Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Albuhera, Vittoria, Toulouse (E. R. Story, Capt. 3rd Dgn. Gds.) extremely fine £2000-3000

Edmund Richard Story was gazetted Cornet in the 3rd Dragoon Guards on 12 October 1803, and promoted Lieutenant in March 1806 and Captain in December 1809. He served in the Peninsula with the 3rd Dragoon Guards from November 1809 until April 1814, and was present at the battle of Busaco, actions of Redinha, Campo Mayor and Los Santos, siege of Badajoz, battle of Albuhera, the action of Usagre, sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, action near Salamanca on the 26th May 1813, battle of Vittoria, blockade of Pampeluna, and battle of Toulouse (Medal with three Clasps).

Storey was mentioned in a despatch from Major-General Slade for his part in a skirmish in 1812, as described in the regimental history:

‘On the 1st of July the regiment had another opportunity of signalizing itself in conflict. A strong body of French cavalry having succeeded in driving in the Spanish out-posts, was threatening the safety of the British camp at Albuhera, which 1812 was covered by the THIRD DRAGOON GUARDS, when a picquet of about twenty men of the regiment, under the command of Captain E. R. Story, who perceived the extreme danger of the camp and the necessity of a check, stood the charge of the French squadrons; and having ultimately received a reinforcement of a squadron of the regiment, under Captain Watts, repulsed the attack, charged in turn, and finally compelled the enemy to retreat, recovering, at the same time, the prisoners which the French had taken in the first onset. On this occasion Lieutenant Ellis, one serjeant, one trumpeter, and two private men of the picquet, were killed; and Captain Watts, whose squadron reinforced the picquet, was wounded. This important and valuable service, performed at so critical a moment, occasioned an order for every man of the THIRD DRAGOON GUARDS to be supplied with an extra ration of rum; and the following brigade order was published on the same day.

“Major-General Slade is most happy in the opportunity which the Third Dragoon Guards have afforded him of thanking them for the gallantry and steadiness with which they repulsed an attack made by the enemy's cavalry this afternoon; particularly the picquet under the command of Captain E. R. Story, and the supporting squadron, commanded by Captain Watts. He requests those officers, with the officers and men under their command, will be pleased to accept his grateful acknowledgments.

The Major-General particularly regrets the loss of Lieutenant Ellis, who nobly fell at the head of his men: he has also to lament Captain Watts being wounded, but he hopes not dangerously so, and that the regiment will not be deprived of his services long.”’

Promoted to Major in August 1822, Storey became Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1831, and Colonel in November 1846, having been on half-pay since September 1838. He died at Brompton on 3 July 1851, aged 67.