Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

48th Foot Regimental Medal 1819, 38mm, silver, inscribed on obverse scroll ‘R. Derbyshire’; reverse inscribed with 10 actions: ‘Talavera, Albuera, Rodrigo, Badajos, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyroneers [sic], Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse’, fitted with a hinged ring suspension, very fine and rare, one of Australia’s earliest recognised pieces of silver £3600-4400

Ref. Balmer R370. This medal was established by the officers of the Regiment 1819, whilst it was serving in Australia, 1817-24. The maximum number of actions is twelve, though eleven is the maximum so far recorded on a medal.

The medals were engraved by Samuel Clayton, who was transported for forgery from Ireland to Australia for seven years in 1816. A painter, engraver and silversmith by trade, he established himself in Sydney as early as January of the following year, rapidly becoming one of the finest silversmiths in the Colony. Amongst other achievements he instigated the establishment of the first Masonic lodge in New South Wales, and designed and engraved the Colony’s first banknotes. He died at Gunning, N.S.W., in 1853.

Sergeant Richard Derbyshire, from Wigan, Lancashire, lived to claim the M.G.S. medal with 10 clasps as listed above. His medal was sold at Sotheby’s in April 1902.