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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 266

The Military General Service Medal awarded to Serjeant R. Little, 87th Foot, present when his unit captured a French Eagle at Barrosa and subsequently severely wounded by a musket ball to the knee at Vittoria

Military General Service 1793-1813, 3 clasps, Talavera, Barrosa, Vittoria (R. Little, Serjt. 87th Foot), edge bruise, very fine

Ex-Coolidge Hills Collection, USA.

Robert Little was born circa 1790 at Newtown Butler, County Fermanagh. After joining the Louth Militia, he enlisted in he 2nd Battalion, 87th (Prince of Wales's Irish) Foot on 26 September 1808, receiving a bounty of £9-9. The Battalion landed at Lisbon on 13 March 1809, crossing the River Douro with Sir Arthur Wellesley's Army on 12 May. They formed part of General Beresford's right-hand column, which aimed to outflank Marshal Soult. At Talavera 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, they stalled the French advance. The 87th lost one officer and 26 men killed, 10 officers and 127 men wounded.
They then joined the mixed British and Spanish garrison of Cadiz, besieged by Marshal Victor.

At Barrosa 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 on the French 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 when a besieging French force having created a breech in the wall of the fort attacked and were funnelled into a 'killing zone' manned together with the 2nd Battalion, 47th Foot.

He was severely wounded by a musket ball at Vittoria on 21 June 1813, being described as 'disabled in the left knee' . Deemed unfit for further service, he was discharged at the Isle of Wight on 24 January 1814; sold together with copied extracts and research.


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Sold for
£2,300

Starting price
£600