Watch List notes:

Portrait: A small-sized unsigned portrait of Major-General Sir William Keir Grant, in Cavalry Officers' uniform, wearing many of his Orders and Decorations including the 'Villers-en-Cauchies' gold medal and chain, his right sleeve empty and pinned owing to the loss of his hand, in a card mount, with gilt frame, in good very fine condition. Major-General Sir William Keir-Grant, K.C.B., G.C.H. (1772-1852) was born in 1772, the son of Archibald Keir, H.E.I.C.S., a successful and influential salt merchant based in Calcutta, India, whose family originally hailed from Stirling and had been supporters of the Jacobite cause. William Keir; as he was then known, joined the British Army on 30 May 1792, being gazetted as a Cornet in the 15th (King's) Light Dragoons. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1793, he served with this regiment in Flanders during the campaign of 1793-4, taking part in the battles at Famars and Valenciennes, amongst others. He distinguished himself greatly during April 1794, when a squadron of his regiment saved the Prince of Schwartzemburg from French cavalry during a reconnaissance on 17 April, and then again during his regiment's remarkable involvement in the bloody and hard-fought Battle of Villers-en-Couché, near Cambrai, on 24 April. At this battle, two squadrons of the 15th Light Dragoons (roughly 186 officers and men) under Major William Aylett, and two similarly-sized squadrons of the Austrian Leopold Hussars led by Baron Sentheresky left their supporting troops and overthrew a vastly superior force of French cavalry (roughly 700). Having forced them to retreat, they found that through the smoke, dust and chaos that they had advanced into a position in the face of some 10,000 enemy infantry formed in squares. As stated at that moment by General Otto, the General in command "they had advanced too far to retreat...the attempt (to retreat) would be death with dishonour; the attack perhaps death, but with glory; (and) that the Emperor's safety depended on their courage". Choosing firmly the latter, the 15th charged in front, with the Leopold Hussars taking the enemy's left flank, and pursued their quarry through the French infantry squares, routing the enemy and leaving them in disarray and chaos. In the process of this signal success they (alongside their Austrian cavalry counterparts) killed some 1,200 men, captured three enemy guns, and crucially, saved the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II; who was en route to Coblentz, from being taken captive by the French (Cannon's 'Historical Records of the 15th Hussars' refers). For this the 15th Light Dragoons were given the unique battle honour of 'Villers-en-Couché' for their regimental colours, and the 8 principal officers involved were rewarded for their gallantry with a large gold medal – the personal thanks of the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II (later Francis I of Austria, or the 'Doppelkaiser' owing to his double role as Emperor), with just one kept for the Austrian Imperial Cabinet. The original letter from Baron Thugut to Colonel Aylett, which accompanied these awards on the occasion of their presentation, read as follows: 'Sir, the Emperor remembers, with satisfaction, the distinguished proofs of valour that you, and the other Officers of the 15th Light Dragoons, manifested on the 24th April, 1794, near Cambray. His Majesty regrets, that the statutes of the order of Maria Theresa, confirmed by constant custom, prohibits the cross of this order, strictly national, being conferred on Officers so worthy of being decorated with it; but wishing to give you, as also your honourable companions, a public mark of his particular esteem, his Majesty has commanded a medal to be struck, to perpetuate the remembrance of this brilliant action, and has ordered me to offer to them the only impressions which have been struck, except one, which is placed in the Imperial Cabinet of Vienna. In fulfilling the intentions of his Imperial Majesty, I beg you, consequently, to receive, for yourself, Sir, and to distribute to the other Officers, who, on the memorable 24th April, 1794, fought under your orders, the medals which I have delivered to Captain Ryan. I have the honour to join the assurances of the highest consideration, and have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, Le Baron Thugut.'