Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Richard Smyth, 61st Foot, who was wounded in the head at Salamanca, took part in every action in which the regiment was engaged in the Peninsula and ‘always conducted himself gallantly’

Military General Service 1793-1814, 8 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Salamanca, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (Richd. Smyth, Serjt. 61st Foot) a little polished, otherwise nearly very fine £3000-3500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Napoleonic War Medals.

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Provenance: Glendining, July 1965.

One of only four medals to the regiment with their full tally of clasps for the Peninsula.

Richard Smyth/Smith was born in the Parish of Minchinhampton, Stroud Water, Gloucestershire, and enlisted into the 61st Foot at Horsham, Sussex, on 20 August 1807, a Saddler by trade. He served as a Private for 10 years before being promoted to Corporal in August 1817, and to Sergeant in June 1818. He served in Jamaica from December 1816 to June 1819, and was discharged there on 24 June to return to England, receiving his final discharge on 26 October 1819, in consequence of being supernumerary to the establishment and ‘wounded in the head at Salamanca’. His conduct was described as being ‘Exemplary and praiseworthy. Was in every action in which the Regiment was engaged during its service in the Peninsula, and in which actions he always conducted himself gallantly’.

Richard Smyth was admitted to an out-pension at Chelsea Hospital on 15 December 1819, and lived in retirement at Minchinhampton, where he died of bronchitis on 22 December 1861.

Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.