The Collection of Medals formed by the late John Darwent

Military General Service 1793-1814, 11 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse (William Gunn, 14th Light Dragoons) extremely fine £2500-3000

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

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William Gunn was born at Rodbury, near Stroudwater, Gloucestershire (now Rodborough, near Stroud), circa 1786. He enlisted into the 14th Light Dragoons at Stroudwater on 3 December 1805, aged 19 years, a wool dyer by trade. He served 27 years 171 days, including 5 years 6 months in the Peninsula and 7 months in America, being present with the regiment ‘in its several engagements and skirmishes in the Peninsula from December 1808 until the battle of Toulouse in 1814.’ Gunn received a sabre wound in the left elbow joint on 11 July 1810.

In the action of 11 July 1810, at Villa de Puerco, 3 squadrons of the 14th Light Dragoons, 2 of the 16th Light Dragoons, and 1 of German Hussars, on emerging from a narrow rocky defile encountered enemy infantry in square. Ordered to charge by General Crauford, the leading squadron led by Lieutenant-Colonel Neil Talbot broke on the bayonets of the square.

‘Colonel Talbot, at the head of the 14th Light Dragoons, rode gallantly at and charged the little phalanx with great impetuosity, but without being able to break it. No troops on earth could have conducted themselves with greater gallantry than the old and often tried 14th Light Dragoons; and in so determined a manner did this distinguished corps make their charge, that Colonel Talbot, whose body I saw a few minutes after he was killed, bore the marks not only of bullets but of bayonets; and it is equally true, that he and many of his brave followers who actually reached the square, met their death by the bayonets of this invincible little body of Frenchmen.’

In this affair the 14th Light Dragoons had, in addition to Colonel Talbot, one warrant officer and 11 men killed, and 23 men wounded, including William Gunn who clearly made it to the French square judging by the nature of his wound. He was discharged at Portobello Barracks, Dublin, on 22 May 1833, having been found unfit for further service due to apoplexy. According to Balmer, he was awarded a regimental medal, ref R.78. Sold with copy discharge papers.