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Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 13  27 Nov 2017
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Lot 561

Estimate: 2000 GBP
Price realized: 1900 GBP
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Military Orders and Medals, Single Campaign Medals, A 'Die Hards' Military General Service Medal 1793-1814, 6 clasps, Albuhera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Toulouse; (Thos. Munn, 57th Foot), suspension claw tightened and neat repair to carriage on one side between first two clasps, otherwise, toned very fine
During the early part of the Peninsular War the 57th Foot, which contained a number of turbulent characters in its ranks, received the nickname of the 'Steelbacks', from the amount of flogging administered to the men and the way in which they bore the punishments, but after Albuhera Colonel Inglis' words to his 'fighting villains' caused this soubriquet to be replaced by the Honourable one of the 'Die Hards'. At this bloodiest of battles the 57th had 2 officers and 87 men killed and 21 Officers and 318 men wounded.
The Regiment sustained a further 28 casualties at Vittoria, 75 in the Pyrenees, 64 at Nivelle and 127 at Nive. Sold with extensive copied paperwork confirming entitlement.
(2000-2500 GBP)
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