Description
Military General Service Medal, 6 bars, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria, St Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Private later Cpl Friederich Teuteberg, 2nd Line Bn King’s German Legion
Officially impressed: “Friederich Teuteberg, 2nd Line Bn K.G.L.”
Friedrich was significant fighting through the Peninsular War from Spain to France, at many pivotal battles in the campaign. After this he was promoted up to Corporal and saw his final service at the Battle of Waterloo.
Confirmed on the medal roll for all 6 clasps, and also on the Waterloo Medal Roll.
Friedrich saw service at the following battles:
CIUDAD RODRIGO
The Siege and eventual Storming of the Fortress of Ciudad Rodrigo took place between 7th and 20th January 1812.
Lord Wellington’s Grand Anglo-Portuguese Army had 40,000 men, being held up by 1800 Frenchmen inside of the fortress with 10m high walls, two breaches were eventually blasted in the city’s walls by the artillery leading to the successful storming on 19th January.
The victory opened the doors for the Army to continue on into French occupied Spain from Portugal.
Of particular note during the siege, the King’s German Legion took with them 1 Company of the 60th Rifles to raid the Santa Cruz Convent to the right of the fortress which was a notable outpost for the French. An important part of the siege was taking control of both the Santa Cruz and San Francisco.
SALAMANCA
One of the crowning moments of the war was the Battle of Salamanca, fought on 22nd July 1812, “Wellington’s Masterpiece” as Peter Young called it in the title of his 1972 Book on the battle.
The 2nd Line bAttalion formed part of the First Division under Major General Henry Campbell’s 3rd Brigade of Infantry, fighting alongside the 1st and 5th Line Battalions of the KGL, beign commanded by Major General Baron Low.
VITTORIA
Fought on 21st June 1813, this would become one of Napoleon’s greatest defeats in Spain as the Army closed in on the French border.
ST SEBASTIAN
Between July & September 1813, Wellington had to take control of the fortified port of San Sebastian before he could go through to France.
NIVELLE
The initial battle from the Invasion of France, fought on 10th November 1813, the Allied Army crossed the River Bidassoa and attacked the formidable French defensive positions along the Nivelle.
By the evening Wellington and his men had driven Marshal Soult from his prepared positions giving the Allied Army a foothold into Franch.
The 2nd Line Bn KGL with the 1st Division were involved in the fighting to drive out the French from their positions.
NIVE
Fought between 9th to 13th December 1813, the Allied Army took on the French around Bayonne in “The Battles of the Nive”.
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO
To finish off his service, he would also take part in the Battle of Waterloo fought on 18th June 1815, now a non commissioned officer holding the rank of Corporal.
