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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 2

(x) Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Corunna (Jas Chadwick, Royal H. Arty), good very fine

Provenance:
Glendinnings, Elson Collection, 1963.
Spink 1972.
Dix, Noonan, Webb, 2002.

One of 31 members of the Royal Horse Artillery with entitlement to this Medal and single clasp 'Corunna'.

James Chadwick was born at Congleton, Cheshire in 1773 and enlisted at Stockport in 1794 with the Royal Artillery. Posted to Captain Thomas Downman's troop of Royal Horse Artillery, he served in Ireland and later in Spain during the ill-fated Corunna campaign. After a promising start, General Sir John Moore's army withdrew in the face of overwhelming numbers of French troops commanded by Napoleon himself; the retreat was undertaken in terrible conditions along poor roads which for the artillery was a particular challenge. Arriving at Corunna on 11 January 1809, they found no British ships in the harbour and were forced to assume defensive positions. Fortunately the French chose not to attack immediately and the later arrival of the fleet allowed the British to begin embarkation, leaving eight British (and four Spanish) artillery pieces with the army ready to fight it out.

It was now that the French attacked and heavy fighting up and down the British position lasted until nightfall with neither side gaining an advantage - crucially however, the French had been halted and had not driven the British force into the sea. They had, however, lost their leader - Sir John Moore was mortally wounded by French artillery fire and succumbed to his dreadful injuries a short time later.
Meanwhile, Chadwick survived the bitter elements of the retreat and the fighting at Corunna, going on to serve with Captain E. Walcott's Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery. He was discharged at Woolwich on 31 May 1812; sold together with copied research including discharge papers, medal rolls and a map of the Retreat from Corunna.

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

Sold for
£750

Starting price
£480