Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Military General Service 1793-1814, 8 clasps, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse (J. Sharpless, Serjt. 45th Foot) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine £1800-2200

Ex Day collection 1910, as a pair with his Army of India medal for Ava (Corpl., 45th Foot), and offered as a pair, by J. B. Hayward in March 1971 and June 1975.

John Sharples was born at Blackburn, Lancashire, and attested for the 45th Foot at Preston on 9 January 1809. He ‘served twelve years and two hundred and seven days in the East Indies, and in the Peninsula from the latter end of the Year 1811 until the Return of the Regiment to Ireland in June 1814. Wounded at the Storming of Badajoz in both hands, at Salamanca in the Right Leg, and at Toulouse above the Right Ancle, was present at the Siege and Storming of Ciudad Rodrigo and at the Battles of Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, and Orthes, and served in the Burman Empire in the Campaigns of 1825 and 1826.’

John Sharples, who was promoted to Sergeant in August 1827, was discharged on 13 November 1832, aged 39 years, with pension. His disability, according to the Surgeon’s report, appeared to be ‘arising from a Gunshot Wound contracted in and by the Service, without being attributable to neglect, Design, Vice or intemperence or Constitutional Disease and the Board concurs in the opinion of the Surgeon.’ The Medical Board noted, ‘Recommended to be Invalided - inability to move left arm in consequence of Gunshot Wound, which fractured the shoulder blade - Gunshot Wound wilfully inflicted by Private Brooks.’