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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 17

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Salamanca, Vittoria (Philip Aughey, 12th Light Dragoons.), edge knock, good very fine

Provenance:
Spink, 1991.

Philip Aughey was born on 10 November 1788 in Delvin, West Meath and enlisted with the 12th Light Dragoons at Mullingar in 1805. Posted to the Peninsular War in 1811, the unit arrived in Lisbon and joined General "Black Jack" Slade's Brigade. They first saw action at the Battle of Villagarcia on 11 April 1812, where under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Ponsonby they helped to route General Lallemand's cavalry and took over a hundred prisoners. During the Battle of Salamanca, they charged the French twice and again charged the enemy at the decisive Battle of Vittoria, where they helped in the effort of driving King Joseph Bonaparte's army out of Spain.

Under the command of Ponsonby, the Regiment returned to the continent for the Waterloo campaign. During Waterloo, Aughey was in Captain Erskine's troop, no. 3 Squadron. This Squadron led the unit in a charge of Durutte's infantry to support the withdrawal of the Union Brigade, but were heavily attacked by the Chasseurs a Cheval. Those remaining were reorganised into two squadrons and later charged the retreating French troops. After the battle, they marched to Paris with the Army of Occupation.

In July 1815, Aughey was sentenced to 100 lashes 'For Irregular and Unsoldierlike conduct and & Insolence & disobedience of Orders to Serjeant Major White in the execution of his duties in the Morning of 3rd Inst', for which he received 75.

The Regiment was renamed the 12th Royal Lancers in 1817 in response to the effectiveness of French lancers during the War. Back in England in June 1819 while on smuggling duty at Hythe, Aughey was kicked by a horse and had to spend the next month recovering in hospital. He was discharged at Tipperary on 20 November 1820 due to the injuries to his right leg and ankle sustained by the horse kick. On 25 December 1821 Aughey joined the 1st Royal Veteran Battalion, from which he was discharged five years later. Aughey died on 12 February 1859; sold together with copied research.

The Message roll lists him as being entitled to an additional clasp for Nivelle, however his Military General Service medal has clasps only for Salamanca and Vittoria and appears entirely as issued.

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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£800