Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Sahagun & Benevente, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (J. Dwyer, Corporal, 18th Light Dragoons ) nearly extremely fine £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 13th, 18th and 13th/18th Hussars.

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Provenance: Payne Collection 1911; Phillips Collection 1925.

Jeremiah Dwyer was born in the Parish of Michelstown, County Cork, and enlisted into the 18th Light Dragoons at Dublin on 23 January 1802, aged 18. He served a total of 21 years 231 days, including 2 years for Waterloo, and was discharged at Newbridge on 10 September 1821, in consequence of the ‘disbandment of the regiment & having received a wound in the right shoulder at Waterloo. He was admitted to an Out-Pension of one shilling per diem at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on 12 September 1821. He subsequently received his pension at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and died there on 22 February 1851.

Dwyer, it would seem, was Orderly to Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. Henry Murray at Waterloo and is mentioned by that officer in his letter (then a Major-General) to H. T. Siborne concerning the charge of the 18th Light Dragoons:

‘... But soon we came into ground entirely covered with French infantry retreating, not in a body, but individually, yet with none of the hurry and confusion that might be imagined when thus suddenly ridden in upon, and especially some of the Ancienne Garde might be remarked upon for their coolness and bold countenance (one nearly bayonetted me as I passed). Numbers of these were cut down , and my Orderly (a man named Dwyer) cut down five or six in rapid succession, the pursuit of the Cavalry continued.’ (Waterloo Letters by H. T. Siborne, refers)

Sold with copied discharge papers (very poor quality) and other research.