An interesting Waterloo Medal 1815, fitted with a modified straight bar suspender, awarded to John Newland, 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment of Foot Guards - the Grenadier Guards, who came from Saint Margaret's, London, and saw service during the final stages of the Peninsular War when on operations in southern France, being present at the Battle of Nivelle and the Battle of Nive during late 1813. He was with Lt. Colonel Miller's Company at the Battle of Quatre Bras where Miller was mortally wounded. After Miller was struck, he famously requested to see the Regimental Colours one last time. They were brought to him and waved over his body as he lay on the field. Some two days later at the Battle of Waterloo, his battalion was positioned on the reverse slope of the Mont-Saint-Jean ridge forming part of the centre-right of Wellington’s line. At approximately 4pm they formed squares to withstand repeated charges from elite French Cavalry including the ‘Red Lancers’ of the Imperial Guard, and in the battle’s climax around 8pm, the battalion stood up from their prone positions to deliver the decisive volleys that broke Napoleon’s “Old Guard”. It was specifically for this feat – defeating the French Grenadiers – that the regiment was granted title “The Grenadier Guards” following the victory.
Waterloo Medal 1815, fitted with a modified straight bar suspender; (JOHN NEWLAND, 3RD BATT. GRENAD. GUARDS.)
Condition: Very Fine
John Newland was born in the parish of Saint Margaret's, London, and having worked as a cotton spinner, then enlisted into the British Army at Lrrds on 28 June 1911, joining as a Private the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards - the Grenadier Guards. Posted to the 3rd Battlaion of his regiment, Newland saw service during the final stages of the Peninsular War when on operations in southern France, being present at the Battle of Nivelle on 10 November 1813, and the Battle of Nive on 9-13 December 1813.
Newland was with Lt. Col. Miller’s Company at the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16th June 1815, where Miller was mortally wounded leading his men while charging a French Column.
After being struck, Miller famously requested to see the Regimental Colours one last time. They were brought to him and waved over his body as he lay on the field. He was subsequently carried to Brussels where he died of wounds the following day on 17th June 1815.
At Waterloo on 18th June 1815 the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, were positioned on the reverse slope of the Mont-Saint-Jean ridge forming part of the centre-right of Wellington’s line. At approximately 4pm they formed squares to withstand repeated charges from elite French Cavalry including the ‘Red Lancers’ of the Imperial Guard, and in the battle’s climax around 8pm, the battalion stood up from their prone positions to deliver the decisive volleys that broke Napoleon’s “Old Guard”. It was specifically for this feat – defeating the French Grenadiers – that the regiment was granted title “The Grenadier Guards” following the victory.
Newland was ultimately discharged from Lieutenant Colonel Packe's company, 'time expired', on 29 June 1818.
