Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Waterloo Medal awarded to Lieutenant James M’Conchy, 32nd Foot, wounded at Quatre Bras on the 16th June whilst carrying the Regimental Colour, and severely wounded at Waterloo on the 18th June
Waterloo 1815 (Lieut. James M’Conchy, 32nd Regiment Foot) fitted with original steel clip and contemporary ornate silver bar suspension, minor marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine £2500-3000

Ex Needes Collection 1939.

James M’Conchy was slightly wounded whilst carrying the Regimental Colours at Quatre Bras on the 16th June, and severely wounded in the left shoulder at Waterloo on the 18th June. At the battle of Quarte Bras, ‘in the second charge a shell burst right on the colours, took away the silk of the regimental colour and the whole of the right section of the fifth company, amongst whom was my lamented friend Captain Whitty; his head was literally blown to atoms. M’Conchy, who held the colour that suffered, was only slightly wounded.’ (Ref Historical Records of the Cornwall Light Infantry, Colonel Swiney).

James M’Conchy was born in County Antrim in 1791, and purchased an Ensigncy in the 32nd Regiment in January 1813. He served in the South of France from March to July 1814, and in Belgium and France from April to December 1815. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 20 July 1815, and went on half pay in May 1817, on reduction of the regiment; appointed Lieutenant in the 58th Regiment, June 1818, by paying the difference, but was again placed on half pay on reduction of that regiment. In July 1820, he was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment, without purchase, and in March 1824, transferred to the 48th Regiment, again without purchase.
The 32nd had numbered 674 officers and men on the 14th June; of these 17 officers and 245 men had been lost (killed and wounded) at Quatre Bras, and 10 officers and 273 men at Waterloo.