Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine C.B. and Peninsula Gold Medal pair awarded to Brevet Colonel A. Campbell, 46th Regiment, late C.O. of the 15th Portuguese Infantry, who was severely wounded at Vittoria in June 1813, on which occasion he was favourably mentioned and ‘commanded the advance of his Brigade amounting to 300 men in the attack on the village of Gomarah Mayor’, so, too, by Lord Beresford, for subsequent distinguished conduct at Nive in December 1813: he had earlier been commended for his conduct as a Captain in the Grenadier Company of the 46th during the French attack on Dominica in February 1805

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks for London 1815, gold swivel-ring and later narrow bar suspension, complete with riband buckle; Field Officer’s Gold Medal 1808-14, for Nive, no clasp (Lt. Coll. Archd. Campbell, 15th Portugese (sic)), enamel work slightly chipped on the first, and one lion fitment loose, the second with old replacement lunettes, otherwise generally good very fine or better (2)
£7000-9000

Ex Hamilton-Smith Collection 1927.

C.B. London Gazette 26 September 1831.

Archibald Campbell was born in Kruek, Isle of Mull, in 1777, and was originally appointed an Ensign in the 25th Regiment in November 1797.

Obtaining a Lieutenancy in the 46th Regiment in June of the following year, and advanced to Captain in February 1804, he served in the West Indies from the latter year until June 1811, gaining favourable mention from Major-General Prevost for his command of the Grenadier Company of his regiment during the French attack on Dominica on 22 February 1805.

Further active service ensued in Spain, Portugal and France from September 1811 until January 1814, in which period he commanded the 15th Portuguese Infantry, was advanced to Major in September 1812, twice favourably mentioned and severely wounded.

First going into action at Salamanca in July 1812, Campbell was next engaged at Vittoria in June 1813, when he was mentioned in Brigade Orders by Major-General Spry ‘for his conduct in the battle, on which occasion he commanded the advance of his Brigade amounting to 300 men in the attack on the village of Gomarah Mayor, when he and two Captains were severely wounded’.

Subsequently present at the first and second siege and final surrender of St. Sebastian, and at the crossing of the Bidassoa into France, he also commanded the 15th Portuguese in the forcing of the enemy’s lines on 10 November, and again at Nive in the following month, when in recognition of his ‘distinguished conduct’, he was favourably mentioned by Lord Beresford and awarded a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the Portuguese Army.

Having then been appointed a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 46th Regiment in February 1814, Campbell served in the Madras Presidency and East Indies from June 1818 until December 1829, and was given the Brevet of Colonel in June of the latter year while commanding the Hyderabad Subsidiary Force. Appointed a C.B. on his returning home from the East Indies in September 1831, the Colonel died in November 1840.