Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The unique Second Mahratta War and Peninsula War pair awarded to Sergeant James Stewart, 94th Foot

Army of India 1799-1826, 3 clasps, Asseerghur, Argaum, Gawilghur (J. Stewart, 94th Foot) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming; Military General Service 1793-1814, 9 clasps, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes (James Stewart, Serjt. 94th Foot) minor nicks and edge bruises, otherwise very fine and better (2) £10000-12000

From the Collection of Napoleonic War Medals formed by the late R. W. Gould, M.B.E.

Army of India ex Elson Collection 1963; M.G.S. ex Glendining’s, January 1911, and Spink, December 1987.

James Stewart is the only recipient from the 94th to receive the maximum entitlement of clasps to these two medals as a pair. It should be noted that Lieutenant Charles Campbell, whilst shown on Gould’s Army of India medal roll as entitled to the same combination, did not receive the M.G.S. medal; this was awarded to a different officer of the same name in the same regiment. Approximately 150 Army of India medals issued to Europeans with three clasps, and a total of only 48 clasps issued for Asseerghur.

James Stewart was born in the Parish of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, and was a Weaver by trade when he enlisted for unlimited service in the 94th Foot (Scotch Brigade) on 16 August 1800, aged 20. He served in the East Indies from July 1801 until December 1807, during which time he participated in the Second Mahratta War of 1803-05, and was present in the actions at Asseerghur, Argaum and Gawilghur. After less than a year’s home service, Stewart went to the Peninsula in December 1809, serving in all the actions and sieges where the 94th took a part. He had been appointed Corporal in September 1807 and was promoted to Sergeant in June 1811, serving in Portugal, Spain and France until the end of hostilities in March 1814, when he went to Ireland and was engaged in recruiting. Stewart was discharged on 25 February 1818, being ‘worn out’ and ‘unfit for further service’, and admitted to the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, on an out-pension of 1 shilling 7 pence-halfpenny per diem.

MGS has 10 clasps with Toulouse in addition to those listed