A Truly Magnificent SERIOUSLY WOUNDED “Great Union Charge”
Heavy Cavalry Charger.
WATERLOO MEDAL
To: CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG 6th or Inniskilling Dragoons
Christopher Armstrong rode with 6th or Inniskilling Dragoons and was seriously wounded in the famous “Great Union Charge”. The loss of his “left thigh” indicates that he actually lost his left leg at the thigh when the 6th rode alongside the Scots Greys.
[THE GREAT UNION CHARGE, 18th JUNE 1815]
During the Great Union Charge on 18th June 1815 the 6th Inniskillings, Scots Greys & 1st Dragoons, were very badly cut up by the oncoming French army who killed over 260 of our officers and men while also inflicting some shockingly severe wounds to over 300 as they fiercely defended with stabbing bayonets & slashing sabres. Christopher Armstrong thus became a typical seriously wounded casualty when he lost his left leg during this savage action. Amazingly, after successful treatment he continued in service for a further 13 years until 1838.
However, British bravery and the sheer overwhelming power of our cavalry charge put an end to the French advance.
The losses of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons were some of the worst of the entire Battle of Waterloo with 86 men killed and 107 wounded from a total compliment of 450.
[BIOGRAPHY]
Christopher Armstrong was an Irishman born in the Parish of Lotherstown, Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, Ireland in 1792. Now in Northern Ireland.
Having been a weaver by trade he enlisted into the 6th Dragoons at Enniskilling on 11th October 1811, aged 19 years. He served ‘eight months in Flanders and France during the campaign of 1815 and was in Captain William Hadden's "A" troop at Waterloo.
He sustained a serious wound during the charge which cost him his left leg at the thigh.
He was obviously successfully treated for his injury as he continued in service for a further 13 years until being discharged on 18th June 1838. He served for 28 years 251 days, which includes the usual 2 years which was added for service at Waterloo.
The medal comes with copied discharge papers, regimental medal roll entry and enlistment muster roll.
An historically important and greatly desirable medal on its original steel clip with contemporary German Steel straight ribbon bar. With a maximum of only 364 possible medals issued to the survivors of this famous unit, the number of extant examples today, based on average survival rates, will likely be less than 50 examples, and of those very few, most will be in typically worn condition.
This is the finest example I’ve personally seen in the last 45 years and we can only find three other examples of a Union Charger from this regiment being sold in the last 20 years and two of those were badly knocked about and typically worn out.
[PEDIGREE]
A True Classic in totally exceptional condition with an early pedigree.
Ex Watters Collection 1913.
Ex-DNW. (Special Napoleonic Collection) Lot 6, 25th March 2015, £3450 inc.
A truly magnificent medal in About EF and fit for inclusion in the very finest of collections.
£7995
(With quality part-exchanges very welcome.
Call us on 01342-870960)
WATERLOO MEDAL
To: CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG 6th or Inniskilling Dragoons
Christopher Armstrong rode with 6th or Inniskilling Dragoons and was seriously wounded in the famous “Great Union Charge”. The loss of his “left thigh” indicates that he actually lost his left leg at the thigh when the 6th rode alongside the Scots Greys.
[THE GREAT UNION CHARGE, 18th JUNE 1815]
During the Great Union Charge on 18th June 1815 the 6th Inniskillings, Scots Greys & 1st Dragoons, were very badly cut up by the oncoming French army who killed over 260 of our officers and men while also inflicting some shockingly severe wounds to over 300 as they fiercely defended with stabbing bayonets & slashing sabres. Christopher Armstrong thus became a typical seriously wounded casualty when he lost his left leg during this savage action. Amazingly, after successful treatment he continued in service for a further 13 years until 1838.
However, British bravery and the sheer overwhelming power of our cavalry charge put an end to the French advance.
The losses of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons were some of the worst of the entire Battle of Waterloo with 86 men killed and 107 wounded from a total compliment of 450.
[BIOGRAPHY]
Christopher Armstrong was an Irishman born in the Parish of Lotherstown, Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, Ireland in 1792. Now in Northern Ireland.
Having been a weaver by trade he enlisted into the 6th Dragoons at Enniskilling on 11th October 1811, aged 19 years. He served ‘eight months in Flanders and France during the campaign of 1815 and was in Captain William Hadden's "A" troop at Waterloo.
He sustained a serious wound during the charge which cost him his left leg at the thigh.
He was obviously successfully treated for his injury as he continued in service for a further 13 years until being discharged on 18th June 1838. He served for 28 years 251 days, which includes the usual 2 years which was added for service at Waterloo.
The medal comes with copied discharge papers, regimental medal roll entry and enlistment muster roll.
An historically important and greatly desirable medal on its original steel clip with contemporary German Steel straight ribbon bar. With a maximum of only 364 possible medals issued to the survivors of this famous unit, the number of extant examples today, based on average survival rates, will likely be less than 50 examples, and of those very few, most will be in typically worn condition.
This is the finest example I’ve personally seen in the last 45 years and we can only find three other examples of a Union Charger from this regiment being sold in the last 20 years and two of those were badly knocked about and typically worn out.
[PEDIGREE]
A True Classic in totally exceptional condition with an early pedigree.
Ex Watters Collection 1913.
Ex-DNW. (Special Napoleonic Collection) Lot 6, 25th March 2015, £3450 inc.
A truly magnificent medal in About EF and fit for inclusion in the very finest of collections.
£7995
(With quality part-exchanges very welcome.
Call us on 01342-870960)