Full medal write up
WATERLOO 1815 ‘PATRICK FLESH 6TH OR INNISKILLING DRAG.’
Patrick Flesh, a gardener, was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland in 1795 and enlisted into the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons on 15 November 1813. He served in Captain Thomas MacKay’s no 6 Troop during the Waterloo campaign, where his regiment formed part of the Union Brigade. Returning home with his regiment, Flesh continued to serve with the 6th until finally discharged at Edinburgh on 28 October 1833.
The Union Brigade was composed of three regiments of heavy cavalry, one English (The Royal Dragoons), one Scottish (The Scots Greys) and one Irish (the Inniskillings), hence their brigade title. The charge of the Union Brigade broke the French at Waterloo. Two Eagles and 2,000 prisoners were taken, but at a heavy cost, the Inniskillings suffering particularly heavy casualties. Of the 396 Officers and men of the Regiment who took part in the battle, at the close of day they had lost 1 officer and 72 men killed, 5 officers, including their Colonel, Lt. Colonel and 2 Captains and 111 rank and file wounded, a casualty rate of 55%.
Condition NVF, contact wear and EK’s, fitted with contemporary bar suspension. Sold with full service transcribed from musters and other research.