Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 15001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 302

The Superb Waterloo Medal to Major A.R. Heyland, 40th Foot, Wounded Several Times During the Peninsular War, Including at Talavera and Badajoz. At Waterloo, 18.6.1815, He Had His Sword Shattered and His Horse Wounded, Before Being Shot Through the Heart At The Point of Victory
Waterloo 1815 (Major A.R. Heyland, 40th Regiment Foot.), toned, good very fine, with original steel clip and split ring suspension, and contemporary top riband buckle

Major Arthur Rowley Heyland (1781-1815), was born in Belfast, the son of Rowland Heyland of Castle Roe, County Derry. He was educated at Eton and then Aberdeen. Heyland was commissioned Ensign in the 49th Foot, before advancing to Lieutenant, 14th Foot, 1801. He married in 1803, before being appointed Captain (with command of a Company) in the 40th Foot the following year.

Heyland served with great distinction during the Peninsular War, in particular at the battles of Roleia (17.8.1808), and at Talavera (27/28.7.1809), where he was wounded. Heyland was wounded again whilst serving with the 1st Battalion during the Second Siege of Badajoz (May 1811).

Heyland spent his convalescence as garrison commander in Estremoz, Portugal. He returned to command the 40th Foot at the battle of Vitoria (21.6.1813), after which he was awarded a Small Gold Medal and made Brevet Major. He was also present at the Battle of the Pyrenees (July-August 1813). The 40th Foot then marched with the rest of the army towards the passes at Maya and Roncevalles, where they took up a position on the French side of the border. Heyland, once again proved that he was an officer who lead from the front, when he was severely wounded, 27.7.1813. Having proved himself fit for a return to duty he was appointed Commandant at Toulouse. He later superintended the embarkation of the troops at Bordeaux, landing at Cork in 1814.

The Eve Of Battle
Heyland obtained permission to retire on half pay after his exploits on the continent. With the escape of Napoleon from Elba, however, he immediately returned to service with the 40th Foot. On the 26th May 1815, the 1st Battalion were stationed in Ghent. Two days later Heyland and a detachment from the 2nd Battalion joined their regiment in Belgium. Heyland held seniority and assumed command of the regiment as a consequence.

The contemporary diary (extract dated 22.6.1815) of Lieutenant Hugh Wray, 40th Foot, offers the following, 'This is our first day's halt since we left Ghent, which was on the morning of the 16th inst... We left Ghent on the 16th, in half an hour's notice, and marched that day to a village the other side of Brussels, a distance of 30 miles, and next morning - the 17th - we marched to the lines of Waterloo, where the battle of the 18th June was fought. We did not halt at all except a few hours in the night.'

On the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, Heyland wrote the following letter to his wife, Mary (with whom he had five sons and two daughters, she was pregnant with his 5th son at the time):

"What I recommend my love in case I fall in the ensuing contest, is that my sons may be educated at the Military College, except Arthur, who is hardly strong enough: the hazards of a military life are considerable, but still it has its pleasures, and it appears to me of no consequence whether a man dies young or old, provided he be employed in fulfilling the duties of the situation he is placed in this world.

I would wish my son John, whose early disposition has made us both happy, should serve in the Infantry till he is a Lieutenant, and then by money or interest be removed to a Regiment of Light Cavalry. I trust his gentlemanly manner and his gallantry in the Field will make his life agreeable. Kyffin might try the Artillery Service and make it an object to be appointed to the Horse Artillery, which he can only hope for by applying himself to the duties of his profession. Alfred must get in a Regiment of Infantry, the 95th for instance, and my young unborn must be guided by his brother John and by your wishes.

For yourself, my dearest, kindest Mary, take up your residence in Wales, or elsewhere if you prefer it, but I would advise you, my love, to choose a permanent residence. My daughters, may they cling to their mother and remember her in every particular.

My Mary, let the recollection console you that the happiest days of my life have... from your love and affection, and that I die loving only you, and with a fervent hope that our souls may be reunited hereafter and part no more.

What dear children, my Mary I leave you. My Marianna, gentlest girl, may God bless you. My Anne, my John, may Heaven protect you. My children may you all be happy and may the reflection that your father never in his life swerved from the truth and always acted from the dictates of his conscience, preserve you, virtuous and happy, for without virtue there can be no happiness.

My darling Mary I must tell you again how tranquilly I shall die, should it be my fate to fall, we cannot, my own love, die together - one or other must witness the loss of what we love most. Let my children console you, my love. My Mary. My affairs will soon improve and you will have a competency - do not let too refined scruples prevent you taking the usual Government allowance for Officers' children and widows. The only regret I shall have in quitting this world will arise from the sorrow it will cause you and your children and my dear Marianne Symes. My mother will feel my loss yet she possesses a kind of resignation to these inevitable events which will soon reconcile her.

I have no desponding ideas on entering the Field, but I cannot help thinking it almost impossible I should escape either wounds or death.

My love, I cannot improve the Will I have made, everything is left at your disposal. When you can get a sum exceeding £10,000 for my Irish property, I should recommend you to part with it and invest the money, £6,000 at least, in the funds, and the rest in such security as may be unexceptionable. You must tell my dear brother that I expect he will guard and protect you, and I trust he will return safe to his home.
A R H"

The Battle Of Waterloo - Shot Down In The Moment Of Victory
Having lead his regiment to the battlefield, the Regimental History takes up the narrative: 'The next morning, the ever memorable 18th June, the 40th took up its position in the place assigned to it on the field of battle, arriving there, after a short march, between 9 and 10am. It was, with the 4th and 27th regiments, formed into the Tenth Infantry Brigade, which, with the Fourth Hanoverian Brigade and the Seventh British Brigade of Artillery, were to form the Sixth Division, under the command of Sir Lowry Cole. In this battle the 40th, after being subjected to a heavy artillery fire, which did terrible execution in its ranks, was afterwards specially engaged in receiving and repulsing continual charges of the enemy's cavalry, and eventually the final attack of the French on the left centre of the British position. For hours the regiment was forced to remain stationary, sometimes in line, sometimes in square, according to whether it was infantry or cavalry which it had to resist. The charges of the cavalry especially were determined and persistently repeated, but with the utmost steadiness the 40th held its ground, and, under most trying circumstances, maintained its old reputation.'

Lieutenant Wray graphically describes the hell which Heyland's men formed up to receive, 'At about half past eleven the action commenced with the Artillery, and about twelve the whole lines were engaged in general action. We for the first four hours covered the guns of the division without firing a shot, and at this same time under the most destructive fire that was ever felt. During this time we had three companies almost cut to pieces, one shot killed and wounded twenty-two of the 4th Company, another of the same kind (round shot) killed poor Fisher (my Captain) and eighteen of our Company (the 5th), and another took the 8th, and killed and wounded twenty-three; this all happened by our being in open column of quarter distance and the shot took us in the flank. At the same time poor Fisher was hit, I was speaking to him, and I got all his brains all over, his head was blown to atoms.'

The Regiment remained as support until 2 p.m. at the farm of Mont St. Jean. It was then advanced towards the farm of La Haye Saint, taking position on the opposite side of the road. They had suffered great losses, 'At last, about 7pm, when wearied with waiting, the Duke of Wellington himself rode up to the regiment and gave the command to advance. This order was eagerly obeyed, and with a cheer the line moved forward. The right of the regiment now took part in the recapture of La Haye Sainte, and the whole joined in the pursuit of the retreating enemy. During the latter part of the engagement, the commanding officer, Major Heyland, having been killed, the regiment was commanded by Major Fielding Browne.' (Regimental History refers).

Major P. Bishop (late 40th Foot) wrote the following detail that appeared in Waterloo Letters (edited by Major-General Siborne), 'I think about seven o'clock on the evening of the 18th, the 40th Regiment had formed into line, after having just charged the enemy, in which we lost several officers and men, and amongst them Major Heyland (our commanding officer).'

Lieutenant Wray describes Heyland's death, as part of the regiments heavy losses amongst its officers, 'Poor Major Heyland (who commanded) was shot through the heart, and poor Ford was shot through the spine of his back, but did not die for a short time after he was carried away. Poor Clarke lost his left arm and I am much afraid Browne will lose his leg.'

Heyland lost his life at the point of victory, his sword having previously been shattered, his horse wounded, and for the greater part of the day he had been riding bareheaded, his shako having probably also been shot away. He died aged 34, and inscribed on a Memorial at St Patrick's Church, Coleraine, are the following words: "Sacred to the memory of Arthur Rowley Heyland, of Ballintemple, in the county, late Major in the 40th Regiment of Foot, in which he served with distinguished honour under the Duke of Wellington through the whole Peninsular War, filling during that period many situations of trust connected with his profession. On the memorable 18th June 1815, while in command of the Regiment in the act of leading his battalion to conquest, he fell in the moment of victory on the field of Waterloo, and was there instantly removed by his brother officers with affectionate zeal and regret. His remains were deposited in a garden at Monte St. Jean, where they lie under a tomb subsequently erected by his afflicted widow. Whether as son, brother, husband, father, friend or soldier, his whole career throughout life may be delineated in the characteristic simplicity of his disposition in these few words - He knew his duty and he did it."

Heyland's grave remained for 150 years near a farm in the village of Mont St Jean, within a few yards of the main Brussels Road. It was marked by a monument erected by the Regiment and surrounded by iron railings put in place to protect it by his widow Mary. In a sketch entitled A Sunday at Waterloo, in the St. James's Budget, 23.6.1893, Heyland's tomb is thus described: 'A drive of five minutes more brings you to the very centre of Mont. St. Jean village. To the left of the road is a garden, belonging to one Lorthieu. Here, shaded by a lilac tree and surrounded by purple pansies and jasmine, is the tomb of Major Arthur Rowley Heyland, aged 34.' A number of years later the monument was removed for safekeeping to the Wellington Museum at Waterloo.

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

Sold for
£28,000