Orders, Decorations and Medals

The rare 12 clasp Peninsula War medal awarded to Colour Sergeant John Snelling, 40th Foot, who was a Volunteer on the ‘Forlorn Hope’ at the Storming of St Sebastian

Military General Service 1793-1814, 12 clasps, Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse (J. Snelling, Serjt. 40th Foot) contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine and rare £1500-2000

Ex Captain H. Davidson Collection, sold by Sotheby in May 1895 (Lot 6 £21) stated to have been obtained from Snelling’s son. Sold at Glendining’s in March 1959 with the same 12 clasps.

The unofficial M.G.S. roll compiled by Colonel K. O. N. Foster incorrectly credits this man with only four clasps, and the medal was latterly reconstituted as a four clasp medal. It has since been restored to its original state, as passed down by the recipient’s son, and in the light of the compelling statement of services shown on Snelling’s discharge papers, which note:

‘That his general conduct as a soldier has been that of a brave and trustworthy Non Commissioned Officer, he served in the expedition to South America and was engaged in the Plains and Storming of Monte Video, and also in the actions of Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco, Bombale, Alavanzar, Badajoz (1st Siege), Ciudad Rodrigo, Storming and taking of Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Orthes, Toulouse and Waterloo. He was also a Volunteer on the Forlorn Hope at the Storming of St Sebastian.’