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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 264

The Military General Service Medal awarded to Private John Vickers, 47th Foot, who lost his right arm above the elbow during the campaign

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Barrosa (John Veckers, 47th Foot), edge bruising, very fine

Provenance:
Glendining's 1903.
Blair Collection 1937.
Baldwin's 1955.

John Veckers/Vickers was born at Bolton, Lancashire on 11 March 1803 and enlisted in the 1st Lancashire Militia before volunteering for the 47th Foot on 29 August 1807.

In June 1808 the unit were sent to Jersey, camped at Mont-de-la-Mere until being sent for Garrison duty at Gibraltar. By April 1810 a small detachment was sent from Gibraltar to occupy the Fort at Tarifa, following intelligence that the French intended to occupy the Fort and port to give access for supplies from North Africa. In May the remainder of the Battalion were sent to Tarifa. Withdrawn from Tarifa in October and sent to Cadiz as part of the besieged Garrison, they were employed in defence works until a plan was formulated to relieve the siege from the south at Tarifa. The 2nd Battalion Light and Grenadier Companies were selected to form part of this relief force and were placed in Lieutenant-Colonel Barnard's detachment.

Reaching the heights of Barrosa and entering the woods below on 5 March 1811, on hearing of the French attack they formed the 'ammunition guard' protecting the Artillery from attack by the French sharpshooters and replacing wounded Artillery men.

In June 1811, the Light Companies were once again 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 too dangerous for his troops to land and they stayed 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 and opened fire on 29 December. It took them only a day with accurate fire to open up a breach in the walls. Preparing for an attack the 87th were positioned at the breach with the 2nd Battalion, 47th Foot supporting and creating a 'killing ground' as the French attack was channelled down a gulley. The attack was repulsed due to their staunched work with heavy losses to the French.

The 47th were returned to Cadiz where they remained until the siege was lifted. Following this they were ordered to march north and join Wellington's army, en route they defended the Puento Largo bridge at Aranjuez, together with the 95th holding off the pursuing French thus allowing Hill's Division to slip away for winter in Portugal.

This was the last action by the unit and they marched in extreme conditions with very little food.

Vickers served 6 years 4 months and was discharged to Chelsea Pension on 8 February 1814, in consequence of having 'lost right arm above elbow in Spain'. It seems possible he lost his arm at Puento Largo rather than at Barrosa or Tarfia. The muster lists show him 'sick' May/June 1813 and invalided to England on 3 June. He died at Turton Street, Little Bolton from apoplexy on 28 February 1861; sold together with copied research.




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Sold for
£1,300

Starting price
£600