Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Corunna (M. Hefferman, Serjt. 1st Foot, Royals) edge bruising, otherwise better than very fine £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late John Darwent.

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Michael Hefferman volunteered for the 2nd Battalion, 1st Foot, from the Prince of Wales’s Fencibles in the garrison of Gibraltar, on 8 February 1802. He was promoted to Corporal two days later and remained at Gibraltar until April 1803, when he returned to the U.K. before embarking on an expedition to the West Indies the following month. He subsequently served in the West Indies on the islands of Tobago, Barbados, and Trinidad until the end of 1805. He was then mainly employed on recruiting duties in Ireland, becoming Sergeant in April 1806, and transferring to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Foot, on 25 September 1806. With this battalion he served on Sir John Moore’s expedition to Portugal and Spain, culminating in the retreat to and battle of Corunna in January 1809. After his evacuation to England he was stationed at Chelmsford and is last traced in the musters for June 1809. The published rolls incorrectly show his entitlement as being for Egypt, whereas the original PRO roll quite clearly shows Corunna. Sold with muster details.