Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Quartermaster Sergeant William Aitkin, Royal Artillery, the last Peninsula veteran to serve in the ranks of the Yeomen of the Guard

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Badajoz, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Toulouse (W. Aitkin, Qr. Mr. Serjt. Royal Arty.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., large letter reverse (W. Aitkin, Qr. Master Serj. Royal Artillery. 1842) both impressed with small collector’s number by suspension, light contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £1400-1600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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William Aitken joined the Royal Artillery in March 1801 and served for 41 years and 10 months before joining the Yeomen of the Guard in 1842. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in June 1843 and 5 years later the M.G.S. medal with 4 clasps for his services in the Peninsula. Aitken would have been on duty on 10 April and 12 June, 1848, when the Chartists’ Riots took place in London and the Yeomen of the Guard were called out on duty, armed with muskets and fixed bayonets. On 18 November 1852, he was one of those Sergeants Major escorting Wellington’s funeral party. In 1857 he is shown in the Army List on the roll of eight Sergeants Major of the Guard. He was present at the wedding of the Prince of Wales on 18 March 1863, and at the inspection of the Guard by him on 29 June 1869. William Aitkendied on 14 November 1871 with a combined service of almost 71 years. He was the last Peninsula veteranto serve in the ranks of the Yeomen of the Guard and the Yeomen Warders.