Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Field Officer’s Gold Medal pair awarded to Lieutenant General Sir Henry John Cumming, 11th Light Dragoons, later Colonel of the 12th Lancers
The Royal Guelphic Order, K.C.H. (Military) breast star with swords, in silver with appliqué centre in gold and enamels, the sword hilts in gold, the blades in silver, the reverse of the star inscribed ‘Metcalf, Insignia Maker, 8 Pall Mall’; Field Officer’s Small Gold Medal, for Salamanca (Coll. Henry John Cumming) complete with gold ribbon buckle, the first very fine, the second extremely fine (2)

Henry John Cumming entered the service as a Cornet in the 11th Light Dragoons in 1790. He served in Flanders and Holland from 1793 until the end of June 1795, and was present at every siege, battle, or general action the British army was engaged in during that period. He again served in Holland in 1799, and was present at the different actions of that campaign; for his share in the action of the 6th October he received the public approbation of the Duke of York. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel in 1803, Colonel, by Brevet, in 1812, and to Major General on 4 June 1814.

In May 1811, he embarked in command of the 11th Light Dragoons for Portugal, where he remained with his regiment for two years and, with the exception of the siege of Badajoz, was present at whatever took place during that period. He was severely wounded by a sabre cut in the arm in the action of the 25th September 1811, in which he ranked next to the General officers there engaged. He received the approbation of the Duke of Wellington for his conduct on that occasion. Colonel Cumming commanded the 11th Light Dragoons at the battle of Salamanca on 22 July 1812, for which he received a Gold Medal. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in July 1830, and appointed to the Colonelcy of the 12th Lancers on 20 January 1837.

Sold with a fine modern watercolour by Pierre Turner representing the recipient in uniform as Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th Light Dragoons.