For sale is a Military General Service Medal (1793 – 1814) with clasp CORUNA, impressed named B. HODSON. 1ST FOOT GUARDS. It comes with copies of service records and medal rolls.

Sergeant Benjamin Hodson was born about 1776 in Blackedge, Stafford. A gunsmith by trade he enlisted into the 1st Foot Guards on 20/1/1790 with the service #38. He served with the 1st Foot Guards until discharging on 9/12/1812.

A good soldier he was promoted to Corporal within 2 years, and Sergeant 3 years later a position which he held for just over 9 years until discharging and enlisting into the Blackheath Regiment Of West Kent (Local Militia).

He qualified for his medal and clasp ‘Corunna’ when the British Army was evacuating from Corunna in 1809. The French were pressing the British Army who were attempting to evacuate via the Royal Navy. The British Army was demoralised after the long retreat and the pressing of the French army. The arrival of the Guards Regiment put fresh hart in the demoralised Army. They were committed as part of the reserve and with the 42nd (Black watch) halted the French break through at a critical time. The British successfully evacuated that night.

It would appear that he deployed to the failed Walcheren Campaign later that year, hence the Walcheren fever entry on his record. On leaving the Regular Army, he served for a further 3 years with the Militia completing just over 18 years before discharging with a pension.