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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 9

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Vittoria, Orthes, Toulouse (W. Pettet [sic], 10th Hussars), good very fine

Provenance:
Sotheby's, December 1910.

William Pettett served in the Peninsular War as a Private with the 10th (Prince of Wales's Own) Hussars, and was present at the Battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813. Having crossed the Pyrenees at Nivelle and the Nive on 9-13 December, Wellington's army set off in pursuit of Marshal Soult. Soult destroyed the bridges behind him and took up a strong defensive position on the Saveterre ridge, covering the approaches to Orthes. British pontoons arrived on 23 February, and four days later Wellington ordered the 3rd and Light Divisions to advance. Wading through a deep morass, the gallant infantry pressed on and gained the Savaterre heights. To cries of sauve qui peut, the French infantry threw away their arms and knapsacks, making a dash for the bridge at Sault de Navailles. The 10th Hussars intercepted them, sabring about 300 and taking many prisoners.

Pettett served during the Hundred Days' Campaign as a Private in Captain Grey's (No. 4) Troop, 10th Hussars. At the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815, the 10th Hussars acted as vedettes on Wellington's extreme left. Part of Vivian's Brigade, these vedettes covered a wide area between the hamlets of Smohain and Frichermont. At about 2.30 p.m., one of them intercepted the Prussian officer who brought news of Blücher's approach. The 10th Hussars fought well against French cavalry rearguards during the general advance at 9 p.m., even charging a square of the Old Guard. Casualties totalled 94, with one officer killed.


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Sold for
£750