A good Waterloo Medal 1815, fitted with original clip and ring suspension awarded to Private John Powell, 1st Battalion, 95th Regiment of Foot – Rifles, who would serve with Captain H. Lee’s company during the Battle. Heavily engaged around the gravel pit at La Haye Sainte the 1st Battalion would suffer 220 casualties out of a total strength of 604 or 36% of its strength.
Waterloo Medal 1815, fitted with original clip and ring suspension; (JOHN POWELL. 1ST BATT. 95TH REG. FOOT.)
Condition: edge-bruising and contact wear throughout, thus Fine
John Powell (or Powle as per the medal roll) was born near Bulley, Gloucester in 1796, and enlisted on 5th June 1812 aged 16. He would serve at the Battle of Waterloo being present in Captain H. Lee’s company, as part of the 1st Battalion, 95th Regiment of Foot.
1st Battalion, 95th Regiment of Foot saw fighting at Quatre Bras on 16th June 1815 and was heavily engaged during the main battle just two days later, being engaged in a gravel pit near La Haye Sainte and suffering 220 casualties out of a total strength of 604 (36%). Initially outflanked by Bourgeois’ brigade, they had been forced to retreat from the pit, before the subsequent withdrawal of Bourgeois’ troops allowed the battalion to retake the positions. In the afternoon of the battle they would fire into the flank of the massed cavalry attacks that were thrown at the eastern side of the farm.
Powell would serve until discharged in 1836, and was granted an extra 2 years towards his pension having fought at Waterloo. He was discharged as having chronic disease of the chest in 1836.