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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 591

Pair: Lieutenant G. Butcher, 11th Light Dragoons

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Salamanca (G. Butcher, Serjt. Major, 11th Lt. Dragns.); Waterloo 1815 (Reg. Serj. Maj. G. Butcher, 11th Reg. Light Dragoons), replacement integral straight bar suspension, the first nearly extremely fine, the second with edge bruising and light contact marks, therefore nearly very fine (2)

Provenance:
A. A. Payne Collection, 1908.
Mackenzie Collection, 1934.
Baldwin's, February 1954.

George Butcher was born at Woodbridge, Suffolk in October 1784. He enlisted into the 11th Light Dragoons at Ipswich on 30 December 1799, aged 15. The Muster Rolls of 1800 show him serving in Captain Sleigh's Troop. Butcher was rapidly promoted, rising to Sergeant by 1805 (see WO 25/783).

Stationed at Hythe, Kent in 1804-5, at the height of the invasion scare, the 11th then saw service in Ireland at Cork, Clonmel and Dublin. In 1809 they were involved in the capture of the renegade British soldier and Highwayman William Brennan, whose capture is celebrated in the ballad "Bold Brennan on the Moor". The 11th embarked for the Peninsula at Plymouth in April 1811 with a strength of 725 officers and men. Shortly after landing in Portugal they were ambushed by French patrols at San Martin de Trebejo, near Badajoz. Forced to take cover in a cherry orchard, the Regiment's nickname became 'The Cherrypickers'. A fierce cavalry action followed at El Bodon near Cuidad Rodrigo on 25 September, in which the 11th charged repeatedly and routed the French after heavy losses. Butcher was present at the Battle of Salamanca on 22 July 1812.

The Regiment returned to England in June 1813. Butcher was promoted to Troop Sergeant-Major in September 1814 and Regimental Sergeant-Major in January 1815, serving in this important rank during the Waterloo Campaign. Part of Vandeleur's Brigade, the 11th fought at Genappe during the withdrawal from Quatre Bras on 17 June, and made a brave counter-charge against French lancers pursuing the Union Brigade at 2.30 p.m. during the Battle of Waterloo. The Union Brigade, exhausted after their famous charge against D'Erlon's Corps, would almost certainly have been annihilated without Vandeleur's intervention. Butcher remained with the Regiment during the occupation of Paris. In recognition of his services he was commissioned a Cornet in the 11th Light Dragoons on 12 October, becoming Adjutant of the Regiment that same day (WO 12/988).

Advancing to Lieutenant on 8 November 1818, he served in India with the Regiment from February 1819. He was on leave in Europe during the siege and capture of Bhurtpoor, though the Regimental History records him as being present. He returned to England in 1829, and was promoted to Captain in November 1834. He retired on 14 March 1837 after 37 years with the Colours (or rather, the Guidon). He married Ann Benson at Marlesford, Suffolk on 6 January 1832, fathering four children; sold with copied service papers and clasp confirmation.



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Sold for
£3,200