This item is part of Prestige & Distinction, Auction III: An International Selection of Orders, Decorations & Awards . Click Here to view all items in this collection.
Instituted June 1, 1847. In silver, rim impressed JOSEPH GREEN, 61ST FOOT., worn on replacement ribbon with 9 clasps (TOULOUSE, ORTHES, NIVE, NIVELLE, PYRENEES, SALAMANCA, BUSACO, TALAVERA, MAIDA), notable edge knocks and light wear overall, lovely patina, in extremely fine condition.
Footnote: Joseph Green was born in Morpeth, Northumberland, and enlisted for the 61st Regiment of Foot at Hexham at the age of 24, on August 16, 1803. Green joined the 2nd Battalion at formation from elements of the Army of Reserve. At this date, the 1st Battalion of the 61st Foot was in Malta. Green is present in the first muster of the 2nd Battalion as being in No.6 Company. In late October, 1803, he transferred to No. 10 Company under the command of Captain Hercules Renny. In August 1804, the 2nd Battalion was transported, landing at Ramsgate and marching to Barham Camp in Kent. As of October 1804, Green was part of a draft of men under Major Barlow who were transferred to the 1st Battalion, while the remainder of the 2nd was moved to Guernsey by the end of the month.
In January 1805, he joined the 1st Battalion at Malta, under the command of Captain James Farrar. In November 1805, the 1st Battalion of the 61st Foot landed in Italy. In December 1805, Green was transferred to William Coz’s Company, and the first Battalion had evacuated the mainland and was now located at Messina, Sicily.
In June 1806, it appears Green received a promotion to Corporal, however an exact date of promotion is not shown. During this time, he was present for the Battle of Maida. The following year he was reduced back to Private.
In December 1807, the 1st Battalion left Gibraltar and arrived in Lisbon, where they marched to join the army fighting under Sir Arthur Wellesley in Spain. The Battalion participated in the Battle of Talavera, sustaining 256 casualties.
Hospital records indicate Green was ill in October 1809 and again from December 1811 to January 1812.
In July 1812, Green was present at the Battle of Salamanca, where the Battalion suffered 365 men killed or wounded. He was one of the 78 that did not receive wounds. In September – October later that year, the 1st Battalion was present at the Siege of Burgos.
In 1813, the 1st Battalion was present at Vittoria in June, and the Battle of Pyrenees in July-August. Within that period, Green was promoted to Corporal. Over the next six months, he was present at the Battle of Nivelle, the Battle of Nive, and the Battle of Orthes. In February of 1814, the Battalion suffered 174 killed and wounded at the Battle of Toulouse, including the commanding officer, Lieutenant-colonel Robert John Coghlan. After a few days, the French forces ceased resistance, and the 1st Battalion was moved to Bordeaux.
Mid 1814, the 1st Battalion embarked on the transports Echo and Galatea at Paullac and disembarked at Cork, prior to marching on to Limerick.
Green took a furlough from the end of September until mid November, 1814. At the end of the furlough, the Battalion marched from Dundalk to Newry. In April 1815, he was reduced to private, and records show he was sick in October 1815.
In June 1816, the 1st Battalion embarked at Monkstown for passage to Portsmouth. Joseph is shown as sick at the end of the month in Portsmouth where the Battalion was at Fort Cumberland. As of August – September, Green was detached at Tipnor. Near the end of 1816, the 1st Battalion embarked at Portsmouth for passage to Jamaica, arriving around December 20. By August 1817, Green was given a pay increase following 14 years of service.
In 1822, Green is noted to be aboard the “Loyal Briton” which sails from Kingston in Jamaica on this date and arrived at Plymouth on May 27. In July, Green was detached for recruiting duty in the North Britain district (including Scotland). By December 1823, he returned to Plymouth. Green did another recruiting duty in Leeds district in March 1825, returning to Limerick in September, and shortly thereafter the Battalion marched to Longford. At the beginning of 1826, Green was promoted to Corporal, but was reduced to Private in March. In October 1826, Green was discharged to pension of 1 shilling and 2 pence per day, at Athlone, due to being ‘worn out.’ He died on December 6, 1852, at the age of 75.