Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Small Army Gold Medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Clement Archer, 16th Light Dragoons, who was severely wounded in Flanders in 1794 and later commanded his regiment at Busaco and Fuentes d’Onor

Field Officer’s Gold Medal 1808-14, for Fuentes de Onor (Lieut. Colonel Clement Archer) complete with gold ribbon buckle, original ribbon and contained in its red leather case of issue, extremely fine £8000-10000

Clement Archer was born in 1765 and joined the army as an Ensign in the 59th Foot in 1782. He served with that regiment at Gibraltar, but was invalided out just before the siege and retired from the service. He lived for some time at Berlin, where he passed through the Military School by permission of the King, and in 1794 was gazetted Lieutenant in the 16th Light Dragoons. He was promoted to Captain in 1795; Major, 1806; and Lieutenant-Colonel, 1810. He served during the war in Flanders in 1794-95, taking part in several actions including Beaumont on 26th April, and Willems on 10th May. In this latter action the 16th squadrons distinguished themselves by charging a battery of eight guns, which was supported by both cavalry and infantry. Captain Hawker, who led the charge, was wounded and his horse killed, whilst Lieutenant Archer was severely wounded and invalided to England.

Archer served in the Peninsula from 1809, was promoted to the command of the 16th Light Dragoons on 2 April 1811, and commanded the regiment at Busaco and Fuentes d’Onor. A few days after his promotion, on 7 April, the Horse Artillery came up with the rear of the enemy, composed entirely of infantry and in the process of withdrawing from Almeida; and the left squadron of the 16th, led by Colonel Archer charged their rear of sixty-five infantry. The enemy kept their fire until the Light Dragoons were close, but were broken and all taken prisoner.

‘Throughout the northern campaign of 1811, the numbers of Masséna’s cavalry far exceeded those of the British. In the general action of Fuentes de Onoro in early May, this discrepancy was strongly marked. At the critical moment of the battle, Wellington was forced to throw back his right wing. This entailed withdrawing two infantry divisions in face of the full weight of Masséna's attack, including 3,500 cavalry. The British horse, consisting of the Royals, the 14th and 16th Light Dragoons and the 1st German Hussars, numbered hardly more than 1,000. Yet, on horses already wearied by earlier exertions, they covered this excessively delicate movement, charging in small bodies of one, two and sometimes three squadrons at a time, with immense gallantry and skill. “We were but scattered drops amid their host” wrote a subaltern of the 14th. At one moment, when two horse artillery guns had lingered too long in the front, they were extricated from an enveloping swarm of cavalry by a squadron of the 14th and another of the Royals, who charged back to their rescue. It is true to say, with Fortescue, that the cavalry were ‘the real heroes of Fuentes de Onoro’. But there was one unfortunate blot. Holding a conviction that cavalry, unaided, could take a battery of artillery by a frontal, rather than a flank charge, Captain Knipe, 14th Light Dragoons, put it to the test. He was killed and his squadron decimated.’ (Ref A History of the British Cavalry, The Marquess of Anglesey, Vol. 1).

Lieutenant-Colonel Archer received the gold medal for Fuentes d’Onor and was invalided to England in 1812, retiring later that year. He died in November 1817.