Orders, Decorations and Medals

WATERLOO 1815 (Serj. Ben. Detheridge, 2nd Batt. 30th Reg. Foot) fitted with silver clip and small ring suspender, some light edge bruises, otherwise very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Important Collection of Waterloo Medals.

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Benjamin Detheridge was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, and enlisted there in June 1799 at the age of eighteen. He was on board the transport ship Jenny when it was driven on shore by a gale near Gravelines, to the east of Calais, in December 1805. Four officers and 103 men, including Detheridge, were taken prisoner by the French and sent to Verdun where they arrived on 5 January 1806. Here they remained as prisoners of war until the peace of 1814, but one or two escaped and more died before that time. During their long captivity at Verdun, the prisoners were fed on horseflesh, and they were in the habit of using as small change among themselves, the teeth of the horses killed for their rations. 63 of these men who rejoined in 1814, after nearly eight years in captivity, were to fight at Waterloo a year later. Among them was Sergeant Detheridge who was twice wounded, in the right arm and in the right leg. In consequence of his wounds he was discharged in May 1817, at Fermoy.