British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 12 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse (Peter Robins, Serjt. 45th Foot) good very fine £5000-6000

Ex Gaskell collection 1908, Needes collection 1939, and Darwent collection 2004.

Only 87 medals issued with 12 clasps, including 11 to the 45th Foot.

Peter Robins enlisted as a recruit into the 45th Foot on 17 July 1801. He was promoted to Corporal on 25 December 1801, and served in England and Ireland until September 1806, when, having reverted to Private, he embarked at Falmouth Harbour for South America. He served at Monte Video until June 1807, when he embarked with his regiment for the United Kingdom. In September 1808 he went to Portugal where he was promoted to Corporal in September 1809, and to Sergeant in March 1810. He served continuously in the Peninsula and France until June 1814, when he reurned to Cork. He was promoted to Colour-Sergeant in October 1814, but reduced to Private in August 1817, and discharged on 8 November 1818, being admitted to Chelsea Hospital as an out-pensioner on the 25th of the same month.

In January 1853 he was admitted as an in-pensioner and died in Chelsea Hospital on 19 January 1856, aged 77 years. He was buried in a common grave at Brompton Cemetery, the Royal Hospital graveyard having been closed for burials two years beforehand. The documents relating to his admission to Chelsea Hospital mention that he was wounded in the left arm but give no details of date or place. With muster details and copy death certificate.