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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 13

The Military General Service Medal awarded to Sergeant W. Kenny, 43rd Foot, wounded in the breach at Badajoz on 6 April 1812

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Cuidad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria, Toulouse (W. Kenny, Serjt. 43rd Foot.), the rim engraved with pawnbroker's mark before naming, light contact marks and edge wear, very fine

Provenance:
Jubilee Collection, 1887.
Glendining's, May 1992.

William Kenny was born at Firan, County Westmeath circa 1772. Gaining civilian employment as a labourer, he joined the Loyal Irish Fencibles as a Drummer on 1 November 1799 (WO 13/3867). When the Peace of Amiens was signed on 27 March 1802, the Loyal Irish Fencibles were disbanded to reduce government expenditure. Its men volunteered en masse into the 1st Battalion, 43rd Foot (Monmouthshire Light Infantry), then stationed in Guernsey. In 1806 the Battalion moved to Shornecliffe, where it undertook the superb light infantry training organised by Sir John Moore. In 1807 the Battalion took part in the Siege of Copenhagen, fighting alongside the 92nd Foot at the Battle of Køge on 29 August. Kenny lost his left eye from ophthalmia during the expedition.

Stationed at Colchester with the 2nd Battalion for three years, Kenny was drafted into the 1st Battalion at Campo Mayor, Portugal on 2 June 1811. Kenny served during the Siege of Cuidad Rodrigo (clasp), and was promoted to Corporal on 10 February 1812. His left hand was broken during the assault on Badajoz on 6 April, an action in which the 43rd played a prominent role, storming the main breach as part of Craufurd's Light Division (WO 12/5574). He went on to fight at Salamanca, Vittoria and Toulouse (clasps).

After Napoleon's abdication the Battalion returned to England. From 25 June it was based at Stonehouse Barracks, Plymouth. Kenny was promoted to Sergeant on 14 October 1814, and was assigned to Captain Swinburne's No. 3 Company. This Company embarked aboard H.M.S. Woodman when the Battalion sailed from Plymouth for America that very day. The 43rd were part of General Lambert's Reserve during Sir Edward Pakenham's ill-fated assault on New Orleans on 8 January 1815. The Regiment provided covering fire for the 4th, 44th and 93rd Foot as those units withdrew from the American earthworks, but the 43rd were not committed to a frontal attack. Packenham was killed while directing his troops, and command fell to Lambert. The force regrouped on the Isle of Dauphine, off New Orleans, and did not sail for England until May. The 43rd disembarked at Dover on 5 June 1815, too late to participate in the Waterloo Campaign. Kenny appears on the Regiment's Muster as 'sick'.

Kenny was discharged at Plymouth on 31 January 1817, described as 'a gallant soldier' but 'worn out in the service.' In addition to the wound he sustained at Badajoz, his medical report notes that he 'lost his left eye from ophthalmia' (WO 97/586/115). His Commanding Officer described his conduct as 'excellent'. He was admitted to Chelsea Hospital as an In-Pensioner; sold with copied service papers.



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Sold for
£1,900