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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 20

Waterloo 1815 (John Richins 2nd Batt. Grenad. Guards.), replacement steel clip and ring suspension, 'Batt' officially re-impressed, clip a little loose, minor die flaw to obverse flan, nearly very fine

Provenance:
Glendining's, May 1911 (Ex-Gaskell Collection).

John Richins (also Richens) was born at Walcot in Somerset. Employed as a woollen draper, he enlisted into the 1st Foot Guards at Bath on 24 June 1811, aged 18 years. He served at Waterloo as a Private with Lieutenant-Colonel West's Company, 2nd Battalion.

On the morning of 18 June 1815, both battalions of the 1st Foot Guards occupied a defensive position on the reverse slope of the Mont St. Jean ridge. After a relentless bombardment by French artillery, they were ordered to form square at the approach of Marshal Ney's impetuous cavalry attacks. After La Haye Sainte fell to the French at 6 p.m., the 1st Foot Guards faced their greatest challenge. Three battalions of Middle Guard Chasseurs ascended the ridge. Just as they neared its crest, the 1st Foot Guards sprang up from their prone positions and delivered a series of devastating volleys. The Middle Guard attempted to form into line, but a perfectly-timed flanking movement by the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Light Infantry broke their formation. To cries of sauve qui peut, the Guard at last showed the enemy their knapsacks.

On 23 May 1817, while stationed in London as a Private in Lieutenant-Colonel Cooke's Company, Richins deserted (see Chambers 2003, 631). He was discharged on 13 June.

Recommended reading:

Chambers, B. J., The Men of the 1st Foot Guards at Waterloo and Beyond (London, 2003).




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Sold for
£1,000