Orders, Decorations and Medals

The important Waterloo group awarded to Colonel Joseph Muter, C.B., K.C.H., Colonel-in-Chief 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, which regiment he commanded at Waterloo until the death of Sir William Ponsonby, whereupon he took over command of the “Union Brigade” until he was himself wounded

i. The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1815, complete with wide swivel-ring suspension and gold ribbon buckle

ii. The Royal Guelphic Order, K.C.H. (Military) a fine jewelled breast star with swords by Rundell Bridge & Rundell, silver, gold and enamels, the centre, motto and wreath all set with small rubies, emeralds and diamonds, the reverse centre plate inscribed ‘Rundell Bridge & Rundell, Jewellers to His Majesty and The Royal Family’ and further privately named ‘Jos. Straton’

iii. Waterloo 1815 (Colonel Muter, 6th or Inniskilling Drag.) fitted with original steel clip and bar suspension

iv. Russia, Order of Saint Vladimir, 4th Class breast badge, gold and enamels

v. Chapel Stall Plate of the Order of the Bath, ‘Joseph Muter Esquire, Colonel in the Army and Lieutenant Colonel in the 6th (or Inniskilling) Regiment of Dragoons Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath Nominated 22nd June 1815’, silver ball finial lacking from one point of K.C.H. star, otherwise generally good very fine (5)
£25000-30000

Joseph Muter (later Straton) joined the 2nd (Queen’s) Dragoon Guards in December 1794 and served in that regiment as a cornet and lieutenant. In March 1797 he purchased a troop in the 13th Light Dragoons and a majority in the same regiment on 14 August 1801.

In 1804 and 1805 he studied at the Royal Military College, High Wycombe and on leaving the College, was appointed to the Duke of Gloucester’s staff.

He obtained a brevet lieutenant colonelcy in April 1808 and in 1810 accompanied his regiment to the Peninsula where he served partly in command of his regiment and partly as second in command for three years. In the Peninsula Muter saw action in the battles of Campo Mayo, Albuhera, Usage, Arroyo dos Molinos and Alba de Tormes. On 4 June 1813, the Commander-in-Chief acknowledged his services by giving him the lieutenant colonelcy of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, coming into the colonelcy exactly a year later.

At Waterloo Muter commanded the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons at the beginning of the battle but, on the death of Major-General Sir William Ponsonby, took over command of the ‘Union Brigade’ comprising the 1st Royal Dragoons, the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Greys) and the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons. This brigade, with the brigade of Life Guards, Blues, and King’s Dragoon Guards, form the two brigades of cavalry mentioned by the Duke of Wellington as having particularly distinguished themselves at Waterloo. Towards the close of the action, Colonel Muter was wounded, and his horse wounded twice.

In a letter dated Brussels, 21st June, 1815, Muter gave his own account of events at Waterloo, extracts of which were published in a Scotch newspaper shortly afterwards:

‘Hostilities commenced on the 16th, by an attack on the Prussian advanced posts. Our army was put immediately in motion, and after two affairs, we retired to our position 14 or 15 miles from hence, and covering the great road to this place. Our right rested on a hill, our centre on another more advanced, forming part of the circumference of a circle; the left I did not see. The attack commenced on the right, but was soon transferred with great fury to the centre. The enemy attacked in three solid columns of immense depth, supported by cavalry and artillery. Our infantry received them in line: behind the infantry, was Gen. Ponsonby’s Brigade of Cavalry, consisting of the 1st Dragoons, the Greys, and Inniskillings:- when the infantry had given their fire, we charged through intervals, which the infantry made for us, in open column of half squadrons, and completely upset the enemy’s three massy columns, not leaving a man. Gen. Ponsonby and Col. Hamilton of the Greys being killed, the command of the brigade devolved upon me:- nothing could be finer than their conduct, or more successful. Our strength before the action was 1050; after it, about 100; “but many had been sent to escort prisoners”. In killed, wounded, &c., we lost about two thirds. The enemy reiterated his attacks on the centre with fresh troops, but without success. He then made a most desperate attack on the right, where my small brigade of 100 men was called to charge about 400 cavalry, supported by artillery and squares of infantry. I was told that everything depended on our exertions - it was in leading my miserable remains, that I received my wound. The charge was not successful, indeed almost every man and horse was knocked down. Such butchery was never beheld - the day was long doubtful, but the fortunate arrival of the Prussians decided it.’

Muter was appointed a C.B. in the ‘Waterloo’ Gazette of 22 June 1815, and was further honoured by the Emperor of Russia with the fourth class of the Order of St Vladimir, ‘in testimony of His Imperial Majesty’s approbation of his services and conduct, particularly in the late Battles fought in the Netherlands.’

In 1816 Muter inherited the property of his aunt, a Miss Straton of Montrose and assumed the name of Straton. He was promoted to Major-General in May 1825, and in 1832 he was knighted, becoming a Knight Commander of the Hannoverian Guelphic Order. Further promotion to Lieutenant-General followed in June 1838 and he was appointed Colonel of the 17th Lancers from January to August 1839; and of the 8th Hussars from August 1839 until April 1840, when he took over as Colonel of his old regiment, the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons.

Sir Joseph Straton died on 23 October 1840, leaving the substantial part of his estate, some £70,000, to Edinburgh University. He requested that a tombstone be erected to him in St Cyrus Churchyard, Kincardine, and, amongst other small bequests, ‘To the Sixth or Inneskillen Regiment of Dragoons, the Regiment which I long commanded, and of which I am now Colonel the sum of five hundred pounds sterling to be paid to the Commanding Officer, and to be applied to such purposes as he and the Mess Committee of the Regiment may think right’.