Description
Military General Service, 4 bars, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, St Sebastian, Thomas Toms, Royal Artillery Drivers. A unique combination to this unit.
Officially impressed: “T. Toms, R. Arty Drivers.”
In very well preserved condition.
Confirmed on the medal roll which also remarks: “A Thomas Toms of the Driver Corps is included in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Payments of Prize Money.”
Only 5 men lived to claim this exact combination of clasps to the medal, Thomas being the sole recipient from the Royal Artillery Drivers.
The Corps of Royal Artillery Drivers was a short lived unit which existed between 1793 and 1822.
During the Spain and Portugal campaign in the Peninsular war between 1811 and 1813, the British Army was under the command of the soon to be Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, during this year his sucesses led to him becoming Earl of Wellington in early 1812 and by late 1812 the Marquess of Wellington.
On the rise during this period was Major General, at the time Captain Alexander Dickson, a talented Royal Artillery Officer who became a favourite of the Duke of Wellington due to his masterful command of the Royal Artillery in the same battles in which these 4 clasps were earned.
Going into Cuidad Rodrigo in command of the artillery as only a Captain, he was advanced to Brevet Major and Brevet Lieut-Colonel later that year.
Clasps that Thomas Toms earned:
Siege and Capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, 7th – 20th January 1812.
Storming of Badajoz, 16th March – 6th April 1812
Battle of Salamanca, 22nd July 1812
Siege of St Sebastian 17th July – 8th September 1813.
