Auction Catalogue

28 June 2000

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

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

Lot

№ 326

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28 June 2000

Hammer Price:
£520

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Salamanca (George Masters, 11th Light Dragoons) minor edge bruising, therefore very fine £500-600

George Masters was born in the Parish of Huntchen, near Bridgewater, Somerset, and enlisted for the 11th Light Dragoons at Bath on 17 April 1806. He was discharged at Canterbury on 30 January 1819, being of ‘Bad and weakly constitution.’ His discharge papers state his conduct had been that of ‘a very good soldier, served in the Peninsula in 1811 and ‘12, taken prisoner on the 22nd June 1811 and severely wounded, and present at the battle of Waterloo.’

On the 22nd June 1811, the 2nd Hussars of the King’s German Legion held the outposts at Quinta de Gremezia, between Elvas and Badajoz, their left flank being protected by a squadron of the 11th Light Dragoons, posted towards Badajoz. The Hussars of the K.G.L. were attacked by French cavalry and driven back, but, reinforcements arriving shortly afterwards, including a picquet of 11th Light Dragoons under Lieutenant Crawford, the hussars charged two squadrons of Polish lancers, put them to flight, and took three officers and several men and horses prisoners. Unfortunately the victors were imprudent enough to follow up the pursuit, whereupon they met up with fresh columns of the enemy, advancing to the support of the lancers. The hussars were obliged to retreat and suffered badly in the passing of a ravine, but reached the safety of the village and the enemy halted. Soon afterwards the 11th Light Dragoons appeared on the Elvas road and the French withdrew altogether. However, on their way back the enemy fell in with the squadron of 11th Light Dragoons which had been posted on the left of the K.G.L. picquet. On seeing the French, the officer commanding the 11th L.D. mistook them for Spanish cavalry, but soon discovering his error, gallantly charged the enemy’s column, and broke through two columns. Here, however, his brave fellows became surrounded, and the whole squadron of about seventy men and horses, were obliged to surrender.