A Collection of Napoleonic War Medals

Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Knox, 31st Foot, who was severely wounded at Rosetta in 1807, slightly wounded at Albuhera in 1811, and again severely wounded at Garris in 1814, losing his right arm

Military General Service 1793-1814, 7 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Albuhera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive (Edward Knox, Capt. 31st Foot) good very fine £3500-4500

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

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Provenance: Christie’s, February 1980; Spink, December 1984.

Edward Knox was born on 2 November 1786, second son of Arthur Knox, of Castlerea, County, Wicklow, and Lady Mary Brabazon, eldest daughter of 8th Earl of Meath. He was appointed Ensign in the 31st Foot on 28 October 1804, being promoted to Lieutenant on 14 March 1805, and to Captain on 5 November 1807, in both cases by ‘purchase’.

Knox served with the 1/31st Foot in the disastrous expedition to Egypt in 1807 under Major-General Fraser. After the capture of Alexandria, Fraser moved on Rosetta with a force comprising the 31st Foot and the Chasseurs Britanniques, but his force was ambushed and had to retreat with a loss of 185 killed and 282 wounded, including Knox severely. Knox was probably able to obtain his company as a result of vacancies created by the casualties in his own regiment at Rosetta.

Knox afterwards served with the 2nd Battalion in the Peninsula from November 1808 until March 1814. He was present at Talavera, Busaco, 1st siege of Badajoz, Albuhera, where he was slightly wounded, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, and Garris. He was severely wounded at this last action at Garris, near St Palais, on 15 February 1814, being shot through the body necessitating the amputation of his right arm. As a result of his wounds he was awarded an annual pension of £100 from February 1814, increased to £200 from June 1817, on the 21st of which month he was also given the brevet of Major. He was placed on half-pay as a Captain in the 2nd Garrison Battalion in March 1823. He received the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1837 and died unmarried at Cheltenham on 3 March 1849.