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Auction: 25002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 68

The 85th (King's Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot earned some 147 Military General Service Medals 1793-1814, of which 19 were to Officers.

The Military General Service Medal awarded to Major-General H. J. French, late 85th (Bucks Volunteers) Regiment of Foot, who after service in Spain during the Peninsular War went with his battalion to North America and fought at the battles of Bladensburg, Baltimore, and New Orleans; the 85th was one of the few Regiments to emerge with credit during the campaign, taking two American colours at Bladensburg and successfully capturing the enemy's defensive line at New Orleans; he would see further service during the Canadian Rebellions of 1837-38

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Nivelle, Nive (H. J. French, Lieut. 85th Foot), a few minor edge knocks, good very fine

Provenance:
Spink, October 1960.
Dix Noonan Webb, December 2003.

Henry John French was born at Preston, Andover, Hampshire, on 27 January 1796 and commissioned Ensign in the 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers) on 27 August 1812 before exchanging - as Ensign - into the 85th (Bucks Volunteers) Regiment of Foot in January 1813 and was promoted Lieutenant in July of that year. The 85th was, unusually, a single-battalion unit and saw long and distinguished service throughout the Napoleonic Wars. Joining his men on campaign in the Iberian Peninsula from August 1813 (likely as a replacement for casualties sustained during one of their many actions prior to that point), French was present for the battles of Nivelle (10 November) and The Nive (9-11 December) before returning home in April 1814 at the conclusion of the war. He was not, however, to rest for long.

In May 1814 the Battalion was ordered abroad again, this time to North America to join the army, some 8,000 strong, being formed under the command of Peninsular veteran Major-General Sir Edward Packenham for operations against American forces in the Chesapeake Campaign.

French also served in the American War in 1814 and 1815. He was present at the actions at Bladensburg on 24 August 1814 under Major-General Ross, at Baltimore on 12 September 1814 under Colonel Brooke; in the action at the creek, near New Orleans, on 23 December 1814 under Major-General Keane, the attack on New Orleans on 28 December 1814, the attack on the right bank of the Mississippi on 8 January 1815, and the investment of Fort Bowyer on 10 February 1815, under Major-General Packenham.

Promoted to Captain in September 1823 French served for two years at Malta and more than five years at Corfu. He became a Major in May 1836 and served with the 85th during the whole of the Canadian Rebellion in 1837-38. French became Lieutenant-Colonel on half-pay with the 85th Foot in July 1846 and immediately took up an appointment as Deputy Quarter-Master General in Jamaica, which position he held for 8 years. French was appointed Colonel of the 80th Foot (South Staffordshire) in June 1854, was promoted to Major-General in September 1867, and died on 25 January 1874.

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Estimate
£4,000 to £6,000

Starting price
£3500