Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (Corp. James Dawkins 15th or King’s Reg. Hussars.) pierced at 12 o’clock and fitted with contemporary silver barrel and straight bar suspension, some edge bruising, otherwise nearly very fine £1,400-£1,800

Provenance: Sotheby, February 1879 and June 1884.

James Dawkins was born in the Parish of Wellar, Wiltshire, and enlisted for the 15th Hussars at Winchester on 17 January 1805, aged 18 years, a carpenter by trade. He served 10 years 97 days as a Private, 9 years 27 days as a Corporal, and 2 years and 133 days as a Sergeant which, adding 2 years service for Waterloo, counted for a total service of 24 years 4 months. His statement of service in fact gives service from 25 December 1804, until his discharge at Dublin, in the rank of Sergeant, on 13 May 1827, in consequence of ‘length of service & worn out’. His conduct was described as having been ‘Extremely good. He served in the Peninsula, at Corruna (sic) and in the campaigns of 1813 & 14.’ He was granted an out-pension one shilling, sixpence halfpenny on 3 June 1827, to be paid at Bath.

Sergeant James Dawkins is among the names listed in the Regimental History by Wyllie as one of the ‘N.C.O.s and men who specially distinguished themselves in the Peninsula, South of France and Waterloo.’

In 1808 the regiment embarked to join Sir John More's army in Spain and reached Corunna in November, where they formed a brigade with the 7th and the 10th Hussars under Brigadier-General Slade. General More advanced his army, but receiving little support from the Spanish, and facing a French army of 300,000 men, he soon withdrew, with the cavalry covering the withdrawal. In deep snow, the Brigade charged a large force of French dragoons at Sahagun. In December and January, as the British fell back, the cavalry were constantly in action in snow and ice. Even when the British reached the comparative safety of Corunna, the cavalry were posted forward as a defensive screen. The British were evacuated from the beaches, and sadly 400 of the Regiment's horses were shot to prevent them falling into the hands of the French. The reference to ‘Corruna’ in Dawkins’ discharge papers is clearly a reference to the Corruna campaign in general and not to the battle itself in which the 15th Hussars took no part.

In 1813 the 15th Hussars were distinguished at Vittoria, and in 1814 at Orthes and Toulouse.

On the fateful morning of 18 June 1815, the 15th Hussars formed a section of the British front line near Hougoumont Farm, astride the Nivelle Road.

‘... a large body of Cuirassiers and other cavalry were seen carrying all before them on the open ground between Hugomont and La Haye Saint, and their Lancers were shouting in triumph. The brigade instantly moved towards its former post, and the 13th and the 15th charged and drove back the Cuirassiers, with the most distinguished gallantry, for some distance.’

After the battle, in which the 15th Hussars lost 3 officers and 25 other ranks killed, together with 42 horses, and 7 officers (including Colonel Dalrymple) and 43 other ranks wounded, together with 52 horses, the Regiment pursued the French to Cambray and then to Paris, returning to England in May 1816.

Marching north to deal with civil unrest in the Midlands, the Regiment moved to Nottingham, Birmingham and Wolverhampton. In August 1819, the Regiment was involved in the notorious Peterloo Massacre in Manchester, where they were ordered to charge a crowd of some 80,000 protesters supporting the radical reformist M.P. Henry Hunt. 15 civilians were killed and some 500 reportedly injured.

Sold with copied discharge papers.