is no longer able for the duties that he conducts to be discharged; he labours under varicose veins of both legs, several marks of old ulcers and wounds.’ Discharged at Portsmouth, it was his intention to reside and receive his Pension at Drogheda in Ireland. He survived to claim the Peninsula medal with 6 clasps but this has never been recorded on the market. Sold with copied discharge papers.