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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 8

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Fuentes d'Onor, Badajoz, Salamanca (J. Woods, Serjt. Major, 30th Foot), heavy edge bruises, polished, thus good fine

Provenance:
Gibbons, March 1980.

James Woods was born at Rathowen, County Westmeath in 1782, attesting for the 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot on 25 August 1808. He served with the regiment during the Peninsular War as Sergeant-Major of the 2nd Battalion. Part of Major-General Sir William Erskine's 5th Division, the 30th attacked the San Vincente Bastion during the assault on Badajoz (clasp) on 6 August 1812. 5th Division suffered over 600 casualties, but eventually gained the curtain wall. Pouring into the town, they linked up with Picton's 3rd Division, which had entered via the Castle. Badajoz's fate was sealed.

At the Battle of Salamanca (clasp) on 22 July 1812, the 30th attacked Maucune's Division as part of Leith's 5th Division. In a prolonged musketry duel, British firepower proved superior. As the 30th closed with the bayonet, one of its Ensigns, John Pratt, captured the Eagle of the 22nd Line Regiment, now on display at Fulwood Barracks, Preston.

Also entitled to a Waterloo Medal, Woods served as the Sergeant-Major of 2nd Battalion, 30th Foot during the Hundred Days' Campaign. Part of Major-General Sir Colin Halkett's 5th British Brigade, the 30th's conduct at the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815 does Woods great credit. When Halkett's four regiments were attacked by Kellerman's cuirassiers at 5.30 p.m., only the 30th stood firm. The 33rd (West Riding) and 73th (Perthshire) Regiments fled for the safety of Bossu Wood, while the 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment lost the King's Colour. The 30th calmly formed square, pouring lethal volleys into the mass of cavalrymen.

Towards the end of the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June, the Duke of Wellington's friend and A.D.C., Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Alexander Gordon K.C.B., fell with his leg smashed by a round-shot while positioned just behind the 30th. Woods directed the party which conveyed Gordon back to the Field Hospital at Mont St. Jean, in the hope that immediate amputation might save so valuable a life. Sadly, Woods' efforts were in vain. Gordon died with Wellington at his bedside.

Woods was discharged at Dublin on 24 March 1821, his conduct described as 'most excellent', and that of a 'most deserving, trustworthy man'; sold with copied discharge papers and an extract from Lieutenant-Colonel Bannatyne's History of the Thirtieth Regiment (1887).


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Sold for
£1,900