Auction Catalogue

20 August 2020

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The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 282

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20 August 2020

Hammer Price:
£4,200

Military General Service 1793-1814, 5 clasps, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes (P. Aubin, Ensn. 57th Foot.) nearly extremely fine £2,000-£2,600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Provenance: Glendining’s, May 1970.

Philip Aubin was baptised at St Helier, Jersey, on 9 February 1794, son of Germain Aubin and Mary Poingdistre. He was appointed Ensign in the 57th Foot, by purchase, on 14 February 1811, and was promoted to Lieutenant, without purchase, on 29 April 1813. He served in the Peninsula from November 1811 to the end of the war, including the battles of Vittoria, the Pyrenees, 25th, 28th, 30th and 31st July; Nivelle, Nive, 9th, 11th and 13th December 1813, besides many other minor actions and skirmishes.

At the battle of the Nive, on 13 December 1813, ‘the 57th being one of the three regiments [with the 31st and 66th] posted in the valley between Moguerre and St Pierre, where their front was covered by a large mill-pond. The Nive was swollen with rain, and Hill’s force of less than 14,000 men had to withstand unsupported more than double their number. The fight was fiercest round St Pierre, and the position seemed almost desperate when Colonel Cameron of the 92nd led his regiment down the road with colours flying and music playing. “At this sight the British skirmishers on the flanks, suddenly changing from retreat to attack, rushed forward and drove those of the enemy back on each side” [Napier]. Lieutenant Aubin of the 57th, who was in command of the light company of his regiment, was thanked by Cameron on the field for his share in this exploit.’ (
The Story of the Middlesex Regiment, by C. L. Kingsford, refers). He also ‘received a Captain’s year’s pay being only a Lieutenant at the time.’

‘A fortnight later, on March 18, Hill was smartly engaged with the French rearguard at Vic-en-Bigorre. Captain H. M’Laine [Hector Maclaine] of the 57th, in command of the Light Companies of Byng’s brigade, was posted that evening to guard the road from Conchez. About four o’clock it was reported that the French were approaching. “Captain M’Laine ordered the light companies to check the advance of the enemy, who, on finding themselves opposed by infantry, halted, and after maintaining a brisk fire for a short time retired to some distance for the night. On this occasion Lieutenant Aubin, commanding the 57th light company, was severely wounded” (
ibid).

He served afterwards in North America in 1814-15, and in France and Flanders in 1815-1818. Being reduced on half-pay, 23 March 1817, he returned to full-pay, paying the difference, 24 April 1817. He was appointed Adjutant on 7 April 1825, and promoted to Captain on 22 June 1826. From 1827 to 1831, Captain Aubin was in New South Wales, being in command of the guard on board the convict ship Borodino which arrived at Sydney in July 1828, his wife being among the passengers. He was military commandant at Port Macquarie, August to October 1828. In January 1829 he was in command of a detachment of the 63rd Foot on the convict ship Vittoria at Port Jackson. In August 1829 he was appointed to take charge of the Police establishments at Wallis Plains and Patterson’s Plains, to take action against bushrangers in those areas. Having been promoted to Major, by purchase, on 12 April 1831, he embarked at Sydney on board the Red Rover on 8 June 1831, together with 4 officers, 6 Sergeants and 96 rank and file of the 57th Foot, and arrived in India on 31 July 1831. Major Aubin returned to England in July 1840, and retired on full-pay on 11 February 1842. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 28 November 1854, and died at Rockingham House, St Helier, Jersey, on 7 May 1863. He is buried in the family crypt at Mont l’Abbaye, St Helier.