Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Waterloo medal to Lieutenant E. J. Peters, 7th Hussars, who was taken prisoner at Genappe on 17th June but escaped to fight on the 18th at Waterloo when he was severely wounded

Waterloo 1815 (E. J. Peters, 7th Regiment Hussars) fitted with original steel clip and ring suspension, see note below about absence of rank on medal, some edge bruising, the obverse with contact marks from tunic button?, therefore very fine, the reverse nearly extremely fine £5000-6000

Edward James Peters was commissioned as Lieutenant in the 7th Hussars on 10 November 1813, and was severely wounded at the battle of Waterloo when he was ‘struck in the chest by a grapeshot about the size of a pigeon’s egg, taking with it part of his jacket and some of the buttons.’

Captain Thomas Wildman of the 7th Hussars mentions Lieutenant Peters several times in The Young Hussar, which documents Wildman’s journey throughout the Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns. Within this book, Lieutenant Peters and his subsequent capture and escape during the retreat through Genappe is mentioned in a letter written by Wildman to his mother:

‘...All our cavalry had come up during the night and when the arrangement was made to retire, the cavalry were ordered to cover the retreat. This movement commenced about 2 p.m. with the infantry and artillery and lastly the Cavalry moving off towards the left, so that the 7th being the right regiment covered the whole. When the infantry were all gone, the French began to move and soon after advanced with an immense column of Cavalry – the Lancers and Cuirassiers in front – three regiments of each. We skirmished with them till we had passed the village of Genappe, when they advanced so strong that it was thought necessary to charge them. This fell to the 7th and Major Hodge moved down with his squadron supported by the two others. The Lancers were however so wedged in the street of Genappe and with so large a column in their rear, that they were obliged to stand at all events and our squadron not making any impression was repulsed. When we retired, they pursued. Some men were killed and wounded. Major Hodge, Elphinstone and Meyers were made prisoners. John Wildman and Peters were also taken and stripped of their pelisses, belts, money, etc. Just at that moment the 1st Life Guards made a most gallant charge and drove the Lanciers [sic] in confusion in which the two young gents caught a couple of spare French horses and made their escape. Elphinstone got away last night and has arrived here and Lord Uxbridge sent to the enemy’s advanced post to enquire about the Major and Myers (whom report had good naturedly killed) and was informed that they were both doing well. I have no doubt that both will be exchanged very shortly…...’

William Verner, in his account of Genappe, states, ‘After a short time we were informed that Major Hodge and the Adjutant were killed and others of the officers wounded and taken prisoners, amongst them Captain Elphinstone who was taken prisoner, and Mr Peters who was dragged a length of way by his Pouch Belt, but escaped and joined the Regiment.’

The 7th Hussars were in the thick of the action at Waterloo as well. Extracts from a letter by Lieutenant O’Grady in the regimental history gives a summary of the movements of the 7th Hussars at Waterloo:

‘At daybreak on the 18th we were ordered to the extreme right of the army. We were close to the road where the hardest fighting was and had the opportunity of seeing almost the whole of this tremendous battle. In every fight I had ever seen we had acted on the offensive, but here we were attacked by double our force; we maintained our position until five or near six in the evening, repulsing every effort to break our lines and covering the field with dead. The 7th had an opportunity of showing what they could do if they got fair play, and we charged 12 or 14 times and once cut off a Squadron of Cuirassiers every man of whom we killed on the spot except the two officers, whom one Maréchal de Logis I sent to the rear….’

Captain Wildman recorded that, ‘Lieutenant Peters was struck in the chest by a grapeshot about the size of a pigeon’s egg, taking with it part of his jacket and some of the buttons.’

Lieutenant Peters was still serving in 1819 but his early demise at Astrachan, in South Russia, was reported in The New Monthly Magazine and Universal Register for 1820, Part II, July to December: ‘At Astrachan, Edward James Peters, esq. late of the 7th hussars, and son of H. Peters, esq. of Betchworth Castle, Surrey’.

Two other Waterloo medals to officers of the 7th Hussars are known in private collections without rank, namely Lieutenants Robert Douglas and John Wildman.