A regimentally fine Waterloo Medal 1815 awarded to Private Thomas Pinker, 1st Battalion, formerly 2nd Battalion, 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot. A carpenter from Bristol, though other sources state Brimble in Wiltshire, he saw service with the 2nd Battalion in Ireland between 1804 and 1810, and then fought in the Peninsular War, being wounded in action through the left leg at the Battle of the Maya Heights on 25 July 1813. For the Waterloo campaign he was with the 1st Battalion as part of Captain John Bowie’s Company, and fought at the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June, and the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815. At Waterloo, his battalion, which fought in Sir Thomas Picton's 5th Division as a part of the 1st Brigade under Sir James Kempt, was heavily involved in the action which repulsed the Imperial Guard. As Napoleon realised that the Prussians were drawing nearer, he played his last ace which had never failed him before. He launched his 14000 strong reserve led by the Imperial Guard against La Haye Sainte. Despite incredible bravery it failed as it was counter attacked, and a general advance from the whole line. During this Private Wheeler of the 28th killed the French standard bearer of their 25th Regiment and proudly kept the standard for the Regiment. The 28th had lost 20 officers and 230 men over the 2 days fighting, two fifths of their total strength. They were reduced to four companies for the pursuit which ended on 10 July when they entered Paris with a victory parade down the Champs Elysses in front of the Allied Sovereigns. Pinker was later discharged in the Ionian Islands during 1819.
Waterloo Medal 1815, fitted with modified clip and ring suspension; (THOMAS PINKER, 28TH REGIMENT FOOT), with old ribbon affixed.
Condition: lightly polished with slight contact wear, overall about Good Very Fine.
Thomas Pinker was born circa 1773 in Brimble, Wiltshire, though another source states the parish of Saint Augustine, Bristol, Somerset, and worked initially as an apprentice to a cooper in the family firm of Messrs Pinker and Cowdry in Bath. He was indentured as an apprentice during 1787.
How Pinker faired as an apprentice remains unknown, but what is known is that he was working as a carpenter when aged 30, he attested for service with the British Army at Saint George’s in Somerset on 23 October 1803, joining as a Private the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot. Pinker would go on to serve for the next 18 years and 255 days with the army, of which two years would be added to his service for having been present at Waterloo.
The reasons for his enlistment may have been due to the huge recruiting drive that occurred during 1803 owing to the threat of invasion by Napoleon, when the French were known to be assembling a massive invasion fleet at Boulogne, and this threat would remain until October 1805 when Nelson destroyed the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar. With the threat a real possibility, many of the Militia and Volunteers were put on a more professional footing, and many of the regular line regiments added a second battalion. Pinker found himself assigned to the 2nd Battalion.
During 1804, both the 1st and 2nd Battalion’s of the 28th Foot were posted to Ireland where the 2nd Battalion would remain until 1810. As part of the forces under Wellington, the 2nd Battalion entered the Peninsular War, and was present at the Battle of Busaco on 27 September 1810. It was during the crossing of the Pyrenees at the Battle of the Maya Heights on 25 July 1813 that Pinker was wounded in action with the enemy, being wounded through the left leg.
With the entry into southern France the abdication of Napoleon to Elba, the Peninsular War came to an end, and the 2nd Battalion was disbanded, with Pinker, being allocated to the 1st Battalion and stationed in Ireland. At the end of 1814, owing to the ongoing War of 1812, the 1st Battalion was embarked at Cork for America, but was then recalled and shortly afterwards embarked for Bermuda, only to be recalled again owing to Napoleon’s escape from Elba. Having sailed back to Ireland, the 1st Battalion was re-embarked again, this time bound for Ostend, and it arrived in Brussels on 5 June 1815 being then personally inspected by the Duke of Wellington.
The Allied strategy was to put 750,000 men into the field and invade France with six separate armies form different directions. Napoleon realised that it would take time for the Allies to mobilise fully, and with his amazing drive and energy knew he had to strike hard and fast. He aimed to knock Belgium and Holland out together with their British support in a lightning strike which would galvanise all France behind him, and then turn his attention to dealing with the other allies piecemeal. Already by early June 120,000 men with 370 guns had flocked to join him on his march up from Cannes where he had landed. They were mainly hardcore veterans with nothing to lose.
The Allies had 200,000 men in Belgium. Under the Duke of Wellington in the Brussels area were 120,000 comprising only 23000 British, the remainder being Hanoverians, Brunswickers, Dutch and Belgians: the latter two contingents being somewhat half-hearted about action against Napoleon. The 83000 Prussians under Field Marshall Blucher were way off to the East initially. Napoleon's plan was to prevent the two forces meeting up. He took 63000 under his personal command to defeat Blucher, and dispatched Marshal Ney with the remainder to take Brussels.
On 15 June Napoleon crossed the French border at Charleroi. By 1600 that day Wellington had worked out which way he was heading and stood to a force to delay him at Quatre Bras, a significant road junction astride the main route to Brussels. By this time Blucher was at Ligny well to the East.
Having readied his force for action Wellington arrived at The Duchess of Richmond's Ball.
This was a considered move as apart from many of the Allied leaders and dignitaries being present, most of his own senior officers were there too in one place. He could show outward calm to the Allies and at the same time hold surreptitious O Groups with his own officers. He was kept updated by a bevy of ADCs and despatch riders. Behind the scenes his army was readying itself and the advance guard was on its way to Quatre Bras. Orders were steadily being given out as fresh intelligence came in.
At 0400 16 June the 28th marched out led by its 2ic Lt Col Nixon. The fifes and drums played ‘The Young May Moon is shining' as they swung out of Brussels along the Charleroi Road, through the Forest of Soignes, and stopped for a welcome breakfast at Genappe. Logistic resupply and the feeding of the army were carefully thought out under Wellington's Quartermaster General's department.
The 28th were part of Sir Thomas Picton's 5th Division which comprised two brigades. The 1st commanded by Sir James Kempt consisted of the 28th (Glosters), 32nd (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 79th ( Cameron Highlanders), and some companies of the 95th (Rifle Brigade). All mainly comprised of Peninsula veterans. The 2nd Brigade commanded by Sir Denis Pack consisted of 3/1 (Royal Scots), 42nd (Black Watch), 2/44th (Essex), 92nd (Gordon Highlanders).
By 1000 the Division was at Quatre Bras. The Duke and his staff had overtaken them on the march, inspected the dispositions in the area and then moved on to check on the Prussians at Ligny. By the time the French were in sight there were 6500 men with 8 guns in position at the crossroads, with more units joining throughout the afternoon. At 1400 Ney launched his attack with 15000 infantry and 1800 cavalry.
The British position was almost impossible to spy out accurately as it was surrounded by the very high rye crop. As usual the fire discipline of the British Army was superb. Despite being peppered by cannon fire and taking casualties they would wait until the enemy were around 25 yards away and then pour volley after volley into them. If they were facing infantry attack, they would be in line formation, against cavalry they would form square, all manoeuvres were carried out with parade ground precision. When they had caused mayhem in the leading enemy ranks, they would follow up with a bayonet charge to cause further damage and distress. The newer recruits were interspersed with veterans who supervised their introduction to combat.
By 1600 Colonel Belson CO of the 28th had arrived and was immediately ordered to take up the ground of the 42nd, who had suffered badly, and to prepare for cavalry. There followed half an hour of charges by cuirassiers and lancers, really determined attacks by incredibly brave French cavalry. They sent out an officer with a tall flag to plant in the rye in front of the 28th so they could home in on it from their forming up point. Kempt rode up in a brief lull shouting Bravo the 28th, The 28th are still the 28th and their conduct this day shall never be forgotten'. Just in time he took cover in the centre of the square as another charge stormed up and was halted. The 28th then bayonet charged into the confused melee of horses and unhorsed men shouting 'Remember Egypt' - their battle cry.
Meanwhile over to the East at Ligny Napoleon was having a more successful time and forced the Prussians to withdraw. But Ney was unable to breakthrough to Brussels, fresh British battalions were arriving the whole time and at twilight he called off his attacks and withdrew his divisions. Ney himself had broken his sword leading one of the desperate attacks…
The next day the Allied force withdrew from Quatre Bras to stay in line with the Prussians.
They went back to Waterloo which Wellington had previously recce'd as a good defensive position to protect Brussels. Casualties at Quatre Bras were 4600 mainly from the Peninsula regiments and included 92 of the 28th. It was a withdrawal closely followed up by the French through sultry heat and violent thunderstorms which gave some respite for the withdrawing force. A cavalry screen as rear-guard kept the French at bay struggling through the mud. It rained all night until around 1000 on Sunday 18 June.
In the Waterloo position three quarters of a mile separated the two armies with a valley in between. The 28th, now 527 strong, were on the left hand side of the high road in the centre of the Allied line 150 yards behind the farm of La Haye Sainte. The Chateau of Hougoumont occupied by the Guards Division was the right of the line. It was a 5000 yards frontage with Picton's Division in the centre. Foreign troops were interspersed among British units who were ordered to keep an eye on them.. There was a sunken road in front of the line and as usual Wellington kept his Reserve on the reverse slope out of sight, ready to be deployed where needed. French numbers were 74000 with 156 guns against 23000 British, 6000 Kings German Legion and 18000 Hanoverians, Brunswickers, Dutch and Belgians.
This was to be Napoleon's first direct face to face clash with Wellington, who he ridiculed as the Sepoy General. He scoffed at the advice offered by those of his own generals who had fought against Wellington and the British during the Peninsula Campaign. He believed his own presence would send the riff raff from England reeling into the sea.
By 1130 the ground had dried up enough for cavalry action so the French attack was launched. The first action was directed at the Hougoumont position by infantry with cavalry attacking the centre: the aim being to force the road and then wrap up the Allied line from the right. The fighting raged all day, it was Quatre Bras all over again but on an even greater scale. There was amazing bravery on both sides. Wellington was everywhere inspiring his troops: he knew if he could hold on until the 80,000 Prussians arrived the day would be his. It was the biggest and bloodiest battle of the age. In intensity the casualties compared with those of a major WW1 battle if size of populations and numbers employed are considered.
Picton was killed leading a charge of the 32nd and 79th into the fray. He was replaced by Kempt as Divisional Commander so Belson took over the Brigade. Nixon took over the 28th until seriously wounded, was replaced by Captain Kelly until he fell and so Captain Teulon ended up in charge. This was no problem as they were all very experienced officers well overdue for promotion due to the decrepit promotion system in those days which depended on wealth and patronage. The British guns were deployed beside infantry positions and when squares were formed to receive cavalry the gunners would take off one wheel and retire into the square. Once the charge had been repulsed, they rushed out, put back the wheel and opened fire again into the retreating enemy.
As Napoleon realised that the Prussians were drawing nearer, he played his last ace which had never failed him before. He launched his 14000 strong reserve led by the Imperial Guard against La Haye Sainte. Despite incredible bravery it failed as it was counter attacked by a combination of British Guards, the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry, and a general advance from the whole line. During this Private Wheeler of the 28th killed the French standard bearer of their 25" Regiment and proudly kept the standard for the Regiment.
The Prussians under Blucher arrived, and it was all over for Napoleon. He fled the field in his post-chaise leaving 25000 dead and wounded on the battlefield. The Allies had lost 10000, including 6000 British. The 28th had lost 20 officers and 230 men over the 2 days fighting, two fifths of their total strength. They were reduced to four companies for the pursuit which ended on 10 July when they entered Paris with a victory parade down the Champs Elysses in front of the Allied Sovereigns. There followed four months in Paris of which little is recorded (but can probably be imagined!
At the end of that time Colonel Belson led them home via Calais where there was an interesting codicil. The Governor of Calais refused to open the town gates unless Belson agreed to march through with no drums beating, no bayonets fixed or colours flying, and arms reversed. It was a freezing cold winter's day and the 28th with the Highlanders behind them were not amused. So Belson repeated his demand which was again refused. Belson gave him 15 minutes to open the gates before he stormed the town. The gates were opened, and his brigade marched through with colours flying, bayonets fixed and the bands playing The Downfall of Paris’.
Pinker survived Waterloo, where he was present in Captain John Bowie’s Company, and ultimately found himself on service in the Ionian Islands when stationed at Corfu when he was discharged from service on 26 September 1819, this in consequence of a reduction in the service, and partly owing to his old wound and other ill health. His conduct was noted as ‘good’ and he had never been before a Court Martial.
