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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 26

The Waterloo Medal awarded to Trooper J. Wheeler, 13th Light Dragoons, who was crushed beneath his horse during the action at Campo Maior, an affair which saw Wellington brand the Regiment a 'rabble'

Waterloo 1815 (John Wheeler. 13th Reg. Light Dragons), fitted with original steel clip and replacement bar suspension, edge bruising, contact wear overall, very fine

Purchased Baldwins, January 1983.

John Wheeler was born at Bampton, Oxfordshire in 1791 and enlisted at Slough on 4 September 1809. He was to serve at total of 11 years and 9 months which included service in the Peninsula where he saw action at the rout of Camp Maior.

A French column advancing on Badajoz screened by a large force of Dragoons and Hussars was overtaken by Wellington's cavalry under the command of Major General Long. The 13th leading the advance was ordered to charge the enemy Dragons and despite being outnumbered in the region of three to one the Regiment not only drove off the Dragoons but the Hussars behind them.

The result was a pell-mell pursuit with the French horse completely routed from the field and either killed, captured of dispersed. Unfortunately communication errors in the British command saw the French infantry escape into Badajoz, Wellington was furious and- mistakenly believing the fault to be with the Dragoons- lambasted them calling them a 'rabble', even as Long showered them with praise.

Wheeler was seriously injured in the pursuit as his discharge papers make clear, stating:

'bad leg and being unfit for service in India, occasioned by his Horse falling on him when shot in the shoulder in action at Campo Maior 25th March 1811'

Despite this injury he remained in service and even joined the Waterloo campaign, but as his injury started to assert itself and the Regiment was posted to India his health was found to be too poor for further service. He was discharged at Manchester on 31 December 1818.

Further entitled to a Military General Service Medal with 5 clasps.

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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1100