Orders, Decorations and Medals

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Talavera, Salamanca, Toulouse (Job King, 61st Foot) minor edge bruising, nearly extremely fine £1200-1400

Job King was born in 1781. A Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the 61st Foot in September 1897. He fought in all three of the regiment’s key Peninsula engagements, culminating at Toulouse, where the 61st gained the nickname ‘The Flowers of Toulouse’ from the number of red coated bodies left on the field of battle. Quartermaster Sergeant James Anton of the 42nd Highlanders left the following account:

‘The 61st Regiment was ordered forward to support skirmishers and became the marked object of the enemy’s batteries from which incessant showers of grape cut down the corps by sections while Soult was perhaps not losing a man, being too safely sheltered from our musketry. It was therefore seen necessary to withdraw the skeleton of the regiment to the road on which we had taken post after its advance. It was warmly welcomed back, for the retreat was so defiant and its loss was scarcely equalled by any corps on the field. Not a Subaltern left the field without a wound, and the honour of the Colours was assigned to sergeant.’

Private Job King was among the wounded having received a musket ball in his right cheek. Discharged in November 1814 without a pension. He eventually made a successful late claim in July 1858.