Military General Service 1793-1814, 13 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (Chas. Stott, Serjt. 36th Ft.) contemporarily re-engraved naming, with original ribbon and otherwise as issued with perfect rivets etc., edge bruise, very fine or better and very rare £800-£1,000

Only two 13-clasp M.G.S. medals were issued with this combination of clasps, one to Corporal Henry Backefeld, 1st Hussars K.G.L. (Sold Sotheby, March 1980, and in these rooms in April 2003 and September 2012), the other to Driver John Fitton, Royal Artillery Drivers, who died in September 1848 and whose medal has never appeared on the market. It is most probable that Fitton’s medal was acquired by Sergeant Charles Stott, or perhaps a member of his family, in order to embellish his military history! Discharge papers exist for both men as follows:

Charles Stott was born in the Parish of Manchester and enlisted into the 36th Foot at Didsbury, Lancaster, on 22 November 1808, aged fourteen for unlimited service, a cotton spinner by trade. He served 15 years 219 days, not counting 4 years under age, and was discharged at Dublin on 30 April 1828, in consequence of hepatitis. He was admitted to an Out-pension at Chelsea Hospital on 15 May 1828, which he claimed in the Manchester District. According to the Royal Hospital Chelsea Admissions Book he was still living in 1864 when he would have been aged 70, his date of death unknown.

John Fitton was born in the Parish of Wrighton, near Oldham, Lancaster, and enlisted into the Royal Artillery Drivers at Manchester in November 1803, aged 18, a weaver by trade. He served 13 years 31 days and was discharged at Woolwich on 31 October 1816, ‘being afflicted with Rheumatism and thereby rendered unfit for further service - is placed upon the Pension List at Nine Pence per Diem commencing 1st November 1816, By Order of the Honorable (sic) Board of Ordnance.’ He claimed his pension in the Manchester District and, more importantly, claimed his Peninsula War medal with 13 Clasps before he died on 14 September 1848, aged 62.