A Collection of Napoleonic War Medals

Lieutenant John Ackland, 9th Foot, who was slightly wounded at Salamanca and severely wounded on the retreat from Burgos

Military General Service 1793-1814, 5 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Salamanca (J. Ackland, Lieut. 9th Foot.) good very fine
£2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Napoleonic War Medals.

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Provenance: Glendining, July 1953, bought Spink.

John Ackland was appointed an Ensign in the 9th Foot on 24 October 1806, and promoted to Lieutenant on 28 August 1807. In his 1829 Statement of Service of Retired Officers, he records, ‘I was appointed an Ensign in the 9th Regt. of Foot in 1806 and served under Sir Arthur Wellesley Campaign of 1808 in Portugal and in that severe and trying Campaign under Sir John Moore in Spain, that shortly after I served in the Expedition to Walcheren when my health was much impaired by the disastrous sickness which prevailed. That prior to my perfect recovery from this severe illness I again returned to the Peninsular under Lord Wellington where I remained actively engaged until severely Wounded on the retreat from Burgos although I had been previously so at Salamanca. I was ordered to England for the recovery of my health from the wounds and on its being established I accompanied the 1st Battalion of the Regiment to America, although not effective therein.’

Ackland was granted a pension of £100 per annum for ‘loss of the use of a hand’ at Burgos [Villa Muriel, 25 October 1812] commencing from that date. He was promoted to Captain on 26 August 1813, and placed on half-pay on on 25 July 1816, ‘on Reduction of the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Regiment of Foot at Chatham’. He exchanged to full pay of the 30th Foot, 9 July 1829, and afterwards sold out. Captain Ackland was latterly resident at Drogheda, Ireland, and died in the year 1872.

Sold with copied Statement of Service and other research.