1793-1814 MGSM 12 clasps Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco, ...

Hammer

£7,000

1793-1814 MGSM 12 clasps Roleia, Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse & 1815 Waterloo Medal to William Vile 1st Batt 40th Reg Foot (W. Vile Serjt 40th Foot on MGSM) MGSM with minor contact marks, very fine, Waterloo with replacement clip and ring, brooch mounting marks to obverse, numerous contact marks, naming re-tooled, fair/fine, rare. There are four 13 clasps MGSMs to Regiment, but this is the only 12 clasp (the others also have Nive).
With good range of copied research, he would almost certainly have served in the New Orleans Expedition in 1814 when the Regiment was shipped straight from France to New Orleans, and later is mentioned as part of the first detachment acting as guards on the convict ship Albion to Australia 1823-24. "Lieut Low commanded the guard detachment. Although not an overly experienced officer, he had with him sergeants John Baker and William Vile who had both served in the Peninsular War, Vile had been with the Regiment from 1808 to 1814 taking part in 12 engagements, both had been at Waterloo. NSW records show Vile arrived in Australia with his family. Vile reported the loss of 26 Spanish dollars when his property box was broken into during transit. The pair were re-united in 1995. (See photo) (R)