Orders, Decorations and Medals

Military General Service 1793-1814, 12 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse (Seph Hands, 45th Foot) first name and first two letters of surname engraved, edge bruising, otherwise very fine £2500-3000

Ex Elson Collection 1963 and with his hand-written note still attached to the ribbon, ‘In roll as Stephen Ands. I bought it from the Hands family of Nuneaton.’ Elson lived nearby in Coventry. Shown on the Mullens roll as Septimus Ands with a note that he was in hospital after after Badajoz.

Seph Hands was born in the Parish of Nelson, Leicester, and enlisted at Nottingham on 25 April 1805. He served 22 years 275 days, and was discharged ‘worn out from age and rheumatism’ on 26 January 1828, and stated his intention to reside at Nuneaton. War Office annotations on his papers refer to correspondence with the Rev. J. Thomas and “to man care of clergyman & medal returned 19.7.70”. Sold with copy discharge papers.