Waterloo Medal 1815 (John Lawrence. 1st Bat. 92nd Highlanders.)

Provenance: Spink, November, 1995

The medal retaining its original steel clip and fitted with customary large replacement split ring

Wounded-in-Action: Private John Lawrence is confirmed in his extant service papers (held & accessible at The National Archives) as being wounded-in-action at Quatre Bras, 16 June 1815, and being 'Discharged' as a consequence of the wounds

Quote,

A Gunshot Wound left hand and cheek received at Quatre Bras the sixteenth day of June 1815

Unquote.

Medal verification: Reference the 'Waterloo Medal Roll' (Naval & Military Press Ltd, 1992), John Lawrence is recorded as serving with 92nd Regiment of Highlanders in the Waterloo Campaign being present in Captain Angus Fraser's Company, with the remark after his name 'Discharged'

John Lawrence was a native of Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland. By trade a 'Shoemaker' he joined the British Army in 1807 and was posted to the 92nd Highlanders. He served a total of 8 Years 243 until the time he took his discharge from the British Army, on, 27 December 1815. He received an additional reckonable two years service for his service in the Waterloo Campaign, giving him a total of 10 years 243 reckonable service for pension

Note there is no one called John Lawrence on the MGS medal rolls of the 92nd Highlanders, indicating that the recipient had either the not prior served in the Peninsula Campaign, and or, had likely died sometime prior to 1848

The Waterloo Campaign of the 92nd Highlanders: At Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815, the 92nd were heavily engaged suffering over 280 casualties. They formed part of Picton’s 5th Division in Major-General Dennis Pack’s 9th British Brigade.

At Waterloo on 18 June 1815, they were positioned on the front left flank of the British line, and heavily bombarded, but the effect was reduced when they were ordered to lay down behind the crest. They were then attacked at 2.15 p.m. by D’Erlon’s corps of some 11,000 fresh veterans. Pack’s men stood for a brigade volley, followed by regular half Company volleys, and the French retreated badly mauled, to be caught by the heavy cavalry of the Union Brigade, with the Scots Greys charging through a gap deliberately left by the 92nd. Big men on big horses, they were supported in a rush by the 92nd, some of whom clung to the horses stirrups and were carried along in the charge, an incident in the battle which became famous. The British line was then subjected to 5 further attacks by French Cuirassiers, who failed to break their squares. The Duke of Wellington entered the square of the 92nd several times, receiving a charge by French light cavalry and personally directing the first volley, the subject of many paintings of the battle. The 92nd nearly ran out of ammunition, and suffered severely from Tirailleurs sniping from close range.

During the Waterloo Campaign the 92nd Highlanders incurred total casualties of 402 Killed or Wounded out of 588 present as casualties, a staggering 68% of 'All-Ranks' of the regiment present and the highest percentage of casualties suffered by any British regiment, during the Waterloo Campaign

John Lawrence is a unique name in the Waterloo Medal of the 92nd Highlanders (post 1881, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders)

A most desirable medal to a confirmed casualty of the 92nd Highlanders - later the Gordon Highlanders - for the Waterloo Campaign

With minor, nicks and edge bruises commensurate with age - and a very good example of the Waterloo Medal

Condition: About VF

Code: 22792