拍品專文
Sold with one of the recipient's original pocket notebooks, the inside cover ink inscribed, 'Lieut. W.H. Hare, 51st Lt. Infy. Regt.', and the contents including entries for service in Portugal in 1812, red leather binding with brass fastening device.
Brevet-Major William Henry Hare was appointed to the 51st Regiment as an Ensign in December 1807 and accompanied the Expedition to Corunna under Sir David Baird in October 1808. Subsequently present in the famous retreat of early 1809, and more especially at the Battle of Corunna on 16 January, young Hare, as the most junior Ensign, was given the unenvious task of carrying the Regimental Colour. As he would afterwards recall in a letter home, it was shot through in three places, 'two in the silk and one at the top of the staff'. Following this hair-raising baptism of fire, he was advanced to Lieutenant and landed from H.M.S. Imperieuse in late July to participate in the Walcheren Expedition. Present at the seige of Flushing, which surrendered on 14.8.1809, his Regiment was evacuated home in the following month, largely as a result of a debilitating fever which affected many of the troops.
Hare participated in further operations in Spain between September 1811 and December 1812, and again from March to June 1814, but he did not qualify for further clasps to his Military General Service Medal. Then following Napoleon's escape from Elba in February 1815, the 51st Regiment was despatched to the Continent and disembarked at Ostend in late March. Hare was subsequently present at the Battle of Waterloo and at the storming of Cambrai on 24.6.1815, afterwards accompanying the Regiment to the Bois de Boulogne, Paris as part of the Army of Occupation. Advanced to Captain in November 1819, he served in Corfu between 1821-22, in which latter year he was placed on Half-Pay. He finally retired as a Brevet-Major in January 1837 and died at Plymouth in March 1880, aged 89 years.
As a regular correspondent throughout his military career, he wrote many fascinating letters home, several of which have now been published in the Regimental Magazine The Bugle (Volume 48). Superbly written, full of humour and covering an extensive array of subject matter, from his rations and wine to engagements won and lost, Hare also passes comment on the "Iron Duke" and Napoleon. A photocopied record of this correspondence is included with the lot.
These awards form part of a Family Group, also see Lot 402.
Brevet-Major William Henry Hare was appointed to the 51st Regiment as an Ensign in December 1807 and accompanied the Expedition to Corunna under Sir David Baird in October 1808. Subsequently present in the famous retreat of early 1809, and more especially at the Battle of Corunna on 16 January, young Hare, as the most junior Ensign, was given the unenvious task of carrying the Regimental Colour. As he would afterwards recall in a letter home, it was shot through in three places, 'two in the silk and one at the top of the staff'. Following this hair-raising baptism of fire, he was advanced to Lieutenant and landed from H.M.S. Imperieuse in late July to participate in the Walcheren Expedition. Present at the seige of Flushing, which surrendered on 14.8.1809, his Regiment was evacuated home in the following month, largely as a result of a debilitating fever which affected many of the troops.
Hare participated in further operations in Spain between September 1811 and December 1812, and again from March to June 1814, but he did not qualify for further clasps to his Military General Service Medal. Then following Napoleon's escape from Elba in February 1815, the 51st Regiment was despatched to the Continent and disembarked at Ostend in late March. Hare was subsequently present at the Battle of Waterloo and at the storming of Cambrai on 24.6.1815, afterwards accompanying the Regiment to the Bois de Boulogne, Paris as part of the Army of Occupation. Advanced to Captain in November 1819, he served in Corfu between 1821-22, in which latter year he was placed on Half-Pay. He finally retired as a Brevet-Major in January 1837 and died at Plymouth in March 1880, aged 89 years.
As a regular correspondent throughout his military career, he wrote many fascinating letters home, several of which have now been published in the Regimental Magazine The Bugle (Volume 48). Superbly written, full of humour and covering an extensive array of subject matter, from his rations and wine to engagements won and lost, Hare also passes comment on the "Iron Duke" and Napoleon. A photocopied record of this correspondence is included with the lot.
These awards form part of a Family Group, also see Lot 402.