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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 25

Military General Service 1793-1814, 4 clasps, Talavera, Albuhera, Vittoria, Toulouse (John Lavender, Serjeant, 3rd Dragoon Guards.), good very fine

John Lavender was born in 1781 in Wellington, Salop, where he later enlisted at age 18 with the 3rd Dragoon Guards, with whom he entered the Peninsular War on 28 July 1809. They disembarked at Lisbon under Lieutenant-Colonel Calcraft, with Lavender serving in Captain Brice's 4th Troop throughout the war. The unit first saw action a few months later at the Battle of Talavera where they supported General Anson's Light Brigade charge, and Lavender was appointed Serjeant from Private later that year. They served in Brigadier General Long's cavalry at Los Santos on 16 April 1811 where they took 150 prisoners after charging and breaking over 500 French cavalry. Lavender saw further action at the war's bloodiest battle, Albuera, during which the Regiment was positioned on the small bridge crossing the Albuera River and there they drove back four platoons of Polish Vistula Lancers. They routed the French at Usagre on 25 May 1811, taking many enemy prisoners at little cost to their own unit. They later joined General 'Black Jack' Slade's Brigade in January 1812.

Lavender was taken a prisoner of war at the Battle of Maguilla in June 1812, called 'the unluckiest combat that was ever fought by the British cavalry during the Peninsular War'. Slade led his brigade in an eight-mile pursuit of General Lallemand's cavalry, unaware that French reserve troops were waiting for them at the end of the chase. The French counter attack was disastrous, and the ill-fated British charge prompted the Duke of Wellington to comment 'it is occasioned entirely by the trick our officers of cavalry have acquired, of galloping at everything - and then galloping back as fast as they galloped on the enemy'. 56 other members of the unit were taken prisoner alongside Lavender.

Lavender rejoined his regiment from captivity on 23 July 1812 and again saw action with his Regiment in June 1813 at the Battle of Vittoria, where they made several charges late in the day. They were later present at the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814 though did not participate in the action, and returned home the following July. After nearly 25 years of service, Lavender was discharged at Manchester in consequence of 'having been worn out in the service', his conduct noted as 'good…served the whole of the Peninsula Campaign'. Census records document that Lavender later lived in Birmingham and worked at an iron foundry. He died at age 70 in Warwickshire, his death reported by Amelia Lavender, a possible wife or daughter; sold together with copied research.


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Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£800