Medals to The Gordon Highlanders and Associated Units from the Collection of A.J. Henderson

The superb Army Gold Cross group to General Sir Ulysses Bagenal Burgh, G.C.B., K.T.S., Second Lord Downes, 92nd Foot, Aide de Camp and Assistant Military Secretary to the Duke of Wellington throughout the Peninsular War

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1814, maker’s mark ‘IN’ for John Northam, and breast star in silver, gold and enamels, enamel damaged on upper reverse arm, otherwise a magnificent set; Army Gold Cross 1806-14, for Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nive, and Toulouse, 1 clasp, Nivelle (Lt. Coll. Ulysses Burgh / Aid de Camp to the / Comr. of the Forces) with additional clasp, Pyrenees, with original gold swivel-ring bar suspension, but lacking intermediary gold suspension ring and usual ribbon fitments; Field Officer’s Gold Medal 1808-14, for Vittoria (Lt. Coll. U. Burgh, Aid de Camp) lacking gold ribbon buckle; Military General Service 1793-1814, 6 clasps, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca (Lord Downes, K.C.B. Capt. 92nd Foot & A.D.C.); Portugal, Military Order of the Tower and Sword, Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge in solid gold, and breast star by Beaugeois, Paris, silver and enamels with gold motto and central device and gold appliqué tower, together with engraved portrait print of Lord Downes, in uniform wearing decorations, in gilt frame surmounted by Baron’s Coronet, the whole displayed in an ornate gilt frame, generally good very fine or better (7) £35000-40000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Gordon Highlanders and Associated Units from the Collection of A.J. Henderson.

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Ulysses Bagenal de Burgh was born in Dublin on 15 August 1788, the only son of Thomas Burgh, Comptroller-general and Commissioner of the revenue of Ireland. After attending Trinity College, Dublin, Burgh was commissioned as Ensign into the 54th Foot on 31 March 1804, being promoted Lieutenant in the following November and Captain in October 1806. During this period he served at Gibraltar, where he was spared the ravages of yellow fever, and afterwards in the West Indies. In November 1808 he transferred, as a Captain, to the 92nd Highlanders, and went to Portugal as Aide de Camp to Sir John Craddock. On the latter’s recall home he stayed in Portugal as A.D.C. to Craddock’s successor, Sir Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, a close friend of his father’s. Burgh was also Wellington’s Assistant Military Secretary and remained on his Staff for the remainder of the Peninsular War.

Burgh was present at the battle of Talavera, was slightly wounded while at Sir Arthur’s side, and was mentioned in his despatch. After the battle of Busaco he carried Wellington’s victory despatch to England and was promoted Major in March 1811. On returning to the Peninsular he took part in the actions of Fuentes D’Onoro, El Boden, the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, and the battle of Salamanca. After Wellington’s triumphal entry intyo Madrid in August 1812, he again carried home a despatch to England and was consequently advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel. Once more back with Wellington, he was at the battles of Vittoria and the Pyrenees, the storming of St Sebastian, the battle of Nivelle, where he had a horse killed under him, the battles of Nive and Toulouse, where he was once again wounded.

At the conclusion of hostilities in 1814, Burgh transferred, as Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel, to the 1st Foot Guards, and served briefly with his Company at Brussels. For his services in the Peninsular he was made a Knight Commander of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword and, on 2 January 1815, one of the first Knight Commanders of the Bath. He also received the Gold Cross and one clasp for Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, and Toulouse, and, once it became available in 1848, the Military General Service medal with clasps for Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D’Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, and Salamanca.

In March 1820 he was appointed Surveyor-General of the Ordnance and an Executive Member of the Board of Ordnance, remaining in that post until 1830, when Wellington’s administration came to an end. In addition to his military duties, he served as Member of Parliament for County Carlaw from 1818-26, and for Queensborough from 1826-30. He succeded his second cousin once removed as the 2nd Baron Downes in 1826, the title formerly held by William Downes, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1803-22, and created with special remainder to Ulysses Burgh. Inheriting a substantial residence in County Kildare, he became a representative Irish peer in 1833, but was not poliotically active, although he did support Peel over repeal of the corn laws. He advanced to Major-General in January 1837, and to Lieutenant-General in November 1846. He had been appointed Colonel of the 54th Foot in April 1845, and was then Colonel of the 29th Foot from August 1850 until his death.

He was married twice; firstly, in 1815 to Maria, daughter and heir of the late Walter Bagenal of Athy, County Kildare, and thereafter added Bagenal to his name; and secondly, in 1846, to Christopheria, widow of John Willis Fleming and daughter of James Buchanan. In 1848 he was authorized to take the name de Burgh in lieu of Burgh. Downes acted as pallbearer on 28 July 1855, at the funeral of Lord Raglan, Wellington’s military secretary in the Peninsula and more recently commander of British troops in the Crimea. Promoted to General in June 1854, two years later Downes received the Russian Order of St Anne, 2nd Class, and was appointed G.C.B. in May 1860. He died on 26 July 1863 at Bert House, Athy, County Kildare, and with no male heir, the peerage became extinct. Sold with some further research including an original manuscript note, signed by Downes, admitting the bearer to the Gallery of the House of Lords, dated 11 July 1862.