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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 24

(x) Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. William Read [sic.], 3rd Batt. 14th Reg. Foot.), original steel clip and split-ring suspension, nearly extremely fine

William Reed was born at Buckland, Devonshire in 1798. After joining the South Devonshire Militia, he was gazetted as an Ensign to the 3rd Battalion, 14th (Buckinghamshire) Regiment of Foot on 13 January 1814. Made up of volunteers from militia units, this newly-formed Battalion might not have fought at Waterloo at all. Ensign George Keppell, aged 16, recorded:

'The third battalion of the 14th Foot, which I now joined, was one which in ordinary times would not have been considered fit to be sent on foreign service at all, much less against an enemy in the field. Fourteen of the officers and three hundred of the men were under twenty years of age. These last, consisting principally of Buckinghamshire lads fresh from the plough, were called at home "the Bucks," but their un-Buckish appearance abroad procured for them the appellation of the "Peasants."'

Quartered at Brussels in early May 1815, the Battalion was intended to act as Antwerp's garrison, until its commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Tidy, protested to Lord Hill by recalling the 14th's splendid conduct at Corunna. This seems to have worked, for as the 14th drilled in Brussels' Grand Place, Wellington turned to Hill and said:

'They are a very pretty little battalion. Tell them they may join the grand division as they wish.'

Aged just 17, Reed served in Captain W. Ross's No. 10 (Light) Company at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June. Part of Mitchell's 4th Brigade in Colville's 4th Division, the 14th held Wellington's right flank. While most of the Battalion sheltered on the reverse slope, the Light Company, with four companies of the 51st Foot, formed a skirmish line in a hollow just north of Hougoumont, rendering invaluable service to its garrison throughout the day.

Promoted to Lieutenant on 26 June 1815, Reed transferred to the 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot on 18 July 1816. Advancing to Captain in 1825, he died just days after his promotion to Major on 1 December 1837.


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Sold for
£2,400