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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 11

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Salamanca (Thomas Smith, 12th Light Dragoons), minor edge knock, traces of old polish residue, very fine

One of 11 single Salamanca clasps to this unit.

Thomas Smith was born at New Town, Fermanagh, in 1792. He joined the 12th Light Dragoons at Dover on 25 November 1809 and was stationed in Ilford until the Regiment embarked for Portugal in 1811. The unit landed in Lisbon on 25 June under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Ponsonby, and later saw action at the Battle of Villagarcia in April 1812 where they routed French General Lallemand's cavalry, taking over a hundred prisoners.

Smith served at the Battle of Salamanca that July, where he was wounded whilst charging against the retreating French forces. He recovered in hospital until March 1813 and was finally discharged in September of that year 'in consequence of a gun shot wound through the body at Salamanca 22 July 1812', after having served for 3 years and 311 days. According to his pension register, Smith spent most of his life in London until his death on 19 October 1850 at the age of 58; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£800

Starting price
£550