Waterloo 1815 (James Taylor, 5th Reg. Drag. Guards.) Christian name engraved, fitted with original steel clip and rectangular silver bar suspension, this inscribed ‘J.T. Vth D.G.’ and a silver ribbon slide inscribed ‘Salamanca’ and ‘Peninsula’, minor edge bruising, otherwise very fine and rare £4,000-£5,000

One of four Waterloo medals named to the 5th Dragoon Guards. Confirmed on Royal Mint Supplementary List (p. 486) as Private William Taylor (and medal originally so named) together with Corporal William Dickenson and Private Cornelius Donnelly, all of the 5th Dragoon Guards, these three men presumably in attendance on Lieutenant Braithwaite Christie, 5th Dragoon Guards, who was Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Sir William Ponsonby, K.C.B., at Waterloo.

James Taylor was born in the Parish of Gorey, Co. Wexford, and enlisted for the 5th Dragoon Guards at Dublin on 6 May 1807, aged 19 years, for unlimited service, a servant by trade. He was discharged with 19 years 147 days service, including two years for Waterloo, on 29 September 1824, in consequence of ‘worn out constitution from syphilitic disease’.

Sold with copied discharge papers.