Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

43rd Light Infantry, cross pattée struck in silver, 41mm, obv: in a circle in the centre ‘43’, on the arms ‘Peninsula’ ‘Vimiera’ ‘Corunna’ ‘Busaco’, all within a slightly raised border; rev: engraved in running script ‘C. McGowran’, suspended from a small loop and ring with straight bar suspension [Balmer R347], very fine and extremely rare £400-£500

Provenance: Debenhams, January 1904 and January 1905; Glendining’s, May 1905; Winchester College Collection 1960.

Only six examples recorded, two of which are in the Royal Green Jackets Museum.

McGowan claimed and received the Military General Service medal with 12 clasps for Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, and Toulouse.

Charles McGowan (McGowran) was born in the Parish of Black Patrick, Strabane, County Tyrone, and attested for the 43rd Light Infantry at Strabane on 2 August 1807, aged 19, a labourer by trade. He was discharged at Waterford on 13 October 1833, with 26 years 72 days total service. His conduct was described as ‘very good’ and his discharge papers record that he served ‘In Portugal from August 1808 to January 1809; Spain and Portugal from May 1809 to June 1814; Army of Occupation in France from June 1815 to October 1818; Portugal from January 1827 to March 1828; Gibraltar 7 years. Wounded in the Right Leg at Badajoz on the 6th April 1812, and was one of the Storming Party there. Was present at the Battles of Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, Ciudad Rodrigo, Vittoria, Nivelle, Busaco, Almeida, Toulouse, capitulation of Paris, Sabugal.’

He was examined at Chelsea Hospital on 13 November 1833, and admitted to an out-pension of one shilling twopence halfpenny, due to ‘impaired constitution’, residing and collecting his pension in Liverpool. He died in Liverpool on 5 August 1849. Sold with copied discharge papers and pension records.