Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

18th Light Dragoons Medal 1816, engraved silver oval medal with reeded rim, 55mm x 40mm. Obverse: ‘GR’ cypher above ‘18 L.D.’ within a Garter inscribed ‘PRO REGE. PRO LEGE. PRO PATRIA. CONAMUR.’ Reverse: ‘MILITARY MERIT REWARDED Presented to Charles Roots 18th Light Dragoons (Hussars) By his comrades in Arms, a token of their regard JUNE 1816’, and in legend below ‘WATERLOO’, with small loop and ring for suspension, good very fine
£400-£600

Referenced in Balmer R100.

Provenance: O. D. Cresswell Collection.

Charles Roots was born in 1793 and enlisted on 14 August 1809. His name appears on the supplementary pay list for Waterloo showing the men entitled to extra pay for taking part in the battle. A note on the Waterloo medal roll states that Roots was ‘With Officers Baggage, marched with the Regt. 16th. ordered to the rear 17 June.’ Some of these parties were attacked and put up a fight in defence of their charge. If the officers paid for this medal it could well be in gratitude for these services. The Waterloo medal awarded to Roots was sold at Bonhams on 3 June 2015, when it made an appearance as one of the five Waterloo medals and 3 M.G.S. medals mounted in a silver Regimental punch bowl.