Lot Archive

Lot

№ 352

.

2 March 2005

Hammer Price:
£1,950

Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Talavera, Vittoria, Nivelle (E. Davies, Lieut., 82nd Foot) edge nicks, nearly extremely fine £1200-1500

Edward (Phineas) Davies, who was born at Oswestry, Shropshire in 1782, was appointed a Temporary Lieutenant in the 36th Regiment in October 1799, direct from the 2nd Battalion, Shropshire Militia, but resigned in the following year in consequence of being unable to purchase a commission.

Then in October 1807, he obtained an Ensigncy - without purchase - in the 82nd Foot, direct from the Royal Denbigh Militia, an appointment that led to him witnessing active service in Spain and Portugal 1809-1813. Having been present at the crossing of the Douro, he fought at the Battle of Talavera on 28-29 July 1809, the Battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813, when he ‘received a severe contusion on the left shoulder from a nine-pound cannon shot’, and at Nivelle on 10 November 1813.

Davies, who also served with his regiment in North America and in France in 1816, gained advancement to Captain in April 1825 during the course of a posting on Mauritius 1819-29. He retired in August 1835 and died at Salop in August 1855.