The Collection of Napoleonic War Medals formed by the late R.W. Gould, M.B.E.

A superb C.B., K.C.H. and Army Gold Medal group awarded to General Sir William Davy, 5th Battalion 60th Foot

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge in gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1815, maker’s mark ‘IE’ for John Edwards, complete with wide swivel-ring gold straight suspension and gold ribbon buckle; The Royal Guelphic Order, K.C.H. (Military) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge with swords in gold and enamels, and breast star with swords in silver, silver-gilt, gold and enamels; Field Officer’s Gold Medal 1808-14, for Roleia, Vimiera & Talavera, 1 clasp, Talavera (Major Willm. Gabriel Davy, 5th Batn. 60th) complete with gold ribbon buckle, good very fine and better (4) £25000-30000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Napoleonic War Medals formed by the late R.W. Gould, M.B.E..

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William Gabriel Davy was born in 1780, eldest son of Major Davy, of the Hon. East India Company’s Service, who was Persian Secretary to the Right Hon. Warren Hastings. Davy was educated at Eton, and in 1797 received a commission in the 61st Regiment. In January 1802 he became Captain in the 5th Battalion 60th Rifles, and in February 1807, Major, passing over the heads of thirteen Captains who were presumably too poor to purchase the step of promotion. Upon Lieutenant-Colonel Baron de Rothenburg being appointed to the staff in May 1808, Davy assumed command of the Battalion. The 5th Battalion of the 60th Rifles embarked at Cork for the Peninsular on 12 July 1808, and landed at Mondego Bay on 1 August, being the very the first unit ashore.

The 5th/60th were in the thick of the action near Rolica, as described by Colonel Leach of the 95th: ‘The 60th and ourselves attacked the enemy’s right, and threw in so destructive a fire on their column, such as we could get within shot of, as to make them retreat in great disorder. You cannot conceive, nor can anyone who was not present on that day, the situation of ourselves and the 60th. We had to ascend first one mountain so covered with brushwood that our legs were ready to sink under us; the enemy on the top of it were lying down in the heath keeping up a hot and constant fire in our face, and the men falling all around us. Before we could gain the summit the French had retired to the next hill where they again lay concealed and kept up a running galling fire on us as we ascended. Having beaten them off the second hill and taken possession of it, the enemy retreated to a wood, there being a valley between us and it, and commenced a most tremendous fire, having received a reinforcement. The action now became very severe (and) ... lasted till ... the evening.’

In his despatch Wellesley remarked: ‘I must observe that although we had such a superiority of numbers employed in the operations this day, the troops actually engaged in the heat of the action were from unavoidable circumstances only the 5th, 9th, 29th, the Riflemen of the 95th and 60th, and the flank companies of Major-General Hill’s Brigade; being a number by no means equal to that of the enemy: their conduct therefore deserves the highest commendation.’

Whilst halted at Vimiera, awaiting the arrival of his newly appointed superior, Sir Harry Burrard, Wellesley ordered the 5th/60th to supply at least one company to each Brigade to act as advance guard and skirmishers. This reorganization meant that there were no battalion actions fought by the 5th/60th, but men of the battalion were present at almost every fight. In the subsequent victory at Vimiera the Rifles lost 14 men killed, and two officers and 22 men wounded. But their skill in marksmanship and light infantry tactics had indeed vindicated their raison d’être. A French officer, taken prisoner, quoted by George Simmons in A Rifle Man, says: ‘I was sent out to skirmish against some of them in green - grasshoppers I call them, you call them Riflemen. They were behind every bush and stone and soon made sad havoc among my men; killing all the officers of my company, and wounding myself without being able to do them any injury.’

For his part Davy received high praise from the likes of Lord Castlereagh, the Secretary of State, and others, as evidenced by a letter
from Baron de Rothenburg, who naturally wrote in terms of delight: ‘My dear Davy, ‘... You may easily conceive how highly I have
been gratified by reading in the papers of your distinguished conduct in the field. The Duke of York spoke to me in high terms of the
Battalion, and I must sincerely congratulate you on the honour and glory you have acquired. I always told you that you might depend
upon the bravery of my disciples...’
The closing months of 1808 were, however, marred by an incident that caused a dark shadow to fall over the reputation hard gained by
the Battalion in Portugal. Subsequent to the Convention of Cintra, whereby the French army was evacuated from Portugal back to
France, Major Davy applied to the Commander-in-Chief for permission to enlist in his battalion deserters from the French army, and
shortly afterwards some hundred of them were sent to the 5th Battalion of the 60th. Five companies of the Battalion which had been
detached for duty under Major Woodgate with General Hope’s Division in the neighbourhood of Elvas, were now detached for duty
with Lord Bentinck’s Brigade. It was not unnatural that as soon as the men recruited from Junot’s army got an opportunity they deserted
to their old friends, and so Davy was deeply mortified when he announced in a Regimental Order on 13 October 1808, ‘It is with deep
concern that the Major discharges a most painful part of his duty - that of announcing to the Battalion that in consequence of the
misbehaviour of the five Companies detached, they have been sent back to Lisbon. Under these distressing circumstances the Major
calls upon every individual of the Regiment to use his utmost efforts to vindicate and maintain the well-merited reputation that the
Battalion has acquired in the field: and doubts not that with the cordial co-operation of the whole they will be able to do away that
disgrace which must otherwise for ever reflect upon the character of the Battalion. This order to be read in German.’
Major Davy was ordered to concentrate the whole Battalion in Portugal and himself undertook the task of restoring the efficiency of the
Battalion; ‘I shall not lose a moment to effect these objects, but I think one month or at least three weeks will be required’, he advised
Brigadier-General Sontag, before the Battalion should again be be sent on active service. Every care was taken by Major Davy for the
maintenance of an efficient system of discipline and interior economy. Daily parades in camp for purposes of inspection were ordered
whether the Battalion was on the march or halted. Supplies of clothing were, however, evidently inefficient, so much so that Davy
found himself obliged to authorise the men to cut away the skirts of their jackets and patch up the upper part.
In May 1809 the issue of the following General Order gave evidence that the confidence of Sir Arthur Wellesley in his Riflemen was in
no way diminished by the cloud which had momentarily shadowed the battalion:- ‘The Commander of the Forces recommends the
Companies of the 5th Battalion of the 60th Regiment to the particular care and attention of the Gerneral Officers commanding the
Brigades of Infantry to which they are attached. They will find them to be most useful, active and brave troops in the field, and that
they will add essentially to the strength of the Brigades. Major Davy will continue to superintend the economy and discipline of the
whole Battalion, and for this purpose will remain with that part of the Army which will be most convenient to him with that object.’
At the ensuing battle of Talavera, fought over two days and a night, Davy’s riflemen performed with great distinction, six of their
officers being wounded, and Davy was mentioned by name in Wellesley’s subsequent despatch. He was promoted to Lieutenant-
Colonel in December 1809 and transferred to the 7th Garrison Battalion, but Davy never again went on active service. He was created
a Companion of the Bath in June 1815, and received the honour of a knighthood from King William IV in 1836, as a Knight
Commander of the Guelphic Order. Promoted to Major-General in July 1830 and to Lieutenant-General in November 1841, he was
appointed Colonel Commandant of the 1st Battalion of the 60th Rifles in November 1842. He received his final promotion to full
General in June 1854, and died at Tracy Park, Gloucestershire, on 25 January 1856.