BRITISH WATERLOO NAPOLEONIC WARS & INDIA MEDALS W. ANDERSON 11TH LIGHT DRAGOONS

Offered is an exceptional multi campaign Napoleonic War and early India campaign medal group to William Anderson, 11th Light Dragoons, having served nearly 20 years with the colours.

Military General Service Medal (1793 ? 1814) with clasp SALAMANCA, impressed named W. ANDERSON, 11^TH?LIGHT DRAGOONS. Army of India Medal (1799 ? 1826), with clasp BHURTPOOR, impressed named W. ANDERSON, 11^TH?L.T DRAG^NS. Court mounted for display. Comes with copy service record and medal rolls.

Provenance:?M.G.S.: W. E. Gray Collection 1898; Sang Collection, Glendining?s, January 1931; Glendining?s, April 1932; Baldwin, March 1963. Army of India: Carlton S. Gifford Collection, Glendining?s, May 1985. M.G.S., Army of India pair, Chelsea Military Antiques, May 2008. Waterloo medal not sighted, most likely never issued or applied for.

William Anderson,?was born in Walton, York in 1791. He enlisted into the 11th Light Dragoons on the 28/7/1808 for unlimited service. He served for nearly 20 years until medically discharged 8/7/1829 due to a ?fractured neck and thigh after a fall from a horse whilst on duty?. He served his entire time in the 11th. Nearly 10 of those years in India 12/7/1819 ? 20/6/1829.

Peninsular Campaign: The 11^th?were in Ireland when they were sent to Spain and Portugal to reinforce Wellington's army. Their strength, normally around 300 in peacetime was raised to 725. They arrived in June 1811.

22^nd?June, a dawn attack by the French in woods between Elvas and the Guadiana forced the 11th to retire on to what they thought were friendly Portuguese lines. When they realised they were French, their commander Capt Lutyens ordered the charge they were able to drive their way through, but a second line of enemy troops was able to resist them. They lost 8 killed, 22 wounded and 77 taken prisoner.

The regiment had more success at El Bodon near Cuidad Rodrigo on 25th September.??A large force of French cavalry was threatening Allied infantry and artillery on the plain in front of the 11th and a squadron of the King's German Legion who were well placed on high ground. Although they were vastly outnumbered the 11th and KGL charged at the enemy again and again, 20 times in all.

The 11th were part of Wellington's great victory over Marmont at Salamanca on 22/7/1812 but by 3/4/ 1813 they had to give up their horses and embark for England. It had been a hard two years for they lost 417 men and 555 horses.

Note: only 98 Military General Service Medals were issued to the 11^th?Light Dragoons for the campaign, with only 87 of them with clasp ?SALAMANCA?.

Waterloo 1815: 11th arrived at Ostend on 2nd April. They were in Vandeleur's brigade with the 12th and 16th and had an unprecedented strength of 947 men. They came under heavy attack at?Quatre Bras?but did not suffer badly. On the 18th June 1815 the Battle of Waterloo began. It was a frustrating morning for the British cavalry who had to stand and watch an infantry battle. The 11th under the command of Lt Col Money were sent into action when it looked as if the enemy were breaking up. They broke a French infantry square and carried on with the pursuit of fleeing French soldiers. William was in Captain James Bourchier's Troop for the battles and is on the roll for Waterloo, it is also entered on his service papers as any survivor of the battle was granted 2 years? service towards a pension.

The 11^th?lost 2 officers killed and 5 wounded, 10 other ranks killed, 34 wounded and 25 missing. Total casualties 76 from a strength of 390.

India: February 1819 the 11^th?was posted to India. They were stationed at Cawnpore and Meerut and did not see serious fighting until 1825 when they took part in the siege of Bhurtpore. enemy were aided by a British deserter, Bombadier Herbert who instructed the Indian artillery making them more effective.

After a five week siege, the mining endeavours of the engineers and bombardment by the artillery had weakened the defences enough for Combermere to order an attack. Bellingham Smith led 80 men and 2 Lieutenants into the fortress after an enormous explosion had created a breach big enough to storm through. The explosion killed many inside and some outsite the walls. Enemy resistance did not last long and large groups fled on horseback pursued by the 11th Light Dragoons. They took many prisoners and captured the unfortunate Herbert who was hanged from the nearest tree. The regiment's casualties were 2 men killed, one officer and 12 men wounded and 4 horses killed.

There were just 198 clasps issued to the 11^th?for Bhurtpore.