QUARTERMASTER DAVID WILLIAMS (LATE QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT), 43RD (MONMOUTHSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION THE OXFORDSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY). Regimental prize medal, silver, circular, 57mm.

QUARTERMASTER DAVID WILLIAMS (LATE QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT), 43RD (MONMOUTHSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION THE OXFORDSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY). Regimental prize medal, silver, circular, 57mm. Obverse: a crowned bugle horn with “46th Foot” inscribed thereon, legend “Monmouthshire Light Infantry” around. Reverse inscribed in 7 lines “Presented to / David Williams/ by the officers of / the regiment / a / Token of Esteem / 1823”. Fitted with loop suspender, hallmarked London 1823 (no maker’s mark). Good Very Fine.

Balmer R363, this medal.

Balmer’s notes, with regard to this medal, that the 46th Regiment, were never the Monmouthshire Light Infantry, the 46th being the South Devonshire Regiment,

Close inspection of the title “46th Foot” engraved on the bugle that features on the obverse of this medal confirms that this regimental designation is a later addition, engraved in a much later style, and also engraved over the original engraved decorative details on the bugle. Presumably, at some stage, the regimental designation on this medal was altered with a view to selling it to a collector of medals of the 46th Regiment.

As Balmer notes, there was a David Williams of the 43rd (Monmouthshire Light Infantry) Regiment, who was commissioned a Quartermaster in that regiment (from Quartermaster-Sergeant) on 29/11/1810, presumably as a reward for distinguished services during the Peninsular War. Williams continued to server as Quartermaster of the Monmouthshire Light Infantry until he retired on full pay on 7/10/1830, disappearing from the Army Lists of the period after 1830.

Obviously, this medal needs re-classifying as a prize medal of the Monmouthshire Light Infantry, the old 43rd Regiment.

Medal accompanied by copied extract re. this medal from Balmer, copied extracts from the Army Lists of 1815 and 1830 and extract London Gazette for 9th – 12th February 1811, confirming David Williams as having been commissioned Quartermaster from the ranks, 43rd Regiment, having previously been Quartermaster-Sergeant in the 43rd Regiment.

There is some uncertainty with regard to the genuineness of some engraved early 19th century regimental prize medals, due to the production of spurious concoctions for the collectors market during the late 19th century, most of the recognised concoctions lacking hallmarks or having hallmarks that do not coincide with the stated date of the award in question. Given that the date of the hallmark on this medal matches the date of award, that would suggest that this is a genuine medal of the period, and, apart from the alteration to the regimental number, is as awarded to Quartermaster Williams.