Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Peninsula War medal awarded to Sergeant John Regan, 28th Foot, a veteran of the battle of Waterloo who settled in Australia following his service there with the 28th Foot and ultimate discharge at Parramatta in February 1838

Military General Service 1793-1814, 8 clasps, Busaco, Albuhera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (John Regan, Serjt. 28th Foot) minor edge bruising, hairlines and surface marks, otherwise very fine £2,600-£3,000

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

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Provenance: Noble Numismatics Sale 101, November 2012.

John Regan was born in the Parish of Donneraile, County Cork, and attested for the 28th Foot at Limerick on 22 January 1807, aged 15 years. He was promoted to Corporal on 12 June 1811, and to Sergeant on 13 December 1813, but was reduced to Private for two months in March 1815 before being restored to Sergeant on 21 May 1815, in which rank he served for the remainder of his Army service. He served ‘Six years in the Peninsula, nine months in Belgium and France, twelve years in the Ionian Islands, two years and four months in New South Wales, and the remainder at Home. Was a Corporal One Year and One hundred and Eighty Four days, a Serjeant Twenty Four Years and Seventeen days.’ He was a Sergeant in Captain Charles Cadell’s Company at Waterloo for which he received 2 years additional service.

Sergeant Regan embarked with the 28th Foot for Australia aboard the Aurora which left London on 4 June 1835, and arrived in Sydney on 3 November 1835. He was discharged at Parramatta on 16 February 1838, with character ‘most excellent’. His M.G.S. medal with 8 clasps was sent to him at ‘South Head Road, Sydney’ and, shortly after receipt of the medal, in November 1849 he wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald describing his newly issued medal (which he believed to be the very first received by any non commissioned officer or private in the colony) and encouraging others to apply if eligible. In 1858, he is listed in Sands Directory as a ‘Dealer in Colonial Produce’, at 156 South Head Road, Sydney. His place and date of death has not yet been established due to other men of this name being in the Sydney area. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.