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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 11

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Talavera, Barrosa, Vittoria (R. Little, Serjt. 87th Foot.), slight edge bruise, good very fine

Robert Little was born circa 1790 at the village of Newtown Butler, County Fermanagh. After joining the Louth Militia, he enlisted into the 2nd Battalion, 87th (Prince of Wales's Irish) Regiment of Foot on 26 September 1808, receiving a bounty of £9 9s (£780 today). The Battalion landed at Lisbon on 13 March 1809, crossing the River Douro with Sir Arthur Wellesley's army on 12 May. The Regiment formed part of General Beresford's right-hand column, which aimed to outflank Marshal Soult. At Talavera (clasp) on 27/28 July, the 87th were stationed on the Cerro de Medellin ridge during a night attack by French troops under General Ruffin. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the British infantry stalled the French advance. The 87th suffered losses of one officer and 26 men killed, 10 officers and 127 men wounded.

Little's Regiment then joined the mixed British and Spanish garrison of Cadiz, besieged by Marshal Victor from January 1810. On Major-General Graham's initiative, 13,000 men, including the 87th, broke out of the city and engaged the French at Barrosa (clasp) on 5 March 1811. The 87th, led by Major Gough, became locked in a bitter musketry duel with the French 8th Line Regiment. In the bayonet charge which followed, a fierce struggle centred around the French Regiment's Eagle. Ensign Keogh got hold of it but was bayoneted and killed. Sergeant Masterson then twisted its fabric around the shaft of his spontoon, and held on for dear life. The captured Eagle was presented to the Prince Regent, who granted the 87th the right of wearing an Eagle on their Regimental insignia.

Little served with the Regiment at the siege of Tarifa in December 1811. He was severely wounded by a musket ball at Vittoria on 21 June 1813, causing him to be 'disabled in the left knee' (WO 97/962/118). Deemed unfit for further service, he was discharged at the Isle of Wight on 24 January 1814; sold with copied service papers.


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Sold for
£2,000