Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 11 clasps, Martinique, Albuhera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse (John Williams, 23rd Foot) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £1600-1800

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

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John Williams was born at Llanfor, near Balla, Merioneth, and enlisted into the 23rd Foot on the Isle of Wight on 23 April 1805, aged 23 years. He was discharged at Dublin on 11 June 1823, in consequence of ‘being old and worn out and having received a gun shot wound in left cheek at the siege of St Sebastian in Spain.’ He had served a total of 20 years 50 days, including one year in the West Indies and two years allowed for Waterloo, where he served in the Grenadier Company. John Williams returned to his home town of Llanfor where he died on 27 January 1864, aged 87 years. His grave in the Parish churchyard has a headstone inscribed, ‘In memory of John Williams, Pensioner 23rd Royal Welch Fusileers Regiment of Foot. Died 27th day of January 1864 aged 87 years. He fought for his country at 27 battles among which were Martinique, Albuhera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse, Waterloo.’ Sold with copy discharge papers and photographs of his headstone. It should be noted that there are three other men by this name who got the M.G.S. medal, and seven men of this name on the roll for Waterloo.