Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Hannover Waterloo 1815 (Husar Heinrich Scheelke, Hus. Rgt. Herzog v. Cumberland) fitted with replacement steel clip and ring suspension, , nearly very fine £300-350

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

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Collection

The Cumberland Hussars from Hanover were a dandy regiment composed entirely of decorative young gentlemen, distinguished for their handsome appearance and complete equipments. Positioned behind the right centre in reserve, the regiment was watching the battle unfold when they took some casualties (about 50 killed and wounded) from artillery fire that they found disconcerting. It seems probable that the Colonel of the regiment had no intention of taking his men into battle, for when a request was made for him to support a British cavalry charge, he delayed the act through unnecessary ceremonial manoeuvres. At a request from Wellington to either advance or remove his regiment from the field, the Colonel tore himself away and raced with his regiment to Brussels. The entire regiment was afterwards disbanded in disgrace and the Colonel cashiered for cowardice.