About the product

MGS 3 Bars Artillery Wounded

Military General Service Medal, 3 bars, Corunna, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, William Harris, Royal Artillery. Who served with 6th Battalion and was wounded in action at Cuidad Rodrigo.

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SKU: J6240 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
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Military General Service Medal, 3 bars, Corunna, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, William Harris, Royal Artillery.

 

Who served with 6th Battalion and was wounded in action at Ciudad Rodrigo. The 6th Battalion served under Colonel Sir Alexander Dixon, who was entrusted for the sieges of Badajoz and Ciudad Rodrigo with most of the more detailed artillery work.

 

The Royal Artillery in the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo were equipped with 34 24lb and 4 18th Heavy Siege Cannons. They managed to blast two large breaches in the walls of the heavily fortified fortress, which had a 32 foot high main wall of medieval construction.

 

The British Forces were however subjected to the 153 cannons manned by 167 Artillerists of the French forces.

 

Thanks to the Royal Artillery after constant cannon fire over 5 days, resulting in 9500 rounds shot, they opened two effective breaches, one called the Great Breach and another smaller one in an exposed tower. Wellington then ordered an assault for the night of the 19th January 1812 and they took the city.

 

From the allied British and Portuguese force of 10,700 men they lost 318 dead and 1378 wounded. Whilst the French with 2000 men had 529 dead or wounded with 1471 captured.

 

Provenance: Ex Christies July 1999.

 

One small edge knock to reverse at 6 o’clock.