The Waterloo medal awarded to Lieutenant James M’Conchy, 32nd Foot, who was slightly wounded carrying the regimental colour at Quatre Bras and severely wounded at Waterloo

Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. James M’Conchy, 32nd Regiment Foot.) fitted with original steel clip and contemporary silver bar suspension, minor edge bruise, otherwise nearly extremely fine £4000-5000

Provenance: Debenham’s, November 1898; Sotheby’s, June 1906; Gaskell Collection 1911; Needes Collection 1939.

James M’Conchy was born in County Antrim in 1791 and purchased an Ensigncy in the 32nd Foot on 7 January 1813. He served in the south of France from March to July 1814, and in Belgium and France from April to December 1815. M’Conchy carried the regimental colour at Quatre Bras on the 16th June. As recorded in a letter quoted by Colonel Swiney, ‘in the second charge a shell burst right on the Colours, took away the silk of the regimental colour and the whole of the right section of the fifth company, amongst whom was my lamented friend Captain Whitty; his head was literally blown to atoms. M’Conchy, who held the colour that suffered, was only slightly wounded.’

Two days later, on the 18th June, M’Conchy was present with the regiment at Waterloo and on that occasion he was severely wounded in the left shoulder.

He was promoted to Lieutenant on 20 July 1815, vice Lieutenant George Barr who was promoted to Captain, vice Whitty, killed in action. M’Conchy went on half pay in May 1817, when the regiment was reduced. He was appointed Lieutenant in the 58th Foot in June 1818, by paying the difference, but was again placed on the half pay on reduction of that regiment. On 20 July 1820 he was appointed Lieutenant in the 1st or Royal Regiment of Foot, without purchase, and in March 1824 transferred to the 48th Foot, again without purchase.

M’Conchy joined the 48th Foot in India, where, at a General Court Martial held at Bellary on 3 January 1828, he was arraigned on the charge of ‘wilful murder of Lieut. James Fraser, of the 11th regt. N.I., at Bellary, on the 20th of October 1827, by shooting him with a pistol ball, whereof the said Lieut. James Fraser died at the same place on the same day.’ Also charged on the same occasion was Lieutenant & Brevet Captain Robert Woodhouse, 48th Foot, for ‘being present, aiding and abetting at the wilful murder of Lieut. James Fraser.’ This was clearly a duel between M’Conchy and Fraser over some unknown matter, Woodhouse being M’Conchy’s second. Both officers were pronounced to be not guilty and acquitted of all charges. Furthermore, the result of the Court Martial was ordered to be entered in the general order book, and read at the head of every regiment in H.M.’s service in India.

James M’Conchy was promoted to Captain on 11 December 1834, and placed on half pay, unattached, on 11 December 1836. He was finally appointed Captain on full pay in the 48th Foot once again on 3 April 1840.