Medals to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment from the Collection of Mr Donald Hall

WATERLOO 1815 (Ensign George Drury, 33rd Regiment Foot) fitted with original steel clip and straight silver bar suspender, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment from the Collection of Mr Donald Hall.

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Ensign George Drury was severely wounded at Waterloo where the regiment suffered heavily. Wellington, who had commanded the 33rd for nearly 10 years, never forgot his old Regiment, and it is recorded that he honoured Sir Colin Halkett's brigade with several visits on Waterloo Day. In one visit late in the afternoon of that eventful day he enquired how they were. The answer was that two-thirds of their number were down, and that the rest were so exhausted that leave to retire, even for a short time, was most desirable, some of the foreign corps, who had not suffered, to take their place. Halkett was told that the issue of the battle depended on the unflinching front of the British troops, and that even a change of place was hazardous in the extreme. Halkett impressively said 'Enough, my lord; we stand here until the last man falls.' Total casualties in the 33rd between 16th and 18th June amounted to 277, including 57 missing, from a strength of 561 when the regiment entered the field at Quatre Bras. The Waterloo Roll Call by Charles Dalton shows 7 officers killed and 14 wounded. George Drury was promoted Lieutenant on 23 November 1815, and was placed on the half- pay in 1817. He was the most junior officer in the regiment at Waterloo having joined on 9 February 1815.