Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army L.S. & G.C., W.IV.R. (Thomas Alexander, 57th Regiment Foot. 1835.) original steel clip and rectangular bar suspension, good very fine £600-£800

Sotheby, April 1910; Needes Collection 1939 and Jack Webb Collection, August 2020.

Thomas Alexander was born in the Parish of St John, Sligo, and attested for the 57th Foot at Bandon, County Cork, on 3 August 1810, aged 20. He served in Spain and Portugal for four years; in America fo one year; in France for three years; in New South Wales for six years; and in India for three years, six months. He was present at the battles of Vittoria, Pampeluna, Nive, Nivelle and Pyrenees. He deserted on 24 May 1815, but rejoined on 20 December 1815. Alexander was a Corporal from March to November 1826, but was reduced to Private on 1 December 1826, and remained in that rank until his discharge on 13 October 1835. The L.S. & G.C. roll notes medal ‘Sent 6 Octr. 1847, c/o Staff Offr. Pensns. Sligo, Ireland.’ Thomas Alexander claimed and received the M.G.S. medal with clasps for Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse, but this has never been recorded on the market.