REVIEW: ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS AND MILITARIA 15 FEBRUARY

Waterloo Medals are always of interest, but few can claim the distinction of belonging to one of the most senior officers on the field of battle as that of General Sir Colin Halkett, G.C.B., G.C.H., K.T.S.

It is not just Halkett’s seniority that stands out, the history and drama of his life – notably at Waterloo itself – adds to the fascination. So, when his Waterloo Medal came up for sale at Noonans on 15 February, bidding was so keen that it left its upper estimate of £8,000 behind to sell for £26,000.

The son of Major-General Frederick Godar Halkett, then a major in the regiment of Gordon of the Scots Brigade, Colin Halkett was born in the city of Venlo in The Netherlands, close to the German border, on 7 September 1774,

With family roots deep in the service of both Scots regiments and the Dutch, it was fitting that the young Halkett’s military career should begin as a cadet with the latter in 1791.
By 1792 he had been nominated ensign with the rank of lieutenant, climbing the ranks to become a lieutenant with the rank of captain in the 1st Battalion of Dutch Foot Guards before retiring in April 1795.

Further service with the Dutch forces came four years later when he was appointed ensign, and he later became captain in the 2nd Dutch Light Infantry quartered in Guernsey, later being disbanded after the Peace of Amiens.

In August 1803, on the dissolution of the Hanoverian army after the convention of Lauenburg, when many discharged soldiers were looking to England for employment, Halkett, described as a major in the Dutch service, was authorised by the English Government to raise a battalion of Light Infantry in Hanover, to consist of 489 men.

Halkett was to have rank as major-commandant, with the promise of a lieutenant-colonelcy when the numbers reached 800 men.

Such were the numbers of German recruits that they formed a German Legion under command of the Duke of Cambridge, with Halkett in command of the 2nd Light Battalion and appointed lieutenant-colonel in 1803.

Service followed in Germany and in Ireland, with Halkett and part of the battalion being shipwrecked on Rundle Stone rock off Land’s End in May 1807. All were rescued but the ship went down with the baggage and arms of Halkett’s detachment.

Within a year, he had commanded his troops on expeditions at the Isle of Rugen, in Copenhagen, as well as in Sweden and Portugal in 1808.

He was part of Sir John Moore’s retreat through Spain, when the German light battalions were among the troops that retired on Vigo; and in the Walcheren expedition, where these battalions repeatedly distinguished themselves.

Halkett became immersed in the peninsular War before Badajoz, in April 1811, and commanded a brigade at the battle of Albuhera.

As brevet colonel, he was with his battalion at Salamanca in 1812 and in the operations against Burgos; and he commanded the German light brigade with the 7th Division in the Burgos retreat, where he won the special approbation of Lord Wellington.

Numerous actions followed, including the Battle of Vittoria, occupation of Tolosa, passage of the Bidassoa, and the Battles on the Nive and at Toulouse. He was promoted to major-general on 4 June 1814.

In the Waterloo campaign, Halkett had command of a British brigade composed of the 30th, 33rd, 69th and 73rd regiments, in the 3rd Infantry Division, which was very hotly engaged at Quatre Bras and Waterloo.

Halkett was in the thick of it, suffering four severe wounds, with the Duke of Wellington referring to him in a despatch as ‘a very gallant and deserving officer’.

At one point during the battle, Halkett’s brigade was in an advanced position, having pushed forward his two right regiments in support of the charge by Maitland’s brigade of guards; ‘and so great was the pressure upon it, in this exposed situation, that it fell into some confusion. The Duke observing this, said to some of his staff, “See what’s wrong there.” Major Dawson Kelly, of the Quarter-Master-General’s department, immediately rode up to the brigade, and while addressing himself to Sir Colin Halkett, the latter, at the instant, received a wound in the face, a ball passing through his mouth, and he was consequently obliged to retire to the rear.’

Following the defeat of Napoleon, Halkett remained in the British service, later becoming Lieutenant Governor of Jersey, and commander-in-chief at Bombay from July 1831 to January 1832.

He was appointed General in 1841, and Colonel in succession of the 71st Highland Light Infantry, 31st and 45th regiments.

His honours and awards included G.C.B. and G.C.H., Knight Commander of the Tower and Sword of Portugal, Knight Commander of the Bavarian Order of Maximilian Joseph, and Commander of the Military Order of Wilhelm of the Netherlands.

He held the Gold Cross for Albuhera, Salamanca, Vittoria and Nive, in addition to the Waterloo Medal. When he died on 24 September 1856, he was Governor-General of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, where he is buried.