Waterloo Medal 1815, fitted with steel clip and ring suspension awarded to Private John Hurst, 18th (King’s Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Hussars) and was with his regiment when it took part in the Battle of Waterloo. Having arrived late in the day at Quatre Bras, it then fought at Waterloo, where it was drawn up on the left of Wellington's front line but was not committed to the fighting until late in the day, when they relieved the exhausted Scots Greys and the 3rd Hussars of the King’s German Legion who had been in action throughout the day. Sir Hussey Vivian himself led a charge by the 18th against French guns in the centre which were protected by Cuirassiers and Lancers. Elements of the 18th caught some French guns in limber, and these were captured and sent to the rear. A change of direction to the right brought the Regiment directly into contact with both guns and cavalry, all of which were totally overcome. Vivian ordered his Brigade to halt and reform, an order which many of the hussars didn't hear in the confusion and excitement of battle. French historians have attributed Bonaparte's final defeat to the charges of the British light cavalry towards the end of the day.
Waterloo Medal 1815, fitted with steel clip and ring suspension; (JOHN HURST. 18TH REGIMENT HUSSARS.)
Condition: heavy edge bruise at 5 o’clock and some contact marks, otherwise Very Fine
John Hurst was born in Fermanagh and enlisted into the 18th Hussars on 5th May 1809 and was present with the Regiment at the Battle of Waterloo.
Arriving late in the day at Quatre Bras on 17th June, elements of the Regiment were engaged in light skirmishing until the heavens opened and torrential rain poured down, accompanied by loud thunder. Thereafter the Regiment was kept busy covering the withdrawal ordered by Wellington and, on the night of 17th, the entire British army bivouacked in the open as the thunderstorm raged.
The Battle of Waterloo commenced at 11am on Sunday 18th June. Vivian's Brigade was drawn up on the left of Wellington's front line but was not committed to the fighting until late in the day, when they relieved the exhausted Scots Greys and the 3rd Hussars of the King’s German Legion who had been in action throughout the day.
In the heat and confusion of battle, some orders were misunderstood, with General Vivian himself galloping to rectify an error at one point. After a charge by the 10th Hussars, Vivian himself led a charge by the 18th against French guns in the centre which were protected by Cuirassiers and Lancers. These charges, incidentally, being cheered on by the British infantry squares in close proximity. Elements of the 18th caught some French guns in limber, and these were captured and sent to the rear. A change of direction to the right brought the Regiment directly into contact with both guns and cavalry, all of which were totally overcome.
Vivian ordered his Brigade to halt and reform, an order which many of the hussars didn't hear in the confusion and excitement of battle. Criticism that the light cavalry were 'ill disciplined' in this respect would seem to be grossly unfair - in fact, many French historians have attributed Bonaparte's final defeat to the charges of the British light cavalry towards the end of the day, the British heavy cavalry having been exhausted by their efforts earlier in the day. During the battle, the 18th Hussars lost 13 other ranks killed and 2 officers, 72 other ranks wounded. Privates taking part in the battle were awarded L211s. prize money, NCOs and officers considerably more.
The days after the battle saw the Regiment in the vanguard of Wellington's army entering France, occupying Paris on 6th July. They remained in France for four months, before returning home to Dover and then Newcastle where they were stationed from November 1815. An unwelcome surprise greeted the officers on their return to England, as the Regiment's silver plate had been stolen from the Canterbury Cavalry Barracks. The silver was never recovered.
Hurst transferred to the Staff Corps of Cavalry on 24th March 1816, but returned to the 18th Hussars in December 1818 and was discharged still a Private on 12th December 1818.