Orders, Decorations and Medals

An original Peninsular War letter from Ensign William Burrard, 1st Foot Guards, who died of wounds received in the assault on San Sebastian in August 1813: his father, General Sir Harry Burrard, Bt., is said to have died of a broken heart after receiving the news, for both of young William’s brothers also fell in action in the Peninsula, ink, dated at ‘Villa Franca, Octr. 11th 1812’, three sides on a single folded sheet of paper, the fourth folded side addressed to his mother, ‘Lady Burrard, Calshot Castle, nr. Fawley, Southampton, England’, with additional notation, ‘Ingleterra via Coruna’, and green ‘Falmouth Packet’ stamp. The contents discussing a recent march and his new quarters, a hospital and former monastery (‘The French destroyed some part of it but I have two very good apartments which they left untouched’), and then hurriedly signed off owing to the fact he had been asked to dine with Colonel Griffiths, torn where wax seal was removed on opening, otherwise in good overall condition £80-120