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Auction: 13001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 150

Military General Service 1793-1814, one clasp, Chrystler´s Farm (Thos. Ward, Serjt. 89th. Foot), minor edge bruise, good very fine

Sergeant Thomas Ward, born St. Paul´s, Dublin c.1791; enlisted in the 89th Foot, November 1811; served with the Regiment in North America, and present at the Battles of Chrystler´s Farm, 11.11.1813, and Lundy´s Lane, 25.7.1814- despite not allowed as a clasp to the M.G.S., the later battle was a much larger and harder-fought affair between a British force approximately 2,800 strong and an American force approximately 3,800 strong, in which the 89th played a major part: ´Trophies were almost evenly divided, the Americans carrying off one British gun, which they mistook for one of their own, and leaving two of their own behind them. The brunt of the action fell on the 89th, which went into action about four hundred strong and lost two hundred and seventeen killed and wounded, and upon the Royal Scots. Altogether it was a stout little fight, honourable alike to Americans and British´ (Fortescue refers). Ward sailed with the Regiment to India in July 1817, advanced Sergeant, April 1823; served with the 89th during the First Burma War 1824-26 (entitled to Army of India Medal with clasp Ava); discharged, June 1827, after 15 years and 221 days with the Colours; died at home in Nottingham, March 1872.

Provenance: Glendining, November 1992.

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£7,000