Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Peninsular War group to Lieutenant-General Henry Rainey, C.B., K.H., 82nd Foot and Portuguese Army, later Colonel of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers

The Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) breast badge in 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1815, complete with wide swivel-ring suspension and gold ribbon buckle; Military General Service 1793-1814, 8 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Salamanca, Vittoria, St Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive (Capt. 82nd & Staff Portse. Army); Portuguese Peninsula Campaign Cross, for 2 Campaigns, silver, gold and enamels, with gold suspension and ribbon buckle, minor chips to green enamel wreath on the first, otherwise generally good very fine (3) £4000-5000

See colour illustration on front cover.

Henry Rainey was commissioned as Ensign in the 82nd Foot on 24 August 1804 and became Lieutenant the following November. He served with the 82nd at the siege of Copenhagen in 1807, and accompanied Sir Brent Spencer’s expedition off the coast of Spain, and at Cadiz on surrender of the French fleet. From Cadiz he accompanied Spencer’s Division to Mondego Bay where it was joined with Sir Arthur Wellesley’s army in August 1808, and subsequently took part in the battles of Rolica and Vimiera. Rainey was present with the army, now commanded by Sir John Moore, in the retreat to Corunna, and battle there on 16 January 1809.

Promoted to Captain in April 1809, Rainey accompanied the 82nd to Walcheren, and was present at the surrender of Middleburgh, and the siege and capture of Flushing. He joined the army in the Peninsula in May 1812, and served as Aide-de-Camp to Sir Thomas Bradford during the siege of the Forts of Salamanca, battle of Salamanca, the capture of Madrid, siege of Burgos, and the retreat from there.

Rainey served afterwards in the Portuguese Service, having received a Captain’s commission in the 55th Foot in June 1813. He took part in the advance through the Tras-os-Montes in 1813, at the battle of Vittoria, actions of Villa Franca and Toloso, storm of the fortified Convent in front of San Sebastian, and at both the sieges and storm of San Sebastian, during which service he was slightly wounded. After the crossing of the Bidassoa, he was present at the battle of the Nivelle, and battles of the Nive on the 9th and 10th December. On the 10th, the brunt of the action fell on the fifth division, especially on the first Portuguese brigade and they suffered a considerable loss. In the afternoon of the 11th, the French made a sudden and furious attack near Bidart, the Portuguese and fifth division again sustaining the enemy’s onset with firmness. Rainey was severely wounded on this occasion and was subsequently granted a pension of two hundred pounds per annum.

Rainey served in France with the Army of Occupation from the capitulation of Paris in 1815 to the end of 1818. Having been promoted to Major in June 1817, he became Lieutenant-Colonel in August 1822, Colonel in January 1837, Major-General in November 1846, and Lieutenant-General in June 1854. Rainey was made a Companion of the Bath on 19 July 1838, was appointed Colonel of the 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot on 22 May 1855, and died in 1860.