Auction Catalogue

28 June 2000

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

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

Lot

№ 340

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28 June 2000

Hammer Price:
£580

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Martinique, Guadaloupe (J. Beaver, Corporal, 90th Foot) minor edge bruises, otherwise nearly extremely fine £500-600

Joseph Beaver was born in the Parish of St Luke’s, London, in 1779. He enlisted for the newly raised 90th Regiment of Light Infantry, in London, on 19 February 1794, as a fifteen year old Drummer Boy. The regiment was first employed in harassing the coasts of France, and gained its first distinction in Sir Ralph Abercromby’s expedition to Egypt in 1801. At Mandora, shortly after landing, the battalion gained great distinction by its stubborn and resolute conduct, and took an active part in the subsequent operations by which Napoleon’s ‘invincible Army of the East’ was completely expelled from Egypt. Joseph Beaver served throughout these operations as a Drummer in the Commandant’s company. In 1809 and 1810 he was present at the capture of Martinique and Guadaloupe in the West Indies, where the regiment was fortunate in capturing a French Eagle. He subsequently served in North America in 1814 and was promoted to Corporal around this time. He was discharged at Chatham on 1 June 1818, ‘being Rheumatic and old, incapable of service... was in Egypt in 1801, at the capture of the West India Colonies in 1809 & 10, and in America in 1814.’ Like many others of his regiment, Joseph Beaver did not claim the clasp for Egypt, or perhaps he had died before this clasp was authorized in 1850.