Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Maida (A. McPherson, Serjt. Major, 78th Foot.) toned, good very fine £1500-2000

‘Lieutenant Allan Macpherson, Esquire, of Orillia [Ontario, Canada] was one of that gallant band of heroes who defended the honour of Britain during the eventful period of the French revolution to the peace of 1815, and whose deeds of valour form one of the most splendid pages in the annals of British history. Of those noble veterans, a scattered remnant, fast disappearing before the onsets of death, is still to be found in the recesses of our forest land, and forms an influential and interesting portion of our people. Lieutenant Macpherson fought at the battle of Maida, in the 78th Highlanders, that gallant corps which has, under the immortal Havelock, achieved for itself such undying fame. For his brave conduct at that action he received a medal. He subsequently accompanied his regiment to Egypt, where he suffered severely from opthalmia, like many of his fellow soldiers in that land. He next assisted in forming and drilling the Royal Sicillian Regiment, of which he was the adjutant.

He was put on half-pay in 1815, came to Canada in 1835, and thus exchanged the sword for the ploughshare. He became one of our most spirited and enterprising settlers. A Highlander by birth, he possessed much of the spirit of his countrymen, warm-hearted, friendly, and energetic.’ (Ref: Sketches of Celebrated Canadians, and Persons Connected with Canada, Henry J. Morgan, 1865).