Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Commander’s Chapel Stall Plate, gilded brass with engraved and painted badge of a companion, inscribed ‘Sir Loftus William Otway Knight, Colonel in the Army, Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath. Nominated 4th June 1815’, 190x115mm, with original outer paper wrapper inscribed ‘C. Sir Loftus Wm. Otway C.B.‘, extremely fine £300-400

Loftus William Otway entered the army as a Cornet in the 5th Dragoon Guards in May 1795. He was Assistant Adjutant-General in the central district in Ireland, 1797-99, and was present in the action at Vinegar Hill and in most of the affairs with the rebels in 1798. He later exchanged into the 18th Hussars and served with that regiment in Portugal and Spain during the campaign of 1808. At the affair of Rueda he commanded the detachment that attacked and carried the heights occupied by a French picquet. At Benevente he commanded the British picqutes which resisted attempts by the superior force under General Le Febvre to enter the town, thereby allowing the British cavalry to turn out of their quarters. For his important services in command of the picquets on this occasion, Otway had the honour of Knighthood conferred on him and was honourably mentioned in despatches. In 1810, he joined the Portuguese army and saw action at Busaco and Albuhera, besides other affairs. He was appointed a Companion of the Bath and a Knight of Charles III of Spain. He was subsequently appointed Colonel of the 84th Foot in 1840, and promoted to General in 1851. He claimed the M.G.S. medal for Sahagun & Benevente, Busaco, and Albuhera, and died in about 1854.