Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Waterloo 1815 (Captain A. C. Craufurd, Volunteer 12th Light Dragoons) fitted with steel clip and ring suspension, very fine
£4000-5000

Ex Seaforth Collection.

Alexander Charles Craufurd was born on 30 June 1794, son of Sir James Gregan-Craufurd, 2nd Baronet, and Maria Theresa Gage. He entered the Army as an Ensign in the 3rd Foot Guards, by purchase, on 28 May 1811, aged 17 years. He purchased a Lieutenancy in the 10th Hussars on 9 December 1813, and, similarly, a Captaincy in the 2nd Ceylon Regiment on 9 June 1814. He was placed on Half Pay in 1815 in consequence of being attached to the 12th Light Dragoons by the Duke of Wellington, with the permission of the Commander-in-Chief, and, in the capacity of Volunteer served at Waterloo with that regiment.

He exchanged to Full Pay as Captain in the 12th Light Dragoons in October 1820 and was promoted to Major in the Army in October 1821. This latter promotion was evidently the result of his representations to the King, in August of that year, when he pointed out that ‘the Duke of Wellington and Colonel Ponsonby, with whose regiment (the same in which I now command a troop) I served as a Volunteer at the battle of Waterloo, both desired me to refer to them on any occasion where their testimony could be of use to me.’

He purchased a Majority in the Cape Corps of Cavalry in August 1824, and removed to the 8th Royal Irish Hussars in June 1825. In what was clearly a well financed career, Craufurd finally purchased a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the 94th Foot on 10 June 1826, but was placed on Half Pay the following day from ill-health. He married, 23 July 1818, Lady Barbara Coventry, daughter of the 7th Earl of Coventry. Lieutenant-Colonel Craufurd died on 12 March 1838, aged 43, without issue. Sold with full statement of services and various Commander-in-Chief’s memorandums.