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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 8

(x) The Military General Service Medal awarded to Private G. Turner, 34th Foot, who suffered a gunshot wound to the ankle in 1813 during the Peninsular Campaign

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Albuhera, Vittoria (Geo. Turner. 34th Foot.), extremely fine, with its original named card box of issue

George Turner was born circa 1789 at Little Lady, Canterbury, Kent and worked as a labourer prior to his enlistment at age 20 on 4 April 1809 with the 34th Regiment of Foot, posted to the 2nd Battalion. Turner was present with his Regiment at the Battle of Albuhera (16 May 1811) where the unit formed part of the 3rd Brigade under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie. They were positioned to the left of Major-General Houghton's Brigade, which suffered staggering casualties, and fired upon the charging Polish Lancers, unfortunately catching retreating Spanish troops in the crossfire. The 34th Foot lost 7 officers and 121 soldiers killed or wounded. The 2nd Battalion again saw action at the Battle of Vitoria (21 June 1813), where they were present in Colonel O'Callaghan's 3rd Brigade and lost 76 men by the end of the Battle.

The 34th Foot was engaged in the combat at Maya Pass on 25 July 1813, where they were part of Major-General Pringle's Brigade in Lieutenant-General Rowland Hill's Corps. To prevent a French counter-attack on his Siege of Pamplona, Wellington ordered Hill's Corps to form a front along the Pyrenees to block the major roads and passes. French Marshal Soult intended to attack towards Pamplona at the Maya Pass, and Pringle's Brigade marched to meet them. The 34th Foot arrived first, with a member of the Regiment later recalling of the experience:

"the pass up was narrow, steep and tiresome, the loads heavy, and the men blown. We laboured on but all too late -- our comrades were all killed, wounded or prisoners."

It was at some point during the ensuing combat at the Maya Pass that Turner suffered a gunshot wound to his ankle while in action. The immediate aftermath of his injury is unknown, but it was severe enough to eventually result in his discharge.

Turner was not present at the Battle of Waterloo as he was discharged on 7 April 1815 at Dublin in consequence of '[ankylosis] of the ankle from a gunshot wound received 25th July 1813 at Maya Pass in Spain, in action with the enemy'. He received a pension and later died in Canterbury on 24 November 1847, his age at the time of his death was erroneously given as 60. George Turner is confirmed upon the roll with entitlement to this medal and clasp combination.


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Sold for
£1,900

Starting price
£480