Description
Waterloo Medal, 1815, Private John McIntosh, 1st Battalion, 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry).
Officially impressed original naming with stars: “*** JOHN M’INTOSH 1st BATT. 71st REG. FOOT. ***”
Fitted with an attractive and slightly rusted contemporary clip and bar suspension made from iron.
During the Battle 202 of the men out of 810 present became casualties about 25% of their strength.
At the battle there were 2 men by the name of John McIntosh who served in the 1st Batt 71st Regiment of Foot, one was in Capt A. J. Mcintyre’s Company and the other in Captain C. Johnston’s Company, both being heavily involved in the battle.
This is the only John McIntosh medal known to exist so far, sold in Spink during 1972 and again in 1978 (£225), Previously being part of the Hawkes Collection.
We have so far traced the service papers for 1 of the men who saw significant service since 1799 culminating in the Battle of Waterloo.
1: John McIntosh, Private, 71st Regiment of Foot, Captain Charles Johnston’s Company.
Born in Pathy, Invernesshire and attested for service aged 23 on 10th April 1799 with the 71st Regt.
He saw 17 years 119 days of service, with another 2 years added for his service at Waterloo.
He was discharged on 6th August 1816: “Being worn out and stiff, unfit for further service and is proposed to be discharged and has been transferred to England that his case may be finally determined on”.
Notably during this man’s long service the 71st saw significant action, none of the 2 John McIntoshs claimed a Military General Service Medal circa 1847, but in this man’s case given his significant service and old age by 1847, he may have been dead by then.
The 1st Batt 71st Foot services from 1805-1814:
In August 1805 the Battalion embarked for the Cape of Good Hope and fought in the Battle of Blaauwberg in January 1806.
They then sailed for South America being lent to Sir Home Popham who engaged them in the disastrous expedition against Buenos Aires, they were taken as prisoners and had the Regimental Colours captured.
After being reformed, and receiving new Colours from Sir John Floyd, the 1st Battalion was reformed and embarked for Portugal in June 1808 to fight in the Peninsular War, where saw action in the Battle of Rolica (August 1808) and Vimiero later that month, finally the Battle of Corunna in January 1809.
After being evacuated home they returned to the Peninsular in September 1810, fighting at the Battle of Fuentes de Onoro in May 1811, battle of Arroyo dos Molinos in October 1811 and the Battle of Almaraz in May 1812, battle of Vittoria in June 1813.
They then pursued the French Army back into France and fought at the Battle of the Pyrenees in July 1813, Nivelle in November 1813 and Nive in December 1813, Orthez in February 1814 and the Battle of Toulouse in April 1814.”
