Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Peninsula and Waterloo pair awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. F. Johnstone, Grenadier Guards

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Nivelle, Nive (W. Johnstone, Ensn. 1st Ft. Gds.); Waterloo 1815 ([Ca]pt. W. Fred. Johnstone, 2nd Batt. Grenad. Guard.) first two letters of rank and last of unit obscured by suspension, fitted with contemporary silver loop and bar suspension, the first very fine, the second with edge bruising and contact wear, fine or better (2) £4,000-£6,000

Provenance: Gaskell Collection 1908; Mackenzie Collection 1934; Sotheby, December 1991.

William Frederick Johnstone was commissioned as an Ensign in the First Foot Guards on 12 December 1811; Lieutenant & Captain, 16 March 1814; Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel, 10 January 1837. He served with the 1st Battalion in the Peninsula from April 1813 to April 1814, and was present at Bidassoa, Nivelle, Nive, Adour and Bayonne. He was afterwards present at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, and also at the capture of Peronne, 26 June 1815. Johnstone [Johnston in later Army Lists] went on half-pay with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 10 January 1837, retired on 30 October 1840, and died in 1877. He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London, where the inscription on the monumental cross raised in his memory is now illegible.