Noonans Mayfair
Los 423
Waterloo 1815 (John Edwards, Gunner, Royal Horse Artillery) fitted with original steel clip and later silver straight bar suspension, edge bruising, nearly very fine £1,200-£1,600 --- Provenance: Sold with a hand-written note that reads: ‘Jordan 1900. It is with all sincerity that I offer my father’s Waterloo Medal which I hope will be accepted by Mrs. Naylor of Leighton Hall for her past and present kindness to me. [Signed] John Edwards.’ Two men with the name John Edwards served as Gunners in the Royal Horse Artillery during the Waterloo Campaign. This medal is believed to be that awarded to the Gunner John Edwards who served in Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Hew Ross’s “A” (‘Chestnut’) Troop at Waterloo, on the basis that he came from Newtown, Montgomeryshire, barely five miles from the Leighton Hall referred to the letter of provenance referred to above. A letter from this man addressed to his brother, dated Saint Deinanens [sic - St. Dennis], France, on 14 July 1815, was published in The Waterloo Archive, edited by Lieutenant-Colonel M. E. S. Laws: ‘Brother, I reseved your Kind Letter and I am Happy to Hear from you and with Plesur. I take up my pen to informe you That I am in Good Helth at present and I hope you and your wife and family are the same. After wee marched from Birmingham to Warley wee remained theire but a short time, the rout came for us. We marched to Woolwich and were fitted out for pursuing searvice and messing. Happy I was we were reddy in 14 Dayes then wee embarked at Ramsgate and after a plesunt passage of 24 oures at sea were landed at hostend in Flanderes. Flanderes is a very fine cunterey and very fine Groves and Riveres and one of the finest Knells in the woorld, wee marched through Brussels and Gent and other fine townes. It was at Brussels where Louis the 18th was. I seed him there 2 or 3 times. Wee Remained ther 12 Dayes. The Rout came at 11 o'Clock on that Evning of the 15 June. wee marched all that night and it rained verrey hard all that night the action of the 16th begun before we could get up. wee were soon a nuff to see the King's Life Guards and 7th and 1st Germany and Scotch Greys charge the french and they lost about 400 smothered in a Bogg. The 16th and 17th it rained verrey hard and we were at camp with our Horses in our hands and nothen in our aversacks. At 8 o'clock on the 18th Jun the general action begun on our right flank. Our troop was posted in the senter right and left of the main road. 3 guns one side and 8 on the other. Wee been at the tread they put us whare they thought there would be more danger. At about 9 o'clock the french brought 28 gunnes opposite our gunnes and then the game began, harmies and troops (illegible). Every man that never seed a bullet would a thought that the world was at a end. about half-past 10 o'clock the French Emperial Guardes dressed in steel armour back and brest plates, they way about 32 pounds, charged up the maine road till they came within 600 yardes they extended rite and left of the road. Wee fired case shot at them and swep them of like a swathe of grass before a syth. The ground was cuvered with men and horses in 5 minutes. Wee limbered up but before wee could move one yard the french was all round us. Me and four more of our Gunners left the gun and formed up with the 1st German Horse and charged the french cavallery, wee swept through the four times. With a good horse and a sharpe sord I caused 5 of them to fall to the ground. My horse reseved 4 cuts as I could not guard my horse and my self at one time. I have the onner of waren a blue and red ribbon as a marke of that day. Wee soon got either gun in action againe, only 4 men to man her and up to our knees in mud. Colonel Ross lost 5 horses shot under him. My gun was struck several times with the french shots. The prussians came up at 6 o'clock and then the charge was sounded from Right to Left. The french left behind them 2 hundred and ten guns and 7 hundred waggons, and the ground covered with men and horses four or five miles. Louies the 18 marched over the ground that day after and I seed him pass through the town to Parris on the 7th of this month. John Edwards P.S. My account may not be quite so great as you have it in England - so my papper is dun and I must give over. Pleased to give my best respects to your wife and Little John and Margaret. I should be verrey happy if you will send directions to Catherine where to writte to me. I should be verry happy of reseving a letter from her. I have sent to mother and my unkel but I have lost Richards directions. my cuzen was to send word back when you reseve this hand and I may know you have got it. This town is 6 miles from Paris. everything is very cheep Brandy 1-6 a bottle and a wine 0.0.10 pence a bottle. So l remain your loving Brother.’ Sold with copied research.
