Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Field Officer’s Gold Medal awarded to Major Thomas Laing, 94th Foot, a veteran of the Mysore campaign and the capture of Seringapatam in 1799, he was severely wounded with the storming party at Ciudad Rodrigo; affectionately known as ‘Robinson Crusoe,’ on account of his dishevelled appearance, ‘he was well liked by the soldiers being an excellent officer and brave as a lion’

Field Officer’s Gold Medal 1808-14, for Nivelle, 1 clasp, Orthes (Captn. Thos. Laing, 94th Regt.) the clasp neatly attached to the suspension and with brooch fitting to the reverse of the clasp, complete with gold ribbon buckle, nearly extremely fine £18000-22000

Thomas Laing was appointed an Ensign in the Scotch Brigade on 3 June 1795, promoted to Lieutenant on 10 February 1796. He served in India in 1799 being present in the Mysore campaign, Malavelly and at the capture of Seringapatam. He was appointed Captain in the 94th (Scotch Brigade) on 24 December 1804.

Captain Laing served in the Peninsula with the 94th continuously from February 1810 until March 1812, when he was severely wounded at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo and obliged to return home to recuperate. During that period he was present at Cadiz, Redhina, Casal Novo, Foz d’Aronce, Sabugal, Fuentes D’Onor, the 2nd siege of Badajos, and El Boden.

Having recovered from his wounds he returned to the Peninsula in November 1813 and, upon the death of Colonel Lloyd in action at Nivelle, assumed temporary command of the 94th (Gold Medal). He next took part in the battles of the Nive and, 6 January 1814, was promoted to Major, vice Lloyd, killed in action. He earned a Gold Clasp when in command of the 94th at the battle of Orthes, and afterwards took part in the actions at Vic Bigorre and Toulouse. Major Laing retired by the sale of his commission on 31 January 1815, and died at Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, on 19 December 1826. A memorial tablet survives in the walled enclosure of the East Preston Street Burial Ground, Edinburgh, which is inscribed:

‘SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MAJOR THOMAS LAING, WHO AFTER SERVING MEMORABLY FOR 20 YEARS IN HIS MAJESTY’S 94TH OR SCOTCH BRIGADE, DURING THE CAMPAIGNS IN INDIA AND THE PENINSULA WHERE HE DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AT THE CAPTURE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO, AND COMMANDED THE REGT. AT THE BATTLES OF NIVE (sic), AND ORTHES. RETIRED FROM THE SERVICE IN 1815 AND DIED ON THE 19TH DECR. 1826. REGRETTED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM. A LOVING HUSBAND, A TENDER PARENT, A TRUE FRIEND, A BRAVE SOLDIER, AN HONEST MAN.’

The 94th at Ciudad Rodrigo

Of Ciudad Rodrigo, the Commander-in-Chief wrote in his despatch to the Earl of Liverpool, dated Gallegos, 20th January, 1812:

“Major Ridge, of the second battalion Fifth regiment, having escaladed the Fausse braye wall, stormed the principal breach in the body of the place, together with the Ninety-fourth regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, which had moved along the ditch at the same time, and had stormed the Fausse braye, both in front of Major-General Mackinnon’s brigade. Thus these regiments not only effectually covered the advance from the trenches of Major-General Mackinnon’s brigade by their first movements and operations, but they preceded them in the attack.

The conduct of all parts of the third division in the operations which they performed with so much gallantry and exactness, on the evening of the 19th in the dark, affords the strongest proof of the abilities of Lieutenant-General Picton and Major-General Mackinnon, by whom they were directed and led; but I beg particularly to draw your Lordship’s attention to the conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel O’Toole, of the second Caçadores; of Major Ridge, second battalion Fifth Foot; of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, Ninety-fourth Regiment; of Major Manners, of the Seventy-fourth; and of Major Grey, second battalion Fifth Foot, who has been twice wounded during the siege.”

The casualties of the 94th at the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo were returned at: 2 Officers and 13 Other Ranks killed, 6 Officers and 48 Other Ranks wounded - a total of 69.

The officers killed were: Captain James Wiliamson of the Grenadier Company and Captain Anderson. Captain Williamson was the senior captain of the 94th, and on the day of the storming was acting as second-in-command to Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, in charge of the Right Wing. He had been seventeen years with the battalion, and had served with it all through the campaigns in India and in action on every occasion, at Seringapatam and in the Mahratta war. “He was killed,” wrote Colonel Campbell to his father, “by a musket shot through his heart and fell close to my side while valiantly cheering with his hat in his hand at the head of the grenadiers of the 94th Regiment, whom he bravely led, with that manly courage and magnanimity I have frequently seen him display, to the assault of Ciudad Rodrigo. Brave fellow! He was the first that leaped into the ditch and with Captain Laing and myself ascended and surmounted the breach...”

The officers wounded were Captain Laing (severely), and Captains Cairncross and Kyle (slightly), Lieutenants Taylor (dangerously), Cannon (slightly), and Ensign Scott (slightly). Two sergeants and nine rank and file were killed, and seven sergeants, three drummers and thirty-eight rank and file wounded.

Of one of the officers wounded, Captain Laing, Donaldson (Sergeant, 94th, The Eventful Life of a Soldier) had this to say. “We used to call him ‘Robinson Crusoe,’ from his wearing very large whiskers and always carrying a goat-skin haversack in which he kept the greater part of his necessaries, including his pipe and tobacco, of which he was very fond. The other officers rather shunned his company, from his not being very exact in his dress and being eccentric in his habits, but he was well liked by the soldiers being an excellent officer and brave as a lion.”