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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 21

Waterloo 1815 (William Dival, 3rd Batt. Grenad. Guards.), replacement silver slip and buckle suspension, better than very fine

William Divall (also Dival, Devall) was born at Cuckfield in Sussex, gaining civilian employment as a Labourer. Aged 23 he enlisted into the 1st Foot Guards - from the Sussex Militia - at Sutton Coldfield on 2 October 1812.

Divall served during the Hundred Days' Campaign as a Private with Lieutenant-Colonel Miller's Company, 3rd Battalion. Both 1st Foot Guards battalions formed the 1st Guards Brigade under Major-General Peregrine Maitland. Committed to the action at Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815, they expelled Jerôme's Division from Bossu Wood, tipping the scales in Wellington's favour. Wellington's orderly withdrawal from the crossroads owed much to the timely arrival of the Guards.

The repulse of the Imperial Guard by the 1st Foot Guards two days later has passed into legend (see previous Lot). The Prince Regent bestowed upon the regiment the title 'Grenadier Guards' in recognition of this feat. Moved by the courage of the bearskin-clad French guardsmen, the regiment adopted the bearskins and white plumes still worn today. White plumes represent the smoke that fizzed out of the early grenades used in Marlborough's campaigns.

The 3rd Battalion pursued the French to Cambrai, and thence to Paris. Divall was discharged on 12 April 1819, receiving a payment of £20.

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Sold for
£1,700