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Auction: 13001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 155

Military General Service 1793-1814, four clasps, Vimiera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Toulouse (W. Lemon, Serjt. 40th. Foot.), edge bruise, good very fine

Colour Sergeant William Lemon, born Combestock, near Exeter, Devon c.1771; enlisted in the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot with the rank of Corporal, July 1799; served with the Regiment during operations on and off the coast of Egypt, and suffered a wound to the right arm during the heavy fighting on the 21st March 1801, when the French Army ws finally defeated; promoted Sergeant, 1802; served with the Regiment throughout the Peninsula War, from the Battle of Vimiera, August 1808, to Toulouse, April 1814; wounded in the right hand at Badajoz, 1812, his wounds preventing him from taking part in the main assault, and from qualifying for the clasp; served with the Regiment in Captain P. Bishop´s Company during the Waterloo Campaign, 16-18.6.1815, and received a severe fracture to the lower jaw at Waterloo, 18.6.1815; discharged May 1817, after 19 years and 297 days with the Colours, having shown ´much gallantry in front of the enemy.´ (Service papers refer). Colour Sergeant Lemon died, March 1849, before he was able to claim the ´Egypt´ clasp for his medal, which was not sanctioned until 1851.

Provenance: Spink, November 2005

Sold for
£1,800