Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Peninsular War medal to Lieutenant R. H. Johnston, 87th Foot, who was severely wounded at Talavera and fought with the ‘Eagle-Catchers’ at Barrosa

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Talavera, Barrosa (R. H. Johnston, Lieut. 87th Foot) minor edge bruising and obverse lightly polished, otherwise good very fine £3000-3500

Believed to be the only 87th officer’s medal for Barrosa available to collectors.

Ralph H. Johnston (or Johnson) was appointed Lieutenant in the 87th Regiment on 18 November 1807. He was present at the battle of Talavera in 1809, and was severely wounded on the 27th July when the 2/87th bore the brunt of the French surprise attack on the first day of the battle. In this attack the 2/87th suffered almost 200 casualties, including one officer killed and ten wounded. On the second day three more officers were wounded, all severely.

In March 1811 he was present at the battle of Barrosa when the 2/87th and three companies of the Coldstream Guards made a bold charge which sent Leval’s French division reeling. During the attack, Sergeant Patrick Masterman, of the 87th, launched himself into the fight for the eagle of the French 8th Regiment. In a furious struggle some seven French soldiers were killed and Lieutenant Gazan, severely wounded, was forced to relinquish his hold on the eagle, leaving a triumphant Masterman to claim the distinction of capturing the first eagle to be taken by the British in the Peninsular. Thus the 87th gained another sobriquet - the ‘Eagle-Catchers’.

Johnston obtained a Captaincy in the 64th Foot in November 1811, and served in that regiment for at least a further 10 years. He subsequently appears to have been appointed as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Grenadier Guards and was placed on Half-pay Unattached on 24 December 1829.