Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Quarter Master John Williamson, 30th Foot

Waterloo 1815 (Quar. Mast., 2nd Batt. 30th Reg. Foot) fitted with steel clip and ring suspension; 30th Foot Regimental Medal (Balmer R283), silver, hallmarked London 1818, oval, 79 x 64mm., obverse: ‘XXX’ on a crowned circle, within a wreath of roses and thistles; reverse: ‘To John Williamson late of H.M. 30th Regt. a token of regard and esteem from his comrades and friends 1818’ enclosed within a wreath over a Sphinx and ‘Egypt’, fitted with loop for suspension, the first with edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine, the second good very fine (2) £1000-1200

See Colour Plate VI

The first ex Payne Collection 1911, the pair ex E. G. Hawkes Collection.

An anecdote relative to this officer is given in the United Service Journal for 1838. ‘Colonel A. Hamilton, of this regiment, had a very valuable charger at Waterloo, and knowing that if it was shot in the battle he would only get the Government price, viz., £20 for another charger, he exchanged horses, before going into action at Quatre-Bras, with his steady old Quarter-Master, who, being a non-combatant, was to remain in the rear. The Quarter-Master’s horse was what is called a “safe convenience,” but the Colonel’s charger was high-spirited and fresh. Unaccustomed to the quietude of his position in the rear of the Army, he fretted and fumed at being kept back from the excitement going on in front. His rider had a bad time of it, and was a source of much amusement to the idlers and “non-effectives” in the rearward.

The narrator of this incident says that on the evening of the 16th June, 1815, Sir W. Ponsonby sent his A.D.C. to buy Hamilton’s fine charger [his owner (sic) being wounded], but the bargain hung fire in some way, and the gallant Ponsonby lost his life on the 18th June, from being badly mounted.’