Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The spectacular C.B., Army Gold Cross group awarded to Colonel John Galiffe, 60th Rifles, who received medals and clasps for no less than fifteen Peninsula war actions, a record unequalled by any other officer in the British Army

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge in gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1815, maker’s mark ‘IE’ for John Edwards, complete with wide swivel-ring gold straight suspension and gold ribbon buckle; Army Gold Cross 1806-14, for Vittoria, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse (Major John Galiffe, 60th Regiment) complete with swivel-ring gold straight suspension and gold ribbon buckle; Field Officer’s Gold Medal 1808-14, for Vittoria, 1 clasp, Nivelle (Major Iohn Galiffe) complete with gold ribbon buckle; Military General Service 1793-1814, 11 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Albuhera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Pyrenees, Nive (J. P. Galiffe, C.B. Subt. 60th Foot) fitted with silver ribbon brooch; together with a silver and red enamel regimental badge inscribed ‘Lieut-Colonel John P. Galiffe’, and his Order of the Bath Chapel Stall Plate inscribed ‘John Galiffe Esquire, Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army and Major in the 60th (or Royal American) Regiment of Foot Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath Nominated 4th June 1815’, generally extremely fine (6) £50000-60000

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

This rare group first sold at Debenham’s in February 1901, and subsequently at Glendining’s in December 1901 and July 1927.

Jean Pierre Galiffe was born on 23 September 1767, a member of an old French family living in Geneva, Switzerland. At the age of seventeen he received a commission, and later became 1st Lieutenant in the Swiss Regiment of Chateauvieux, with which he went to Germany, after the massacre of the Swiss Guard on 10th August 1792 and the fall of King Louis XVI, in order to join the army of the Princes or that of Conde. However, he was shortly afterwards called back to Geneva, together with the other Geneva officers and men, to the defence of their city during the siege by General de Montsequiou. After the downfall of the Government of Geneva, Galiffe joined the Dutch service and took part in the disastrous campaign of 1794-95, first as a Volunteer Officer, later as Captain in the Red Hussars of Timmerman, and finally as Aide de Camp to the Princes of Orange, with whom he went to Germany to organize a new army. When the French overran Holland, he went to England and after serving for a few months as a Subaltern in the 6th West India Regiment, he was transferred in October 1796 to the York Rangers, with the rank of Captain. This regiment was disbanded in the following year and some of the officers, including Galiffe, were transferred to the 60th Regiment. At the close of 1797, a 5th Battalion was added to the 60th, clothed in green and equipped as a Rifle Corps. To this battalion Galiffe was appointed, and served therein until its disbandment in 1818.

He accompanied the 5/60th in the expedition to Surinam in 1804 and afterwards to Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1808 he received the brevet rank of Major and proceeded to the Peninsula with his battalion which formed one of the original units of the force under Sir Arthur Wellesley. Major Galiffe was present at every action with Wellington throughout the Peninsular campaigns. After Fuentes de Onor, 16 May 1811, he had a remarkable piece of good fortune, for in conjunction with a party of Artillerymen, and accompanied by Rifleman Daniel Loochstadt, of the 5/60th and doubtless his servant, he was immediately despatched to inspect the three Rifle Companies in Beresford’s Army Corps. Galiffe arrived at his destination just in time to take part in the battle of Albuhera on 16 May 1811. It happened, in consequence, that he was the only combatant officer who received medal clasps both for Fuentes and Albuhera, as too did Rifleman Loochstadt who received the silver medal with 15 clasps for the actions he shared with Galiffe.

Galiffe was wounded at Talavera, and had at first been reported killed at Salamanca, where he received no less than five wounds. Some other sources state that he was also wounded at Rolica, Vittoria and Toulouse. From the beginning of the campaign of 1813 until the end of the war in 1814, he commanded the 5th Battalion, and in March 1814 was given the brevet rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. At the end of the war he took the remnant of the Riflemen back to Ireland.

It is stated that ‘John Galiffe’s brilliant conduct in command of the light troops of Picton’s Fighting Third Division, called forth the applause of that distinguished general and the admiration of his brothers-in-arms.’ In Wellington’s Supplementary Despatch, Vol. VIII, he is mentioned in laudatory terms as leading the advance of the 3rd Division at the battle of Nivelle. Galiffe also commanded the battalion at Vittoria, the Pyrenees, the Nive, Orthes and Toulouse, but was awarded no gold clasp for either the Pyrenees or the Nive; nor did he get one for Albuhera, although the senior Rifle Officer present.

During the ‘Hundred Days’ Galiffe was in Switzerland and was given command of a Swiss regiment, but whether it was engaged on active service is not known. He was nominated a Companion of the Bath on 4 June 1815. In 1819, Galiffe was given the military command of Halifax, and afterwards of the Bermudas, from 1821 to 1824. After leaving the Bermudas he finally held the command, for a short period, of Berbice, in British Guyana. In 1825 he was appointed to the command of the 2nd Battalion of the 60th, but retired six months later. He resided in Geneva until his death on 21 November 1847. He died without seeing the Silver Medal given that same year, but Queen Victoria sent it with a kind letter to his widow. The group is sold with a modern watercolour portrait by the noted military artist Pierre Turner.