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Lot Essay
Field Marshal Lord FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788-1855) entered the Army as Cornet by Purchase in the 4th Light Dragoons, in 1804 and Lieutenant in 1805. Three years later he accompanied Sir Arthur Paget's mission to Turkey in a fruitless attempt to dissuade the Sultan from continuing his alliance with France. Advanced to Captain in May 1808, Somerset transferred to the 43rd Foot in July that year and proceeded to Portugal as Aide-de-camp and Military Secretary to Sir Arthur Wellesley. Before the year's end, young Somerset had experienced his first action at Roleia, the first victory in the Peninsula and later at Vimiera. On one occasion Wellesley enquired of Somerset "How do you feel under fire?"; he answered, "Better, Sir, than I expected".
After the defeat of the French in Portugal, Somerset briefly returned to England with Wellesley but they both were back in the Peninsula early in 1809 and served together until the close of hostilities with the French. He carried the Talavera Dispatches, July 1809, was wounded at Busaco, September 1810 and for his distinguished service at Fuentes d'Onor the following year was advanced to Major. Instrumental in persuading the French Governor to surrender at Badajos, in March 1812 he was made Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel, on this occasion at Wellington's special request. During the blockade of Pampeluna, North-East Spain, in 1812, Somerset deciphered a letter from the Governor to Marshal Soult, which led to its capture by the Allies, 31 October 1812. After the victory at Toulouse in April 1814, Somerset accompanied Wellington to Paris and joined him in the Victory Parade. He was transferred to the 1st Guards as Captain and Lieut.-Colonel and in January 1815 was made K.C.B.
Paris was surrendered to the Allies on 31 March 1814, Napoleon's abdication was swiftly negotiated on 5 April and he was exiled to the Island of Elba. Louis XVIII arrived in Paris on 3 May and the Bourbon dynasty was restored.
Napoleon escaped from Elba 1 March 1815, landed at Cannes and arrived at Fontainebleu on 20 March, where he was joined by the whole of his army two days later. Napoleon's triumphant entry into Paris and his resumption of full power brought resolute actions from Britain, Prussia, Russia and Austria, who assumed that after the Emperor's defeat in 1814 the threat from Napoleon and the French was over. The Allies, determined to deal him a final fatal blow, planned a concerted and overwhelming invasion of France. With his usual characteristic energy and efficiency Napoleon quickly raised and organised his country's forces, moved into Belgium and prepared to take on his most immediate threat, the Anglo-Dutch Army under Wellington and the Prussian army under Blücher.
The first test of strength at Quatre Bras, 16 June 1815, although a savage one for both sides, ended inconclusively with both armies holding their initial positions, with about 4,000 casualties from each side.
At Ligny, 16/17 June, Napoleon won a hard fought victory against the Prussians who took 16,000 casualties, including Field Marshal Blücher, who was injured leading a cavalry charge. Napoleon, after driving a wedge between the two armies and having dispatched Marshal de Grouchy with 33,000 men after the retreating Prussians, turned his attention to Wellington. Wellington, with his position untenable at Quatre Bras, withdrew towards Waterloo and in order to maintain contact with Blücher, resolved to fight the next day.
The battle of Waterloo began at 11.30am on 1 June 1815 with a French attack on the Chateau Hougoumont, which was repelled in an epic action by four light companies of Foot Guards with Hanoverian and Nassau contingents. Both armies went on to fight a tremendous battle, Napoleon's 72,000 men were thrown against Wellington's army of 69,000 again and again in full frontal assault on the muskets and bayonets of the unbreakable British squares.
At 1pm the French batteries opened fire in preparation for their Grand Attack on the centre of the British line, which followed at 1.30, spearheaded by four Divisions with cavalry support. Pack's Brigade wavering under pressure of French numbers was somewhat relieved when the Household and Union Brigade tore into the French divisions with fearful effect. The French broke and fled. Continuing their charge forward the two cavalry brigades attacked the French batteries until they were driven back by fresh French cavalry. A number of attacks were made on the unbroken allied centre-right and at 4pm a total of 5,000 enemy cavalry attacked between Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte, some of whom reached the allied positions, but again were unable to break any square and were driven off by British cavalry. At 5.30pm 9,000 cavalry assaulted the British positions and at 6pm further attacks were made which were all driven back with heavy loss. Shortly after 6pm destructive artillery fire was put down on the allied centre. Alten's division and Pack's, Kempt's and Lambert's brigades were devastated. Some line battalions were decimated in attempting a counter-attack and the 27th Foot were nearly destroyed in defending their exposed position. Sensing a weakness in Wellington's line, Napoleon brought forward elements of his special Guard for a final attempt upon the Allied positions, which included five battalions of the Middle Guard supported by another infantry division. Demoralised and overwhelmed, the Middle Guard broke and fled when charged by Colborne. With the Guard in retreat the whole of the French line disintegrated and soon after 8pm Wellington ordered a general advance to end the battle.
Napoleon abdicated for the second time, 22 June 1815, and died in exile on St. Helena, 5 May, 1821.
At about 7 o'clock in the evening during the battle, Somerset was severely wounded in the right elbow by a musket ball and the arm was amputated. After the operation Somerset shouted 'Hey, bring my arm back. There's a ring my wife gave me on the finger!' (possibly the ring he had been given by his wife, supposedly taken from Tipu Sultan - lot 10). Soon afterwards he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Prince Regent and made Colonel in the Army, 28 August 1815.
Christie's would like to thank John B. Hayward of Spink & Son for help in preparing this entry, and those for the other medals in the collection.
After the defeat of the French in Portugal, Somerset briefly returned to England with Wellesley but they both were back in the Peninsula early in 1809 and served together until the close of hostilities with the French. He carried the Talavera Dispatches, July 1809, was wounded at Busaco, September 1810 and for his distinguished service at Fuentes d'Onor the following year was advanced to Major. Instrumental in persuading the French Governor to surrender at Badajos, in March 1812 he was made Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel, on this occasion at Wellington's special request. During the blockade of Pampeluna, North-East Spain, in 1812, Somerset deciphered a letter from the Governor to Marshal Soult, which led to its capture by the Allies, 31 October 1812. After the victory at Toulouse in April 1814, Somerset accompanied Wellington to Paris and joined him in the Victory Parade. He was transferred to the 1st Guards as Captain and Lieut.-Colonel and in January 1815 was made K.C.B.
Paris was surrendered to the Allies on 31 March 1814, Napoleon's abdication was swiftly negotiated on 5 April and he was exiled to the Island of Elba. Louis XVIII arrived in Paris on 3 May and the Bourbon dynasty was restored.
Napoleon escaped from Elba 1 March 1815, landed at Cannes and arrived at Fontainebleu on 20 March, where he was joined by the whole of his army two days later. Napoleon's triumphant entry into Paris and his resumption of full power brought resolute actions from Britain, Prussia, Russia and Austria, who assumed that after the Emperor's defeat in 1814 the threat from Napoleon and the French was over. The Allies, determined to deal him a final fatal blow, planned a concerted and overwhelming invasion of France. With his usual characteristic energy and efficiency Napoleon quickly raised and organised his country's forces, moved into Belgium and prepared to take on his most immediate threat, the Anglo-Dutch Army under Wellington and the Prussian army under Blücher.
The first test of strength at Quatre Bras, 16 June 1815, although a savage one for both sides, ended inconclusively with both armies holding their initial positions, with about 4,000 casualties from each side.
At Ligny, 16/17 June, Napoleon won a hard fought victory against the Prussians who took 16,000 casualties, including Field Marshal Blücher, who was injured leading a cavalry charge. Napoleon, after driving a wedge between the two armies and having dispatched Marshal de Grouchy with 33,000 men after the retreating Prussians, turned his attention to Wellington. Wellington, with his position untenable at Quatre Bras, withdrew towards Waterloo and in order to maintain contact with Blücher, resolved to fight the next day.
The battle of Waterloo began at 11.30am on 1 June 1815 with a French attack on the Chateau Hougoumont, which was repelled in an epic action by four light companies of Foot Guards with Hanoverian and Nassau contingents. Both armies went on to fight a tremendous battle, Napoleon's 72,000 men were thrown against Wellington's army of 69,000 again and again in full frontal assault on the muskets and bayonets of the unbreakable British squares.
At 1pm the French batteries opened fire in preparation for their Grand Attack on the centre of the British line, which followed at 1.30, spearheaded by four Divisions with cavalry support. Pack's Brigade wavering under pressure of French numbers was somewhat relieved when the Household and Union Brigade tore into the French divisions with fearful effect. The French broke and fled. Continuing their charge forward the two cavalry brigades attacked the French batteries until they were driven back by fresh French cavalry. A number of attacks were made on the unbroken allied centre-right and at 4pm a total of 5,000 enemy cavalry attacked between Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte, some of whom reached the allied positions, but again were unable to break any square and were driven off by British cavalry. At 5.30pm 9,000 cavalry assaulted the British positions and at 6pm further attacks were made which were all driven back with heavy loss. Shortly after 6pm destructive artillery fire was put down on the allied centre. Alten's division and Pack's, Kempt's and Lambert's brigades were devastated. Some line battalions were decimated in attempting a counter-attack and the 27th Foot were nearly destroyed in defending their exposed position. Sensing a weakness in Wellington's line, Napoleon brought forward elements of his special Guard for a final attempt upon the Allied positions, which included five battalions of the Middle Guard supported by another infantry division. Demoralised and overwhelmed, the Middle Guard broke and fled when charged by Colborne. With the Guard in retreat the whole of the French line disintegrated and soon after 8pm Wellington ordered a general advance to end the battle.
Napoleon abdicated for the second time, 22 June 1815, and died in exile on St. Helena, 5 May, 1821.
At about 7 o'clock in the evening during the battle, Somerset was severely wounded in the right elbow by a musket ball and the arm was amputated. After the operation Somerset shouted 'Hey, bring my arm back. There's a ring my wife gave me on the finger!' (possibly the ring he had been given by his wife, supposedly taken from Tipu Sultan - lot 10). Soon afterwards he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Prince Regent and made Colonel in the Army, 28 August 1815.
Christie's would like to thank John B. Hayward of Spink & Son for help in preparing this entry, and those for the other medals in the collection.