Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 94

A Superb M.G.S. to Quarter Master W. O'Grady, 87th Foot, Who Saw Action During the Flanders Campaign of 1794, Where He Was Wounded and Taken Prisoner of War; Served With the Forlorn Hope at the Storming and Capture of Monte Video, And Present at the Taking of Buenos Aires, 1807, Where He Captured 70 Mounted Spaniards and Was Awarded a Unique Regimental Gold Medal for His Conspicuous Bravery; Finally Served With the Regiment on the Peninsular, And Wounded During the Defence of Tarifa
Military General Service 1793-1814, six clasps, Talavera, Barrosa, Vittoria, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse (W. O'Grady, Qr. Mr. 87th. Foot), extremely fine

Quartermaster William O'Grady, was the first man to join the 87th (Prince of Wales's Irish) Regiment when it was formed in 1793 (according to family tradition his father had intended him for the law, and never forgave him for enlisting). He went with the Regiment with Lord Moira's expedition to Flanders in 1794, and received a sabre wound in the head at Alost. He was subsequently wounded when on piquet duty by a musket ball in the left ankle, and was taken prisoner when Bergen-op-Zoom was captured by the French. In 1797 he embarked with the Regiment for the West Indies, and took part in the expedition to Martinique, and the capture of Surinam and Curacoa.

Gallantry in South America: The Forlorn Hope at Monte Video and Bravery at Buenos Aires
In 1807 O'Grady served in the campaign in South America, and was part of the Forlorn Hope at the storming of Monte Video, 3.2.1807: 'At 3 o'clock, in extreme darkness, the attacking column stole out towards the breach, arriving close to it before it was discovered. The first discharge of the enemy's guns struck down only one man, but the second laid low 25 men out of 30 who were following in immediate support of the leaders... casualties were heavy as the troops sought an entry point, but finally a breach was located, first by Captain Renny, of the 40th Foot, who was killed as he attempted to get through, and secondly by Lieutenant Smith [later Lieutenant General Sir Harry Smith, Bt., G.C.B.], of the 95th Foot. With great difficulty the attackers successfully forced their way in' (The 1/87th and 1/89th from 1804 to 1817 refers). British casualties during the assault were 6 Officers and 110 men killed, and 21 Officers and 258 men wounded. At the Battle of Buenos Aires, O'Grady was tasked with guarding the Regimental baggage, with approximately 20 of the Regiment's sick and lame soldiers for sentries. 'The party was in a house in the suburbs surrounded by an orchard. The evening before the attack seventy mounted Spanish who had concealed themselves in the orchard decided to attack. O'Grady's well placed sentries opened fire and brought down their leader. The rest tried to escape, but were quickly rounded up by O'Grady, who marched them off to Headquarters. As the house was outside the town, the British Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-General John Whitelocke, ruling that it was outside the area of conflict, instructed O'Grady to release his prisoners and return their arms. The next night the house was again attacked by the enemy; this time O'Grady and his men, who after Whitelocke's ruling dared not return fire, were seized and taken prisoner, and the baggage plundered' (ibid). On the 12th August, Whitelocke signed an armistice, O'Grady and his men were released, and the British forces returned home. For his gallantry in South America O'Grady was Commissioned Quartermaster in the 2nd Battalion, 87th Foot; Whitelocke by comparison was Court Martialled, Cashiered, and dismissed from the Service.

'Faugh-au-Ballagh': The 87th at Barrosa
In 1809 O'Grady accompanied his Regiment to Spain, and was present at the Battle of Talavera, 27-28th July 1809. In March 1811 the 87th formed part of a force of 4,000 men under General Graham which sailed up the coast from Cadiz to Algeciras and landed behind the lines of the French besiegers of Cadiz. The intention was to take the enemy in the rear and to raise the siege of Cadiz. The two forces met at Barrosa on the 5th March: 'The 2/87th and a detachment of Coldstream Guards emerged from the pinewoods and came immediately into fierce action, the Irishmen shouting their old battle cry 'Faugh-au-Ballagh' (Clear the Way). Ensign Keogh was cut down as he was attempting to take the Eagle of the 8th Regiment, whereupon a Sergeant of the 87th killed the French Officer holding it and bore it away. This was the first Eagle to be taken during the War and the Prince Regent decreed that the 87th would henceforth be named The Prince of Wales's Own Irish Regiment and would bear an eagle with a laurel wreath on its Colours' (ibid).

On the 31st December 1811 O'Grady was present at the Defence of Tarifa, a little town of 3,000 inhabitants at the extreme southern tip of Spain that, along with Gibraltar and Cadiz, was one of three fortresses providing refuge for the guerrilla chief Ballesteros. The garrison of 3,000 men, comprising 1,800 British troops, including the 2/87th, and 1,200 Spanish, was attacked by the French on the last day of the year, but came under a devastating fire from the 87th, and were blasted away, losing 207 men. The defenders suffered only 36 casualties, including O'Grady, who was wounded in the head. The French launched a second attack two days later, but after having lost some 500 men and a considerable quantity of stores they finally raised the siege.

O'Grady served through the rest of the Peninsular Campaign, and was additionally present at the Battles of Vittoria, Nivelle, Orthes, and Toulouse. Later transferred as Quarter Master to the 12th (East Suffolk) Foot, he retired in May 1829 and died in 1856.

William O'Grady was additionally awarded by Lieutenant Colonel Sir Edward Butler a unique Regimental Gold Medal for Gallantry at Buenos Aires. The medal, the first ever to be presented by the Regiment, was formally in the Regimental Collection, but was lost when the Regimental Museum was bombed in 1993 during the Troubles, and has never been recovered.

The latest published transcript of the Military General Service Medal roll incorrectly states that he additionally received the clasp for Nive. This is not confirmed by the Army Lists from the period, which state 'he received the war medal with six clasps', and the medal appears entirely as issued.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£8,000