Auction Catalogue

6 & 7 December 2017

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 156

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6 December 2017

Hammer Price:
£3,800

Military General Service 1793-1814, 8 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Salamanca, Vittoria, St. Sebastian (J. Button, Serjeant, 9th Foot.) two edge bruises and some light marks, otherwise very fine and a rare ‘forlorn hope’ man £3000-4000

Only two medals issued with this combination of clasps, both to the 9th Foot.

Joseph Button was born at Blandford, Dorset, in about 1789. He enlisted into the 9th Foot on 16 December 1804, and was discharged on the Isle of Wight on 26 July 1814, in consequence of ‘amputated left thigh from wound at St Sebastian’. He served as a private for 6 years 5 days, as corporal 243 days, and as a sergeant for 3 years 184 days. His commanding officer noted ‘Serjeant Joseph Button is a most excellent non-commissioned officer, a very gallant soldier, and deserving of the highest rate Pension’. That he twice volunteered for the ‘forlorn hope’ is confirmed by the following extract from Letters of Private Wheeler 1809-1828, edited by B. H. Liddell Hart (published 1951):

‘Mr. Gratten has written so much more about Ensign Dyas 51st and Lieut. Mackie 38th being passed over without promotion. What is to be thought of the following statement of Sergeant Button 9th Foot. He is one of the remnant of the old Peninsula Army and was present in the following actions, sieges, storms, besides affairs and skirmishes.

Rolica 17 August 1808 - Private
Vimeira 21 August 1808 - Private
La Coruna 1809 - Private
Busaco 27 September 1810 - Corporal
Fuentes D'Onoro 15 May 1811 - Serjeant
Cuidad Rodrigo January 1812 - Serjeant
Badajos 17 March and 6 April 1812 Private, volunteered 'forlorn hope' and Promoted Serjeant
Salamanca 22 July 1812 - Serjeant
Vittoria 21 June 1813 - Serjeant
San Sebastian August and September 1813 volunteered 'forlorn hope' lost left leg and wounded right leg by grape

He was 10 years 8/12 in the 9th. Foot. His brilliant service was rewarded by a pension of what? 3/6 per day – no, only 1/3 per day. This fine old veteran is now employed as a Toll collector in the Bath Turnpike Trust and might be seen on any day at some of the turnpike gates about Bath. (Bath 14 July 1847)’

Joseph Button, ‘late Sergeant 9th Foot Regiment’, died at Box, Wiltshire, on 17 April 1870, aged 81 years.

Sold with comprehensive research, including copied discharge papers and regimental muster and pay lists, all saved on two CDs.