Auction Catalogue

19 & 20 July 2017

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 798

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20 July 2017

Hammer Price:
£5,500

A remarkable M.G.S. medal awarded to Sergeant and Drum-Major John Ford, who was enlisted into the 20th Foot as a Drummer when only four years of age and who served the campaigns in Egypt, Maida and the Peninsula whilst still ‘under age’; he was afterwards present on the Island of St Helena during Napoleon’s captivity from 1819 until his death in 1821

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Egypt, Maida, Vimiera, Corunna (John Ford, Serjt. 20th Foot.) slight buckle to clasp carriage, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine, a scarce combination £2000-2600

Provenance: G. Dalrymple White Collection 1946; Elson Collection 1963; Sotheby, February 1986.

John Ford was born in the Parish of Ashford, Kent, and was enlisted into the 20th Foot as a Drummer on 26 August 1801, on the Island of Malta, at the age of Four Years. He served as an ‘under age’ drummer until 7 May 1815, when he attained the age of 18. He was promoted to Corporal in September 1820, to Sergeant in October 1823, and to Sergeant and Drum-Major in June 1825, in which rank he continued until discharged on 31 May 1837. He served ‘In St Helena and East Indies, Seventeen years, three hundred and thirty days, and in every service and action in which the Regiment has been engaged from Naples in 1805 to the Battle of Toulouse in France in April 1814.’ The Surgeon of the 20th Foot reported a case of ‘Pulmonic Disease and General Infirmity, the effects of long and arduous service at an early age, and of a protracted service in a tropical climate afterwards, which render him permanently disqualified for Military duty.’ The Board concluded that ‘his conduct has been that of a very good and faithful Soldier; his name is enrolled in the good conduct Book.’ The medal roll confirms service in Egypt as a Drummer. Sold with copied discharge papers.