Orders, Decorations and Medals

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Vimiera, Barrosa, Vittoria, St. Sebastian (Thos. Rawlings, 9th Foot) edge bruising and light marks, otherwise good very fine £1200-1400

Thomas Rawlings (sometimes Rollings) was born at Walcott, near Bath, in 1784, and first served in the 2nd Somerset Militia, which he joined on 3 September 1803. He volunteered for service in the 9th Foot on 21 August 1807, being promoted to Corporal the following month. He embarked with the 2nd Battalion in July 1808, for service in the Peninsula, and soon saw action at Vimiera on 21 August. Promoted to Sergeant in December of that year, his rapid rise through the ranks came to an abrupt halt in March 1809, when he was reduced to Private, in which rank he remained for the rest of his service. Having transferred to the 1st Battalion in March 1810, he took part in the battle of Barossa on 5 March 1811, at which only a flank company of the 9th were present. This small detachment of the 9th lost half their men killed or wounded in this action and only 42 lived to claim the clasp. He was present at the battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813, and at the siege of St Sebastian, which lasted from July to September 1813. Rawlings was severely wounded at St Sebastian whilst doing “Engineer Duty”, losing his right arm above the elbow. After a period in hospital at Oyarzun, about six miles from St Sebastian, he was invalided home and discharged in England in March or April 1814. He was admitted to Chelsea Hospital on 30 August 1814, on a pension of 1 shilling a day which he received until his death on 18 December 1855, aged 71. Sold with full research.