Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (Arm. Sergt. D. Farnsworth, 3rd Bat. 1st Foot. or R. Scots) last letter of unit obscured by replacement silver ball and bar suspension, generally very fine and a rare rank £2,400-£2,800

Armourer Sergeant David Farnsworth served in Captain James Cowell’s No. 1 Company at Waterloo. No other regiment in the British army suffered greater casualties amongst its officers at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, as a percentage, than the Royal Scots. Of the 42 officers of this regiment at Waterloo, only nine remained unwounded, these including the Paymaster, the Surgeon and the two Assistant Surgeons. Seven officers were killed. Most of these casualties occurred at Quatre Bras where the regiment distinguished itself in a particular manner, receiving repeated attacks from the lancers and cuirassiers whilst formed in square. According to the muster lists Farnsworth was still serving when the battalion was disbanded at Canterbury on 24 April 1817.

It appears that he was afterwards transferred to the 1st Battalion Royal Scots and made his way to London where he was robbed of a substantial sum of money, most likely his final pay settlement from the 3rd Battalion. At the Old Bailey on 21st May, 1817, ‘Sarah Margaret Austin was indicted for stealing, on the 15th of May, from the person of David Farnsworth, one purse, value 6d.; four guineas, one half guinea, one 7-shilling coin [third-guinea], six £5 bank notes, and twenty-two £1 bank notes, his property.’

David Farnsworth made the following statement in court: ‘I am a Sergeant in the 1st Regiment of the Royal Scots. On the 15th of May, about a quarter before one o’clock in the morning, when I got to my lodgings at the Eagle and Child, in St Martins-le-Grand, they were gone to bed - I had the money in my possession. I knocked at the door, and the prisoner came up to me, and said, as I was locked out, I had better go along with her. I told her she had better go home. She caught hold of me, and put her hand into my pocket, took out my purse, and ran away down a passage. I went after her, but lost her. The watchman came up - I went to the watch-house with him, and described her to him - They said they knew her well, and went to her lodgings, and found a padlock on the door. The next morning, I saw her talking in the street to another woman, and gave her in charge. Nothing was found on her. I am positive she is the woman. I never saw her before - I knew her by her voice and person. I lost £57-1s-6d in all - £52 in notes, and the rest in gold - my purse was in my left-hand pocket.’

After further statements from watchmen and others, Sarah Austin, aged 26, was pronounced guilty and transported for seven years. Nothing further is known of Sergeant David Farnsworth.

Sold with copied medal roll entry and Old Bailey trial details.