A unique Military General Service Medal 1793-1814, 7 Clasps: Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Toulouse awarded to Private William Wilson, 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot who was present during the Walcheren Expedition and afterwards in Portugal, initially serving with the 2nd Battalion, but transferring to the 1st Battalion being present at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo which lasted from 8th to 19th January 1812, taking part in the siege and capture of Badajoz from 16th March to 6th April 1812, and the Battle of Salamanca on 22nd July 1812 he then took part in the battle of Vittoria on 21st June 1813, and then in the operations in the Pyrenees from 25th July to 2nd August 1813 followed by the entry into southern France, the battle of Nivelle on 10th November 1813, and then the final battle of the Peninsula War at Toulouse on 10th April 1814.
Military General Service Medal 1793-1814, 7 Clasps: Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Toulouse; (WM. WILSON. 43RD FOOT.)
Condition: small edge bruises and light marks, otherwise Very Fine
Provenance: Broadley Collection, Sotheby July 1982, Clive Nowell Collection, DNW June 2009.
William Wilson was a weaver born in St Andrew parish, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland who volunteered for the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Foot from the 2nd West York Militia on 14th April 1809. He served in the Walcheren Expedition, and afterwards in Portugal, initially with the 2nd Battalion, but transferred to the 1st Battalion in June 1811.
He would be present at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo which lasted from 8th to 19th January 1812, taking part in the siege and capture of Badajoz from 16th March to 6th April 1812, and the Battle of Salamanca on 22nd July 1812 he then took part in the battle of Vittoria on 21st June 1813, and then in the operations in the Pyrenees from 25th July to 2nd August 1813 followed by the entry into southern France, the battle of Nivelle on 10th November 1813, and then the final battle of the Peninsula War at Toulouse on 10th April 1814.
He would complete 7 years service on 22nd June 1915 and was discharged by the Order of the Commander in Chief and paid up to 24th March 1816.
A unique 7 bar clasp combination to the British Army.