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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 263

Military General Service 1793-1814, 5 clasps, Barrosa, Vittoria, St Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive (G. Holderness, Serjt. 47th Foot.), good very fine

Provenance:
Glendining's March 1927 & October 1952.
Spink February 1975.

George Holderness was born on 21 May 1785 at Walton, Preston and baptised at Brindle. Enlisting in the 2nd Lancashire Militia on 8 August 1808, serving at home before enlisting from the Militia into the 2nd Battalion, 47th Foot on 7 September 1807. Send to Jersey in June 1808, being camped at Mont-de-la-Mere until being sent for Garrison duty at Gibraltar at the end of September that year. In April 1810 a small detachment was sent from Gibraltar to occupy the Fort at Tarifa, following intelligence the French intended to occupy the Fort and port to give access for provision of supplies from North Africa. In May the remainder of the Battalion were sent to Tarifa. In October they were withdrawn from Tarifa and sent to Cadiz as part of the besieged Garrison, employed in defence works until a plan was formulated to relieve the siege from the south at Tarifa. The Light and Grenadier Companies were selected to form part of this relief force and were placed in Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard's hands on
5 March 1811, having descended the height at Barrosa and entered the wood to the north. On hearing the French attack they formed the 'ammuntion guard' protecting the Artillery from attack by the French sharpshooters and replacing wounded Gunners.

In June, the Light Companies were once again were detached, this time under Lieutenant-Colonel Skerrett as a relief force for the Spanish at Tarrogana who were being besieged by the French. Skerrett deemed it to dangerous for his troops to land and they stood offshore before sailing to Minorca, then returning to Cadiz.

In October 1811, the whole Battalion was once more under the command of Skerrett to defend Tarifa. The French advanced with an Artillery train, setting up in December, opening fire on 29 December, quickly creating a breach in the walls the following day. Preparing for an attack the 87th were positioned at the breach with the 2nd Battalion supporting creating a 'killing ground' as the French attack was channelled down a gulley. The attack was repulsed with few injuries to the defenders, but heavy losses to the attackers. Returned to Cadiz where they remained until the siege was lifted and they were ordered to march north and join Wellington's Army, en route they defended the bridge Puento Largo at Aranjuez, with the 95th they held off the pursuing French allowing Hill's Division to slip away towards Madrid and retreat for winter in Portugal.

In May 1813, Wellington had his Army primed and ready to move back into Spain, the first action would take place at Vittoria on 21 June 1813, where as part of Robinson's Brigade they were to attack Gamarra Mayor. The French army was routed with King Joseph fleeing leaving the spoils from the baggage littering the battle ground. Wellington's Army would split in pursuit with Graham's Division heading towards the port of San Sebastian, leading to a siege in early July, this would culminate with a Forlorn Hope of 1,000 bayonets comprised from Robinson's Brigade leading the attack. During this Holderness was in the number and was wounded in the right leg and left wrist. 17 out of 22 Officers and half of the other ranks present became casualties with command of the Battalion devolving upon an Ensign.

Moving rapidly Wellington pushed the French back into France, crossing the Bidassoa, they met at the Nivelle, the 47th being part of a diversionary force - a month later the forces met again at Nive where over three days of fighting the French were pushed further back. Returned to England in August 1814, Holderness was discharged on 24 October 1814. In 1849 he attended the Waterloo and Peninsula Dinner at Preston and in 1855 was admitted as a late pensioner. He died on Charlotte Street, Preston on 29 April 1860, his profession stated as a cotton weaver; sold together with copied death certificate.


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Estimate
£800 to £1,000

Starting price
£600

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