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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 15

The Waterloo Medal awarded to Lieutenant H. Martin, 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot, who was wounded at Bergen-op-Zoom and later penned a swift but fascinating account of his experiences at the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo which was highly-prized by his family back home

Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. Henry Martin, 2nd Batt. 44th. Reg. Foot.), suspension replaced with silver loop and bar, very fine and better

Henry Martin was commissioned Ensign (without purchase) in the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot on 28 May 1812, having volunteered for the Regular Army from the Worcestershire Militia, in which he had served as a Captain since at least January 1809. Both battalions of the 44th served with much distinction during the Napoleonic Wars, the 1st seeing especially active service in North America during the War of 1812 (where they fought at Bladensburg, North Point, and New Orleans) and the 2nd participating in several major engagements during the Peninsular War - including Fuentes de Onoro, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz and Salamanca, at which latter battle in July 1812 Lieutenant William Pearce captured the Imperial Eagle of the French 62nd Regiment of Infantry.

After the abortive siege and retreat from Burgos in September of that year, the 2nd Battalion returned home and Martin was with them for their next overseas deployment, the siege and assault on the fortified city of Bergen-op-Zoom, in March 1814. In a badly-managed attack which underestimated the size and resolve of the French defenders, over 2,000 of the British force (half its' strength) were killed, wounded or captured - and amongst the wounded was Ensign Henry Martin (London Gazette, 14 March 1814, p.563 refers). Promoted Lieutenant shortly afterwards to fill spaces caused by casualties during that operation, Martin and the 44th remained in the Low Countries until reassigned to the Duke of Wellington's army being formed for the Hundred Days Campaign.

Quatre Bras and Waterloo

Posted to Lt-Gen. Sir Thomas Picton's 5th British Infantry Division, the men of the 44th paraded with a number of famous Peninsula regiments including the 28th, 32nd, 92nd and the 95th Rifles; all their commanders had served with distinction in Spain and Portugal and it was therefore a Division of enormous experience and professional skill. Being rushed into action at Quatre Bras on 16 June, the 44th were soon in the thick of the fighting and at one point things became desperate when the battalion was charged by a regiment of French lancers which had been concealed in a dip in the ground: lacking time to form square, the 44th rallied round the Colours and a desperate hand-to-hand engagement developed. Fortunately, however, the square was eventually formed and the cavalry repulsed - but not without heavy casualties: Martin was lucky not to be amongst their number.

After the retreat from Quatre Bras to the ridge at Waterloo, Picton's division found themselves posted to the very centre of Wellington's line - a situation that gave them no respite from their labours two days' previously; brigaded with the 92nd (Gordon) Highlanders, the 44th opposed Marcognet's column during d'Erlon's vast infantry assault and Martin would have shortly after witnessed at close-hand the famous charge of the Scots Greys, who thundered through the ranks of the scotsmen on their right and turned d'Erlon's retreat into a rout. By the end of the battle the 44th had their Commanding Officer, all the captains, all but three of the ensigns, and two of the eleven lieutenants wounded (The Waterloo Roll Call, Charles Dalton, refers). It was likely some of these latter officers that Martin referred to in a letter to his father, dated 29 June 1815:

'My dear Father,

Ever since the battle of the 18th we have been rapidly advancing towards Paris, & this is the first opportunity I have had of letting you know that I am perfectly well. I will give as good an account as I can of what we have been doing since the 15th on which we were ordered to be ready to march at a moments notice. At about 4 o'Clock in the morning of the 16th, we were all march'd for Brussells towards Charleroi - after a long day's march we came up with the Prussians who were engaged. Our division was brought up to support them, & we were fighting from about 4 o'Clock till dark, during which time we were repeatedly charged by French Quirassiers [sic], but who were always repulsed with great loss. Our Regt. lost two officers kill'd & about 13 wounded, with about 150 men.

We lay on the field that night, & the next day we retired about 7 miles to a very good Position on the Brussells road; & on the 18th the French attack'd us at ten o'Clock. The fight continued the whole day, & about 7 at night were gaining a little ground on the right, when the Prussians (who were expected before) made their appearance, which entirely decided the day. The French ran in great confusion, & our cavalry & the Prussians made terrible havoc among them. You will of course have seen the official acct. of the Action, which I believe to have been the most sanguinary that ever was. Three officers & myself were the only ones not wounded in either action. Fortunately we have just had five officers join us from Ostend.

We are now within 20 leagues of Paris. You must excuse this writing; there are four or five officers waiting round me for this pen, which bad as it is, I believe is the only one amongst us. I am writing this on the top of my cap, but the first moment I can write decently to you I will. Pray give my love to my mother Isabella, Ann & Fanny, not forgetting my kind friends at [W...].'

Martin was placed on the Half-Pay list in 1816 upon the reduction of the 44th, a note in his papers stating: 'Not desirous of serving with the rank of Lieutenant'. Sold with some copied research; a copy of the letter written to his father can be accessed at:

https://www.explorethepast.co.uk/2015/06/henry-martin-and-the-battle-of-waterloo/

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Sold for
£9,000

Starting price
£2800