Orders, Decorations and Medals

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Busaco, Nivelle (H. A. Hartley, Lieut. 57th Foot) note incorrect second initial, extremely fine £2000-2500

Ex Payne Collection 1911 and Needes Collection 1940.

Humphrey Robert Hartley was born on 24 August 1794, and was appointed Ensign in the 57th Foot on 6 October 1812. Although all rolls confirm his entitlement to the clasp for Busaco it is clearly impossible for him to have been at the action in 1810. His entry in Hart’s Army List, however, also confirms ‘medal with 2 clasps’.

Hartley describes his services thus: ‘Entered the 57th Regt. anno domini 1812 and received my promotion according to the following scale:- Ensign, 6th October 1812; Lieut., 2 September 1813; Captain, 20th November 1821; Major, 5th November 1827; Lieut. Colonel, 12th April 1831. After serving with the 57th Regt. in England, Ireland, Spain, France, where I was in the general action which took place on the 10th November 1813 (upon entering that country from Spain), America, Van Dieman’s Land, New South Wales, from which station I was detached as Commandant at Melville Island where I remained until the year 1829, and after obtaining my Lieut. Colonelcy I proceeded to assume the command of her Majesty’s 57th Regt. at the Presidency of Madras.’

Whilst at Madras, Hartley established the first savings bank in the British army on 6 November 1832, as well as libraries for non-commissioned officers. He was placed on half-pay in September 1835 and became a Major-General in June 1854. He died in London on 7 August 1854.