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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 17

(x) Hanovarian Waterloo 1815 (Husar Claus Boeseh, Hus. Rgt. Herzog v. Cumberland), suspension replaced with clip and ring, very fine

The Duke of Cumberland's Hussars service at Waterloo is rather chequered. The British cavalry commander, the Marquis of Anglesey, was horrified at the sight of the unit 'advancing in reverse' and immediately sent his ADC, Capt. Horace Seymour, to order them back, but the entire regiment left the field. Seymour later recorded:

'Lord Anglesey, seeing [the regiment of Cumberland Hussars] moving to the rear (about five o’clock), desired me immediately to halt it. On delivering the order to the Colonel, he told me that he had no confidence in his men, that they were volunteers and the horses their own property. All this time the Regiment continued moving to the rear, in spite of my repeating the order to halt, and asking the Second-in-Command [Major O. F. von Meltzing] to save the character of the regiment by taking command and fronting them. I was unsuccessful, and in the exigence of the moment I laid hold of the bridle of the Colonel’s horse, and remarked what I thought of his conduct; but all to no purpose. [according to Dalton, Seymour used “a few words of plain Saxon”.]

I then returned to Lord Anglesey, and reported what had passed. I was again ordered to deliver the message to the commanding officer of the regiment, that if they would not resume their position in the line, he was to form them across the high road out of fire. They did not even obey this order, but went, as was reported, altogether to the rear.'

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,000

Starting price
£270