Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Pair of George III 2nd Life Guards Mustard Pots, 1815, the silver gilt mounted pots (11 cms in height) by Emes & Barnard of London, with plain tapering glass bodies, scroll handles, the domed hinged covers with a knop finial, each engraved with a family crest of ‘a bee sucking a thistle proper’ for M’Innes and a regimental device comprising a crowned garter containing the words ‘Second Life Guards’ and encircling a GR cypher, hallmarked London 1815 (erased on one), very good condition (2) £800-1200

The combination of engraved heraldic and regimental devices indicates the original ownership of Cornet Alexander M’Innes, 2nd Life Guards. M’Innes was commissioned Lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards on 8 March 1810, and was promoted to Captain on 1 March 1813. He served in the Peninsula from November 1812 to July 1813 and was present at the Battle of Vittoria on 21 June 1813. He retired in 1814 but accepted a new commission as Cornet and Sub-Lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards on 16 June 1814, and was present with the regiment in the Netherlands when brigaded with the Royal Horse Guards and the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards to form the 1st Cavalry or Household Brigade, under Major General Lord Edward Somerset. At Waterloo he took part in Uxbridge’s charge against d’Erlon’s corps that cost 17 killed and 41 wounded.

M’Innes assumed the name and arms of Nicholson by Royal Licence in 1821. In an account of the battle written in 1834, M’Innes recalled ‘...After this we again formed on our original ground (behind the Brussels road opposite Mont St. Jean) but whether in squadrons or one line I cannot now remember. We remained here until the Grand Advance of the line about 7 o’clock in the evening...’. Thereafter the 2nd Life Guards entered Paris on 7 July and remained in France until 17 January 1816 whence they embarked at Boulogne for England. They were back in London by 8 February 1816.

Alexander Nicholson died at the Charterhouse on 9 February 1862, aged 82.

The striking 1821 portrait of Captain Alexander M’Innes [later Nicholson], 2nd Life Guards, by Ramsay Richard Reinagle (1775-1862), is in the collection of the National Army Museum (NAM. 1974-04-2-1).