Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (William Granger Royal Staff Corps.) fitted with replacement silver clip and steel ring suspension, letters ‘ff’ and ‘Co’ of unit re-engraved, edge bruising and contact marks, therefore good fine and rare £1,000-£1,200

Provenance: Whitaker Collection 1908.

Only two privates served at Waterloo with the Royal Staff Corps which otherwise comprised of nine officers under Sir William Nicolay. The Royal Staff Corps were the first British combat engineers, employed in the Peninsula in the construction of bridges and other temporary engineering works. They formed part of the advance guard of any column, to repair the roads if necessary. They destroyed bridges and roads in the withdrawal and constructed temporary field works in defence. At the capture of Badajoz, they assisted in placing the ladders for the escalade of the castle and took part in the storming of one of the bastions.