Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 25

Waterloo 1815 (George Coaxly, 1st Batt. 40th Reg. Foot.), attractive replacement silver clip and straight bar suspension, the bar contemporarily engraved 'Peninsula', original riband with silver top buckle, minor contact marks, nearly very fine

George Coaxly was born at Bristol in 1792. He enlisted into the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot at Wells on 23 September 1808.

Coaxly's discharge papers confirm that he served throughout the Peninsular War, fighting with the 40th Foot at Cuidrad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees and Toulouse. They also reveal that he was wounded at the capture of Badajoz on 6 April 1812.

Coaxly served during the Hundred Days' Campaign as a Private with Captan J. Lowry's Company, 1st Battalion, 40th Foot. Part of Major-General Lambert's 10th British Brigade, the 40th were not engaged at Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815. At the Battle of Waterloo two days later, the 40th were held in reserve near Mont St. Jean until the Imperial Guard retreated after 8 p.m. For much of the battle, the 40th sustained casualties from round-shot fired by the 'Grand Battery'. William Barry, an Assistant Surgeon in the regiment, later recalled:

'We had three companies cut to pieces, one [round] shot killed and wounded twenty-two of the 4th Company, another 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.'

Coaxly was discharged on 2 February 1819 due to 'impaired vision', after 10 years and 143 days with the Colours. He was either deceased or did not claim the Military General Service Medal; sold with copied discharge papers.

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

Sold for
£1,500