Lot 5
Waterloo Medal awarded to Private John Denby, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, Lt Col Edward Staples Company
At Sea, On Land & In The Air | M24003
Auction: 24 September 2024 at 18:30 BST
Description
Waterloo Medal awarded to Private John Denby, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, Lt Col Edward Staples Company, who was Wounded at the Battle of Waterloo, comprising Waterloo Medal 1815 (John Denby. 3rd Batt. Grenadier Guards.), replacement suspender, edge bumps, lightly toned very fine. (1)
After a fierce encounter at Quatre Bras on June 16th, 1815, in which the 3rd Battalion suffered heavy casualties, Wellington's Army withdrew to Waterloo, and on Sunday June 18th, was fought the battle in which the Regiment gained its present title and undying fame. During the morning, the light companies of the Guards defended the farm of Hougomont, the light companies of the 1st Guards being withdrawn later to join their Battalions - the 2nd and 3rd Battalions. At evening, these two Battalions, together forming the 1st Brigade, were in position behind the ridge which gave shelter to the Army. At this point Napoleon directed his final assault with fresh troops - the Imperial Guard, which had hitherto been maintained in reserve. That assault was utterly defeated, and, in honour of their defeat of the Grenadiers of the French Imperial Guard, the 1st Guards were made a Regiment of Grenadiers and given the title of "First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards" which they bear to this day. The Grenade was adopted as a badge and the Bearskin Cap was worn after Waterloo.
Private John Denby joined the Grenadier Guards on the 25th of November 1803, he saw service in the Peninsula War, being awarded the Military General Service Medal 1793-1814 with the clasps Vittoria and Toulouse. He was present at Waterloo with the 3rd Battalion, the Medal Roll for Waterloo stating "Wounded", he was discharged from the Army on the 19th of September 1816
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