Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Peninsula War medal awarded to Captain Anthony Graves, 32nd Foot, Major of Brigade to the 6th Division, severely wounded at the battle of Salamanca

Military General Service 1793-1814, 5 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, Pyrenees (Anthy. Graves, Captn. 32nd Foot.) fitted with replacement suspension rod, rank has been altered from ‘Lieut.’ and naming lightly re-touched, the edge additionally engraved ‘Brigade Major 6th Division’, medal mounted on an old velvet covered display shield, toned, nearly extremely fine £2000-2500

Anthony Graves, the son of Robert Graves, Lieutenant of Grenadiers in the 68th Regiment was born at Southampton on 2 July 1789. Whilst still an infant a commission was obtained for him in the Somerset Militia, which Graves held until 1801 when a further commission was obtained through the interest of Major-General Whitelocke, a family friend. This commission appointed Graves as an Ensign in the 1st West India Regiment and came with two year’s ‘King’s leave’ to allow the 12 year old Ensign to remain at school. After a transfer to the 6th West India Regiment and an extension of his leave of absence, Graves was appointed as Ensign to the 31st Foot, and he joined the battalion at Portsmouth in February 1804. The following month he was promoted to Lieutenant and and transferred to the 12th Regiment of the Army of Reserve. In August 1804 he joined the 1st Battalion of the 32nd Foot and commenced his military career in reality. This case of obtaining a commission for a child is a classic example of the ‘corrupt administration of the affairs of the British Army at that time.’

Graves served in Ireland and saw active service for the first time in the Grenadier Company of his regiment on the expedition to Copenhagen in 1807, ‘for the capture of the Danish Fleet. On this occasion the effect of sharp ammunition was first experienced by a young soldier in a warm affair of picquets.’ He afterwards served in Gibraltar, Malta, Corsica, Sardinia, Portugal and Spain, taking part in the battles of Roleia and Vimiera. He was also present during the advance and retreat and battle of Corunna, suffering ‘a slight scratch on the head & severe fever, the effect of fatigue and hardship’.

In December 1809 he took part in the expedition to Walcheren, where he was present at the siege of Flushing and the ascent of the Scheldt. ‘During this service had several sharp affairs in command of the Grenadier Company on outposts.’ Graves, in common with many others, contracted the Walcheren fever, the severe affects of which he suffered from for the rest of his life.

In August 1811 Graves joined Wellington’s army in Portugal, and, in the following year he states that he was present at the siege and capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, and at the siege and capture of Badajoz, but these services are not confirmed elsewhere. He was appointed Brigade Major to the 1st Brigade of the 6th Division in July 1812, taking part in the siege of the forts of Salamanca. In the battle of Salamanca on 22 July, he was severely wounded - ‘in the right knee slightly by a rifle shot & right thigh severely, bone fractured by a grape shot and right hand severely, 3 fingers disabled by a Musquet Ball and horse twice wounded - laid up 6 weeks at Salamanca during which period the army advanced to Madrid and thence to Burgos - whence I again joined my Brigade - suffered severely on the retreat from thence from my wounded hands being still open.’

On 13 April 1813, Graves was promoted to Captain. He subsequently served at Pampeluna, in the battles of the Pyrenees, being wounded slightly in the calf and shoulder, the Pass of Maya and the entrance into France. In October 1813, he was invalided home in consequence of the recurrence of Walcheren fever and the effects of his wounds. Granted a Pension of £100 in respect of his wounds at Salamanca, he remained on half-pay following a reduction of his regiment until 1819, when he was appointed as Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion West York Militia, an appointment he held for 27 years. Captain Anthony Graves died at York on 2 June 1853, aged 63, and is buried in York Cemetery.

Sold with full details of Graves’ services extracted from the family Bible and transcribed by Adolphus Graves into a small exercise book, an embossed Memorial Card, a press cutting relating to the death of his son, Lieut. Alfred Graves R.N., in the storming of the Peiho Forts, China, and various other documents, all contained in an old red morocco leather wallet.