71st Foot Medal 1816, an engraved silver medal, 38mm. in diameter, Obv. a crown surmounting ‘71’ from which rays emanate, on a scroll above, ‘For Courage Loyalty & Faithful Service’, below, ‘10 Years Service Voted 24th May 1816’; Rev. entwined rose, thistle and shamrock, on a scroll above, ‘Tria Juncta in Uno’, with additional silver rim inscribed ‘Colour Serjt. Geoe. Leslie, 71st Lt. Infantry’ fitted with silver clip and straight bar suspension and worn from an old tartan ribbon, very fine and scarce £600-800

Balmer R450.

George Leslie was born in Edinburgh and was a painter by trade. He attested for the 71st Light Infantry at Glasgow on 19 August 1808, aged 14 years. He served ‘Ten months in the Peninsula, Three years and six months in France, Seven years and four months in North America and six months in the Bermudas. Was present at the Battles of the Pyrenees, Campo, Nive, Bayonne, St Palais, Orthes, Aire, Tarbes, Toulouse & Waterloo.’ He became a Corporal on 19 August 1812 and was promoted to Sergeant on 25 June 1814, and is listed as having served in Captain A. J. McIntyre’s Company in the Waterloo Campaign, receiving two years additional service. He was finally discharged in North America on 11 July 1832, his conduct being described as that of a ‘good, sober, brave soldier & in the highest degree trustworthy.’ He settled in Canada and claimed his M.G.S. medal from Amherstberg, Canada West, with clasps for Nivelle Orthes and Toulouse. He died at Amherstburg on 14 April 1852, and is buried there with his wife, Ann P., who died on 23 January 1833.

Sold with a DVD containing full research including copied discharge papers, medal claim entry, and photograph of his headstone.