Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 6 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes (George Riley, 6th Foot) together with damaged lid of card box of issue, good very fine £1200-1400

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

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George Riley was born at Rossendale, near Rochdale, circa 1783, and enlisted into the 6th Foot on 31 October 1806, aged 23 years. He was discharged at Chippewa, Upper Canada, on 24 February 1815, in consequence of ‘the expiration of his period of service and a severe wound of the right temple.’ A testimonial from the commanding officer of the 6th Foot, given in July 1818 in support of Riley’s application for a pension, states that ‘his conduct was uniformly good and soldierlike. I also certify that he was severely wounded in the forehead in action with the French at the Battle of Orthes on the 27th Feby. 1814. He was discharged from the regiment in Upper Canada on the 24th Feby. 1815 at which period his wound was not quite healed.’ Sold with copies of this testimonial and discharge papers.