Full medal write up
MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE 1793, 3 CLASP ROLEIA, VIMIERA, BARROSA ‘G. SMITH 95TH FOO, RIFLES’
George Smith, aged 24, a Bookbinder from the Gorbals, Glasgow, enlisted into the 95th Rifles on 18 January 1808 and was discharged on 28 August 1811, in consequence of ‘A gun shot wound of the right hand received in action at Barrosa on 5th March 1811’
On 2 October 1811, he entered Chelsea Hospital as a pensioner and died on 20 July 1854.
Despite George Smith being a relatively common name, it is unique to a Private on the medal roll. A second medal was to a Sergeant George Smith and his 7 clasp medal would have his rank impressed on it. Smith has been traced through musters of the 2nd and 3rd Battalion, 95th Rifles from attesting to being discharged. Dates of entering service, discharge and being noted as a Bookbinder from Lanarkshire, match the details of his service papers and musters. He transferred to the 3rd Battalion, after the reorganisation of the battalions in April 1809 and served in Captain Knipe's 1st Company. The same George Smith can be found on the Chelsea Pensioners Register, again conforming service and wound at Barrosa. As he died on 20 July 1854, it gave him ample time to apply for a MGS medal.
Only companies from the 2/95th fought at Roleia (17 August 1808) and Vimiera (21 August 1808) and 6 companies of the 95th were present at the battle of Barrosa (5 March 1811). At the latter, 2 companies of the 2/95th brigaded under Colonel William Dilkes and 4 companies of the 3/95th, led by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Barnard.
According to ‘Rifle Green in the Peninsula’, Smith served with 5 Company (again same as musters) and was present during the retreat to Corunna and although 51 men received the Corunna clasp, Smith was one of 28 that didn’t, being one of those that embarked at Vigo with Craufurd’s Light Brigade and were thus not present at the battle of Corunna.
Just 40 Roliea clasps to the 95th Rifles.
Condition EF, nice toning and regimentally rare. Sold with copy research.