WATERLOO MEDAL

WATERLOO 1815 TO AN NCO OF THE 13TH LIGHT DRAGOONS, WHO SERVICE WITH HIS REGIMENT FROM 1805, A REGIMENT THAT SAW A GREAT DEAL OF ACTION DURING THE PENINSULAR WAR AND SUSTAINED 28% CASUALTIES AT WATERLOO WHERE THEY CHARGED REPEATEDLY AND COMPLETELY ROUTED A SQUARE OF FRENCH INFANTRY

WATERLOO 1815 ‘CORP. ISAAC HAMER, 13TH REG. LIGHT DRAGOONS’.

Corporal Isaac Hamer served in 13th Regiment Light Dragoons during the Waterloo campaign, having enlisted in this regiment on 21 September 1805. Details of his full service have as yet to be located, however given his enlistment date, he almost certainly would have served with his regiment during the Peninsular War. The 13th Light Dragoons were very heavily engaged in the peninsular from 1810, taking part in numerous battles and small actions, including Busaco in 1810, Campo Mayor, Albuera and Arroyo dos Molinos in 1811, Badajoz on 1812, Alba de Tormes and Vittoria in 1813 and Toulouse in 1814.

At Waterloo, the regiment charged repeatedly and completely routed a square of French infantry. They however lost 109 officers and men killed, wounded and missing. This amounted to losses of 28% of their on paper strength. The medal roll lists 390 Officers and men present at Waterloo. However, as with all Regiments, a large number of men would not have taken to the field of battle. Men would have been sick, on baggage duty, picket or a wide range of non combatant rolls. As such the percentage of losses for all Regiments would be considerably higher.

Condition; old replacement clip and later replaced ring, heavy pitting and contact wear. Naming clear.