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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 204

The Military General Service Medal to Private H. Gillett, 13th Foot, wounded alongside his brother in the legendary defence of Lacolle Mills, when a dogged British force - outnumbered at least 8 to 1 - gallantly threw off American attacks in this heated engagement of the War of 1812

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Guadaloupe (H. Gillett, 13th Foot), edge bruising, very fine

Provenance:
Glendining's, December 1911 and 1969.

Confirmed as having been wounded during the action as per The 13th Regiment at Lacolle Mill, compiled for the Regiment by D. C. L. Gosling in 1969.

Henry Gillett was born in 1791 at Illchester, Somerset and was a labourer upon his enlistment in April 1809. Swiftly despatched overseas, he was present at the capture of Guadaloupe and was subsequently posted to Canada. Serving in Captain Holgate's Light Company, he was stationed at Ile Aux Noix and was with the detachment of the 13th Foot posted to the blockhouse of Lacolle Mills, on the Lacolle River close to the American border.

A most gallant defence

Having been defeated at Chrystler’s Farm in November 1813, American Major-General J. Wilkinson had taken his Army to winter over at French Mills, just inside the border. With his grip on command slipping, he needed a victory to galvanise his men and the campaign overall. It was towards the end of March 1814 his sights turned on Lacolle Mills. Marching with a force of 4,000 men against the Mills, he arrived on the afternoon of 30 March and opened fire with one of the 11 artillery pieces at disposal. The defenders were vastly outnumbered, but were able to call upon a section of Royal Marine Artillery to reply with Congreve Rockets.

It was now the Light and Grenadier Companies launched a bayonet charge against the American artillery emplacements, but they were far outnumbered and were repulsed. It was during these bayonet charges by the Light Company that Gillett was wounded in the right thigh.

Stationed within earshot were some Canadian Voltigeurs and the Grenadier Company, Canadian Fencibles. They marched to reinforce the defenders. Wading through icy water and through the American lines and opened fire on American Artillery, its Commander, his replacement and many of the gun crews.

The Americans also came under fire from gunboats of Commander Daniel Pring, Royal Navy, who had brought his vessels up the Richelieu River from Ile aux Noix to the mouth of the Lacolle River.

By evening, the Americans had made little impression on the British defences, who had held firm throughout the onslaught. Of the 400 who participated, 11 were killed, 44 (including Gillett) were wounded whilst a further 4 were missing.

Gillett survived his wounds and was discharged at Camp O'Delltown in August 1814 and was described as '...a most excellent attentive good solider' by Lieutenant-Colonel Williams before being admitted to Chelsea Hospital on 22 December 1814; sold with copied service record and research.

For the Medal to his brother, also a defender, please see the following Lot.

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Sold for
£2,100