Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Maida (F. Macfarlane, 58th Foot) rank of ‘Serjt.’ neatly erased, nearly extremely fine £800-1000

Provenance: Whitehouse Collection 1869; Dalrymple White Collection, Glendining, July 1946.

Francis Macfarlane served in the rank of Sergeant at the battle of Maida. He was later commissioned as Ensign in the 3rd West India Regiment on 3 August 1815, and Lieutenant in the 8th Royal Veteran Battalion, 6 January 1819. By 1830 he had been allowed to retire on full pay.

Macfarlane’s application for a commission in the West India Regiment was submitted by Colonel Walker, of the 58th Regiment, to Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, K.C.B.: ‘Sir, I have the honour to lay before you the accompanying memorials of Sergeants McFarlane & Lennan, lately officiating as Quartermasters in the Calabrian Free Corps in Spain and Italy. Sergeant McFarlane was born and educated in the 58th Regt. and is particularly qualified from long experience as Quartermaster-Sergeant, for the Commission in the 2nd Battn. which he now solicits.’

‘The Memorial of Sergeant Frances Macfarlane of His Majesty’s 1st Battn. 58th Regiment of Foot, Acting Quar. Master to the 5th Division of the Late Calabrian Free Corps - Humbly Shewith - Your Memorialist has been Acting Quarter Master to the late Calabrian Free Corps from April 1813 to December 1814 at which period the officers were disbanded, in consequence of which your Memorialist humbly begs your Royal Highness would be pleased to appoint him Quar. Master of the of the 2nd Battalion 58th Regiment of Foot, Vice Quar. Master Phillips who is recommended for an Ensigncy in a Vettn. Battn., or appoint Memorialist as Ensign in any regiment your Royal Highness may judge most expedient. Your Memorialist begs to state his service with that of his late Fathers and encloses a copy of a letter dated Horse Guards 6th August 1814 in answer to Lord Wm. Bentinck’s recommendation dated 25th June 1814 -

Statement of Memorialist’s Service - Cavan Militia 6 years 11 months 15 days; 1st Battn. 58th Regt. 12 years 10 months 27 days, of which 4 years 4 days as Quartermaster-Sergeant and 8 years 3 month 13 days as Sergeant.

Statement of Memorialist’s Late Father’s Service - 115th Foot 2 years; 58th Foot 27 years, of which 9 years as Sergeant-Major and 14 years as Sergeant. Was wounded on duty being one of the six Sergeants chosen by Genl. Elliot to watch the Enemy’s motions from 19th August to 13th Sepr. 1782 prior to the Grand attack on the Garrison of Gibraltar.’

Sold with copies of relevant dicuments.