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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 37

The Peninsular War Medal awarded to Private A. Sherris, 92nd Foot, who sustained a 'gunshot wound of the left thigh' at Merio, Spain in late 1813

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Corunna, Fuentes D'Onor, Vittoria, Pyrenees (Alexr. Sherris, 92nd. Foot), good very fine

Alexander Sherris enlisted in the Aberdeenshire Regiment of Militia in 1803 and initially served in Robert Corbet's Company before removing to Robert Gordon's Company as a Private from 25 November 1804. He subsequently removed to Archibald MacDonell's Company and was paid by Lieutenant Phipps to 6 June 1805, with a further 18 shillings from 7 - 24 June 'in lieu of beer money'.

Sherris next enlisted in the 1st Battalion, 92nd Regiment of Infantry - the Gordon Highlanders - on 4 May 1805, the Gordon Highlanders, using the alias 'Shirras Alexander'. According to the return of 25 July 1813, ninety percent of the battalion were 'Scotch'. Colonel Cameron later stated that seventy percent were 'Scotch Highlanders' and could speak little but Gaelic; twenty percent were 'Scotch Lowlanders' and the remainder were English and Irish.

The Battalion sailed for Portugal on 31 July 1808 and three weeks later arrived off Mondego Bay; they were then redirected to Maceira Bay and did not come ashore until 27 August, thus missing the battle of Vimeiro. At the battle of Corunna on 16 January 1809, their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Napier was killed. The Battalion then returned to Portsmouth and took part in the disastrous Walcheren campaign in July.

On 8 October 1810, the Battalion returned to the Peninsula, arriving at Lisbon with 920 men under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Cameron. Their first action was at Fuentes D'Onor in early May 1811, when losses amounted to 55 out of the mustered 764 officers and men in the defence of the village. Later in the same month the Battalion was posted to Hill's 2nd Division which formed part of the force covering the siege operations at Badajoz in June 1811; on 28 October 1811 the 92nd took part in Hill's action at Arroyo dos Molinos, where the French were surprised and routed. Reputedly, the 92nd was the first battalion to enter the village at half-past six in the morning, with the pipers playing 'Hey, Johnny Cope, are ye waukin' yet?'

Remaining with Hill's force in 1812, the 92nd saw further action with the raid on the bridge at Almaraz; the men distinguished themselves during the fighting and were awarded the honour 'Almaraz', the 92nd becoming one of the few regiments to hold that particular honour. A year later the 92nd saw further action at Vittoria; casualties were light.

On 25 July 1813, half a battalion of the 92nd formed up in line across the crest of a ridge at Maya Pass. In The Life of a Regiment, The History of the Gordon Highlanders, Lieutenant-Colonel Gardyne describes how the men held back an entire French division; however, over three days the 92nd lost 67 killed, 278 wounded and 22 missing, consisting approximately 43% of their effective strength. On 30 July 1813, the 92nd lost a further 10 killed and 27 wounded during the combat of Lizasso and Beunza.

There followed a period of skirmishing as the 92nd pursued General d'Erlon over the Pass of Donna Maria on 31 July 1813:

'They came up with the rear-guard about noon, when serious skirmishing took place in the woods. The main body of d'Erlon's troops had by this time gained the pass, the road to which leads up a steep rocky hill covered with trees and brushwood. Their skirmishers being driven in, the main body, several thousand strong, faced about and made a good battle, opening on our troops with a heavy fire of musketry. The 92nd, under Major MacPherson, charged in defiance of shot and numbers, but was repulsed with loss. Again the 92nd charged with a like result. A third time they led the charge, this time joined by the Second Brigade, and the enemy was a last driven over the Pass. Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, under whose eyes the Battalion was engaged, bestowed most flattering encomiums on its gallantry'.

The losses in this action were 6 officers, 3 Sergeants and 76 rank and file wounded, with 8 rank and file killed; the battalion was reduced to just 360 officers and men fit for duty, but in memory of this short but bloody campaign, the 92nd later received Royal authority to bear the word 'Pyrenees' on their colours.

On 10 November 1813, Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron led his men against the redoubts at Ainhoa during the Battle of the Nivelle, and the following month led them once again at the Battle of the Nive; during the latter, the 92nd were attacked in strength suffering 184 casualties. On 17 February 1814 they distinguished themselves in a minor action at Arriverete, where they secured the bridge over the Gave de Mauleon; an impressed Wellington recommended the 92nd be allowed to bear the word 'Arriverete' on its Colours. Fighting their last action at Orthes on 27 February 1814, the men embarked at Pauillac and returned to Cork on 26 July 1814.

Sherris' discharge papers state that he sustained a 'gunshot wound of the left thigh received at Merio, Spain'. He is listed as being with the Regiment for the 1st muster in the roll covering 25 June to 24 September 1813, however for the 2nd and 3rd musters he was returned as being wounded and in Vittoria. He was then transferred to Bilbao where he remained from 25 March to 24 June 1814, before returning home to England.

Sherris remained on the regimental strength until 1 May 1815, having served 9 years and 361 days, before transferring to the 2nd Garrison Battalion for a further year and being discharged at Chelsea on 24 October 1816, when the Regiment was disbanded; he received 10 days money for quarters and 6 days 'marching money'. He was admitted to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, on 8 November 1816, receiving 6d. per day until he died on 14 January 1851, aged approximately 70 years.


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Sold for
£2,200