The Peninsula War medal awarded to Private Thomas Harding, 95th Foot, Rifles, who was wounded in the left thigh in the attack on Buenos Ayres in 1807, and in the left leg at the forcing of the pass at Vera in 1813; he also took part in the Walcheren Expedition in 1809 and was present at the battle of Waterloo in 1815

Military General Service 1793-1814, 11 clasps, Corunna, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Toulouse (T. Harding, 95th Foot, Rifles.) fitted with silver ribbon buckle, minor marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine £4,000-£5,000

Provenance: Glendining’s, July 1940 and November 1952; A. Leyland Robinson Collection.

26 eleven-clasp M.G.S. medals issued to the 95th Rifles, 3 with this combination of clasps, Harding the only one of these three to also serve at Waterloo.

Thomas Harding was born at Motson, Hampshire, in about 1771. He enlisted for unlimited service into the 1st Battalion, 95th Foot, at Stockbridge, Hampshire, on 12 July 1800, a Volunteer from the Prince of Wales’s Regiment of Fencible Infantry, in which unit he had served since 11 February 1795. He was then 29 years old, a labourer by trade, and was probably one of the original soldiers who volunteered from the Militia into the ‘experimental corps of Rifle Men’ which was formed at this period.

Harding served a total of 25 years 95 days which included 5 years 150 days of service in the Fencibles, and his 2 year allowance for Waterloo, at which battle he was present in Beckwith’s No. 10 Company. His discharge papers are signed by both Kincaid and Balvard, though Harding could not sign himself and marked with ‘X’. They are dated Bourlon, France, 24 February 1818, at which time he was 47 years old and recommended for discharge in consequence of being ‘old and worn out’. His conduct as a soldier is described as being ‘Very good. Served in South America, during the whole of the Peninsula War and at Waterloo. Was wounded in South America in the left thigh and at Vera in the left leg, and merits the most favourable consideration of the Board.’ He was subsequently invalided to England where he was finally discharged on 18 May 1818, and admitted to a Chelsea out-pension of 1/2d per diem.

Thomas Harding, Chelsea Pensioner, died of apoplexy at Broughton, Hampshire, on 1 March 1859, aged 78 years. Sold with detailed muster report, copied discharge papers, various pay and muster lists and other research.