Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (James Briggs, 2nd Batt. 95th Reg. Foot.) fitted with replacement silver clip and rectangular bar suspension, some heavy edge bruising and contact wear, therefore good fine £1400-1800

James Briggs was born at Gadsby, Leicester, in about 1796. He enlisted for the 2/95th at Deal, Kent, on 5 April 1814, aged 18, a labourer by trade. He served in the Rifles until 5 April 1821, a total of 7 years 5 days, and shortly afterwards, on 26 April, he re-enlisted into the 7th Hussars, serving as a Trooper until 28 May 1829, when he was promoted to the rank of Trumpeter. He was discharged at Norwich Barracks on 13 November 1832, having completed 20 years 217 days service, including his 2 year allowance for Waterloo, at which battle he served in No. 3 (Captain MacNamara’s) Company 2/95th Foot. He also served with the Army of Occupation in France until 1818.

He was afterwards employed by the Duke of Gordon as gatekeeper/porter at Gordon Castle, Fochabers, Moray. His death was announced in the Elgin Courant, February 3rd, 1871:

‘At the Lodge of the principal entrance to Gordon Castle, on the 1st inst., Mr James Briggs, aged seventy five years.

Death of a Peninsular Hero

Another of the few remaining soldiers who fought the battles of the Peninsular in the early part of the present century has just paid the debt of nature. Mr James Briggs for forty years in the service of the Gordon and Richmond families, died at the Lodge of the principal entrance to Gordon Castle on the morning of Wednesday last. He enlisted into the Nottingham Militia in 1813. In the following year he volunteered for a period of seven years into the Rifle Brigade, with whom he took part in the battle of Waterloo. After Waterloo he served with the Army of Occupation in France. Having joined the 7th Hussars in 1821, he remained in that corps for about 12 years, at the expiry of which time he was discharged as unfit for further military service. In 1832, he was brought to Gordon Castle by the last Duke of Gordon, and since then up to the time of his death has acted as principal gate-keeper. Mr Briggs was much respected and beloved by all who knew him, and his death is much regretted. He was a faithful servant, and a great favourite with the family at the Castle. As might have been expected, he took great interest in the present war and ardently desired to see the end of the bombardment of Paris - a wish which was gratified, as he lived three days after the armistice was concluded.’

Sold with copied discharge papers and other comprehensive research.