Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Singles

Lot 2144    Session 7 (11.30am Wednesday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Singles

Estimate $9,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $12,400

WATERLOO MEDAL 1815, with contemporary replacement suspension with what appears to be original ribbon, and with ribbon buckle bar. *** Lieut. W.Neilly, 1st Batt. 40th Reg. Foot. **. Officially impressed. Contact marks, otherwise fine.

William Neilly was born on 05Feb1791 at Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Ireland. He joined the army in 1808 and was commissioned an ensign on 21Apr1809 in the 40th Regiment (known as the Fighting Fortieth). His unit left Ireland in May 1811 to join the 1st Battalion in Portugal to fight in the army under control of the Duke of Wellington. William served in many battles throughout the Peninsular War and received the Military General Service Medal with nine clasps - Cuidad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittorio, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse. On 26Sep1811 he was appointed Lieutenant and was assigned a civilian servant.

The 40th marched to Bordeaux and then sailed for Cork, Ireland on the ship 'Sultan'. On 08Oct1814 the unit set off for New Orleans however one of the transports was wrecked so the force returned to Ireland setting sail again about a month later finally arriving at New Orleans via Barbados. The weather was bad so disembarkation was going to be difficult. During this period there had been a disastrous attack on New Orleans in which the British commanding officer and his second in charge were killed so orders were given for the 40th to return to England, arriving via Havana to Portsmouth in May1815. The unit was immediately transported to Ostend, Belgium and then it marched from Ghent on 16Jun1815 reaching Waterloo on 18Jun1815.

Lieutenant William Neilly was in Captain J.Lowry's Company which went into action at once at the crossroads by the farm of Mont St Jean. In a reference to the 1st Battalion at the historic battle the 40th Regimental unit history states, 'In this famous battle the battalion nobly maintained its high reputation, and stood like a rock against the pitiless iron storm, and the fierce assaults of Napoleon's horse and foot, till the time came when Lord Wellington, hat in hand, led forward the advances which, once and for all, swept the army of Napoleon from the Battlefield.' Following the battle, William was present at the Occupation of Paris and then the unit moved to Cambrai where he received his Waterloo Medal. After Waterloo, the 40th moved to Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland. In November1821 Lieutenant Neilly was appointed Adjutant (dated 06/12/1821 LG page 2422 and 06/11/1821 Edinburgh Gazette 18-21/12/1821, page 2971). It was here, on 04Feb1823, one day before his 32nd birthday, that he married Jeanette Maria Higgins, from an army family as her brothers, John and Matthew, were both officers in the 7th Fusiliers. The next year William and his wife embarked on 14Jun1824 bound for Australia on the convict ship, Princess Charlotte, with William in command of a guard furnished by the 40th Regiment. The convoy of twelve ships travelled via Rio de Janeiro arriving on 09Nov1824 at Hobart Town, Van Diemens Land where the convicts were disembarked before proceeding to Sydney which they reached on 01Dec1824.

Lieutenant Neilly and his wife returned to Hobart Town on 07Feb1826 in the ship, Laine. On 16Apr1828, under Government Order No.21, he was appointed Ordnance Storekeeper to have charge of the General Stores of the Colony. Then on 21Nov1828 he was appointed a Captain of Infantry without purchase and placed on the unattached list shortly before the 40th Regiment transferred to India. The unit was later to return to Australia in 1852 remaining until 1860. It had units in South Australia, Western Australia and the main body in Victoria where they suppressed the Eureka Rebellion of 1854.

In August 1831 William was appointed to the 63rd Regiment. In 1834 he retired and settled the family on his grant of land of 407 acres on the east bank of the Tamar River. He was also entitled to purchase 2,560 acres of land in the area at two pence per acre as he had spent 26 years in the army. His house on the property was built of bricks made locally by convicts and the building was constructed with the help of convict labour. He called the house 'Rostella' which was the name of the family house in Ireland where his wife Jeanette was raised. For the rest of his life William raised sheep, managed the family property and also served the community as a Commissioner of the Peace. He was appointed to this role by Government Notice No.214, 16Nov1837. He was also deeply involved in the local church, St Matthias Anglican Church at Windermere. He was a friend of De Matthias Gaunt who built the church in 1842 and as such William was a liberal subscriber to the construction of the church building and for many years he served as a church warden.

William and his wife had eight children, six girls and two boys, all born in Tasmania, with the last four born at the family home, Rostella. William Neilly died at his home 'Rostella' near Launceston on 05Feb1864, his 73rd birthday. He is buried in a family grave at Windermere church yard cemetery, Dilston, Tasmania. His coffin was carried by four convict servants; one had been with him for twenty years and another for twenty five years. The marble headstone is much weathered however the inscription reads, 'Sacred to the memory of William Neilly Esq J.P. formerly Captain of H.M. X.L.th and LX 3rd regiments who departed this life at Rostella 5th Feb. 1864 A.D. aged 74 years. Also his wife Jeanette Neilly who died at Brighton Victoria 7th Sep. 1881 aged 73 years. Also Emma Louise 4th daughter of the above who departed this life 8th June 1854 A.D. in her 20th year. Henry Neilly of Rostella born 21st February 1841 died 15th March 1870. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Blessed are they who die in the Lord.'

With research including A4 size colour photos of his grave, headstone and the picturesque church graveyard.