Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 6 clasps, Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Toulouse (Saml. Benson, Serjt. 5th Foot) minor edge bruising, otherwise nearly very fine £1400-1600

Samuel Benson was born in Birmingham and was a Gun Maker aged 23 when he enlisted for the 5th Foot as an Armourer Sergeant at Colchester on 20 April 1804. He served throughout as an Armourer Sergeant and was in the West Indies from 3 April 1818 until his discharge at Dominica on 23 April 1825, in consequence of debility and chronic rheumatism. His conduct was described as that of ‘an honest, good and faithful non-commissioned officer and is worthy of the strongest recommendation which can be given him by his commanding officer.’ Sergeant Benson landed in England on 10 June and received his final discharge at Horse Guards on 23 June 1825. Sold with copy discharge papers. A most unusual case of a man being enlisted directly as a non-commissioned officer.