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Auction: 14003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 327

A Fine and Scarce Waterloo Medal to Private T. Warburton, 1st Dragoon Guards, Killed in Action, 18.6.1815
Waterloo 1815 (Thomas Warburton, 1st Reg. Dragoon Guards.), edge bruising, therefore nearly very fine, with original steel clip and later ring suspension

Private Thomas Warburton (listed as 'Warbutton' on Regimental Supplementary Pay Lists) enlisted in the 1st Regiment Dragoon Guards, August 1812. He served with the Regiment during the Waterloo Campaign, and was killed in action 18.6.1815. The regiment, four squadrons in strength, formed the centre of the front rank of the Household Brigade. The latter was under the command of Lord Somerset. When Pack's Brigade was wavering under the sheer weight of French numbers, Uxbridge unleashed his cavalry in reply. Somerset's Household Brigade scattered cavalry and infantry on D'Erlon's left and simultaneously Ponsonby's Union Brigade tore into the divisions of Donzelot and Marcognet. The French broke and fled in chaos leaving countless dead and 3,000 prisoners. Flushed with their success, the two cavalry brigades continued their charge forward and attacked the French batteries before them, oblivious of orders to halt. On spent mounts and in a disorganised state, they then fell prey themselves to a counterattack by fresh French cavalry. Warburton lost his commanding officer in this charge, and after a number of counter charges and minor skirmishes throughout the rest of the battle the regiment suffered 275 officers and men killed, wounded or missing.

Warburton is listed as 'Killed in Action' on both the Supplementary Pay Lists and on the Muster Rolls, however this information has not been included on the latest published transcription of the medal roll.

The Waterloo medal was originally intended to be awarded to all survivors of the battle and to the next of kin of those killed in action or died of wounds. Two separate lists were drawn up and by the first anniversary of the battle almost all survivors had received their medals. However the striking and naming of the second list containing the names and regiments of the fatal casualties was at first deferred, and eventually abandoned in consequence of pressure being placed on the mint to give priority to the new silver coinage.

Over the next ten years, some families, mainly officer's lobbied the authorities for their loved one's medal, each application being carefully vetted and verified, resulting in the next of kin of a few officers and even fewer other ranks receiving the medal. As a consequence of this Waterloo casualty medals are not only scarce, but they are also extremely scarce to other ranks.

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Estimate
£5,000 to £6,000