Auction Catalogue

29 March 2000

Starting at 12:00 PM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Regus Conference Centre  12 St James Square  London  SW1Y 4RB

Lot

№ 770

.

29 March 2000

Hammer Price:
£2,600

A very fine Peninsula and Waterloo pair awarded to Lieutenant William H. Hill, 59th Foot, who was severely wounded at the Nive whilst charging the enemy

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Nivelle, Nive (W. H. Hill, Ensn. 59th Foot); Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. H. Hill, 2nd Batt. 59th Reg. Foot) note second initial only shown on medal, fitted with original steel clip and silver bar suspension, and with a silver ribbon buckle, both medals lightly lacquered, small edge bruise to the first, otherwise extremely fine (2) £1800-2200

See colour illustration (Plate II).

William Henry Hill was born in Portarlington, Queen’s County, on 26 February 1796. He was aged 16 when he first entered the Army as Ensign in the 59th Foot on 3 December 1812. He served in the Peninsula from October 1813, and was present at the passage of the Biddassoa, 10 November 1813, Nivelle, 11 November 1813, and Nive, 9 December 1813. At the latter battle he was ‘dangerously wounded charging the enemy’, being hit by a bullet in the hip.

On the evening of 8 December 1813, the 5th Divsion left St Jean de Luz on the high road towards Bayonne and, in the early hours of 9 December, were given their orders for the day,
“capture the village of Anglet”. The 2nd Brigade, with the 59th Regiment leading, headed the attack and after driving the enemy from every position for upwards of four miles, they were held up in front of the village of Anglet, which was the principal object of the day. The 59th Regiment led the Brigade in column and, with a shout, charged and drove the enemy, not only entirely through the village of Anglet but right up the fortified camp of Beyris and the guns covering Bayonne. This area was then reconnoitred but, as ordered, no attempt was made to break into it. The regiment retired about three miles leaving only piquets guarding the ground won that day, supported by two brigades of Portuguese.

In recognition of his wounds, Hill was granted one years pay as Ensign, and a Pension of £50 per annum, 24 March 1817, temporary received for just two years. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 25 May 1814 and, in the following year, took part in the campaign in Flanders, at Cambrai on 14 June, at Waterloo on 18 June, and at the 2nd surrender of Paris on 7 July.

Only five officers of the 59th lived to receive both the M.G.S. and Waterloo medals, many officers having been lost on board the
Seahorse, which was wrecked in a storm in January 1816. The pair is accompanied by some family notes written in 1946 by Colonel C. W. Hill, The Royal Canadian Regiment.