A VERY FINE 2ND LIFE GUARDS WATERLOO 1815 TO A TROOPER WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY SEEN ACTION WITH THE 31ST FOOT 1799 -1802 BEFORE TAKING PART IN THE FAMOUS HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY CHARGE AT WATERLOO, HIS REGIMENT SUFFERING A 67% CASUALTY RATE, FAR HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER CAVALRY REGIMENT SUFFERED AT WATERLOO.

WATERLOO 1815 ‘SAMUEL ACROYD, 2ND REG. LIFE GUARDS.’

Samuel Acroyd, a Farmer from Bradford, enlisted into the 31st Foot on 24 June 1799. His battalion took part in the Helder Campaign, September and October that year and were present at the battles of Egmont op Zee (Alkmaar), 2 October and Kasrikum, 6 October 1799:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Alkmaar_(1799)

In June 1800, the 31st took part in the expedition to Quiberon Bay and in August the expedition to Ferrol where they saw some action on landing, before joining the expedition to Vigo and Cadiz in August and October 1800.

After being stationed in Minorca, the 31st embarked for England in May 1802 and shortly after landing, Acroyd transferred to the 2nd Life Guards on 29 June 1802. Stationed in London until October 1812, the 2nd Life Guards served in the Peninsular War as part of the Household Cavalry Brigade, being present at the Battles of Vittoria in 1813 and Toulouse in 1814. A muster check would show if Acroyd was present, but he does not appear to have lived to claim the Military General Service Medal. He was however present at the battle of Waterloo in June 1815, when two squadrons of the 2nd Life Guards (231 Officers and men) formed part of Lord Somerset's Household Brigade. At the great battle, they took part in the famous charge of the British Heavy Cavalry against Marshal D'Erlon's infantry corps.

However they suffered a severe mauling by the French lancers and Cuirassiers when they counter attacked. The 2nd Life Guards in particular suffered very heavy casualties of 17 killed 41 wounded and 97 missing, a 67% casualty rate and far higher than any other cavalry regiment suffered at Waterloo. Most publications erroneously give the regiments casualties, not counting the missing, however the missing were later returned killed and wounded.

Interestingly Colonel Reid of the 2nd Life Guards addressed this issue in a letter written to the United Service Magazine in 1845. Here he quotes the actually number of casualties suffered by the regiment, these taken from the Regimental books. Apparently only 210 men were in the field at Waterloo, losses being 87 killed, 67 wounded, making a total of 156. In addition 153 horses were killed. This means in reality the casualty rate was a horrendous 74%!

Acroyd was discharged from the Army on 21 November 1816, in consequence of pains in his back and shoulders, apparent over many years and which prevented him from carrying out his military duties. Medal roll and musters give spelling at Acroyd as per medal, service papers and discharge Ackroyd.

Condition about VF; several small EK’s or better, with a lovely patina. With original iron clip and replacement (silver?) bar suspension. Lovely old silk ribbon. Sold with copy service papers and research.

A fine 2nd Life Guards medal to a soldier with a most interesting service.