THE MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH MAIDA CLASP AWARDED TO PRIVATE JOHN FOSTER, 81ST (LOYAL LINCOLN VOLUNTEERS) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION LOYAL NORTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT), WHO WAS AWARDED A REGIMENTAL MEDAL “FOR MILITARY MERIT” FOR MAIDA

THE MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH MAIDA CLASP AWARDED TO PRIVATE JOHN FOSTER, 1ST BATTALION 81ST (LOYAL LINCOLN VOLUNTEERS) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION LOYAL NORTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT), WHO WAS ALSO AWARDED A REGIMENTAL MEDAL “FOR MILITARY MERIT” FOR MAIDA. Military General Service Medal 1793, 1 clasp, Maida (officially impressed: JOHN FOSTER, 81st. FOOT.). Some minor edge nicks and rim bruises, otherwise attractively toned and Good Very Fine to Almost Extremely Fine.

Medal accompanied by 2 pages of copied service papers, extract muster rolls for the periods covering the lead-up to and battle of Maida, 25th May-24th June 1806 and 25th June- 24th September 1806 (WO 12/8531) and copied extract 1841 census.

John Foster, was born in Hodnet, Shropshire, circa 1767, and enlisted into the 81st Foot on 9/11/1804. At the time of enlistment, Foster was 37 years of age and enlisted for unlimited service.

Foster is confirmed on the regimental muster for the 81st Foot For July 1806 as being present at the battle of Maida, 4th July 1806, seeing service in Captain Thomas Vickers Stables Company. He was discharged on 24/5/1817, after 12 years and 197 days with the colours in consequence being “worn out” and reduction of the establishment. At time of discharge, Foster gave his trade as labourer, and stated that he intended proceeding to Market Drayton, Shropshire. He is recorded in the 1841 census as a 75 year old blacksmith resident at Bowden (now spelt Bowdon), Altrincham, Cheshire with his 75 year old wife Sarah and his 45 year old daughter, Jane (who would have been born circa 1796, prior to Foster’s enlistment in 1804. John Foster not traced in the 1851 census.Bowden/Bowdon is approximately 35 miles from Market Drayton,where Foster stated that he intended proceeding when discharged, and 40 miles from Hodnet, where Foster was born.

Although John Foster’s name is not recorded in the original or published medal rolls for the Military General Service Medal as having been awarded a Military General Service Medal for Maida, however, his presence at Maida is confirmed in the regimental muster. The medal is correctly named and is undoubtedly one of a significant number of genuine late issue medals not recorded in the original and published medal rolls.

British Battles and Medals records a total of 119 Maida clasps to the 81st Regiment of which 109 were single clasp Maida medals. This medal to Foster brings the total to 120, and the total number of single clasp Maida medals to 110..

Balmer, in his Regimental Medals of the British Army records a silver Regimental Medal of 1810 awarded to Private John Foster for Military Merit at Maida (Balmer R492, illustrated). This medal is engraved on the obverse “Maida” at top centre, with below this a circlet enclosing the regimental number “81” and engraved PTE JOHN FOSTER” below this. The reverse of the medal is engraved at the centre in 5 lines: “A / MARK / OF ESTEEM / FROM THE / OFFICERS”, and this engraved around ” Anno 1810. Presented for Military Merit”. This silver prize medal is hallmarked Sheffield 1809. It was offered for sale in Spink Numismatic Circular July-August 1959, item 15240, described as being silver, 2.25 inches in diameter, hallmarked, and in Fine condition, price £9. It is currently housed in the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment Museum (on loan to the Lancashire Museum Service).

At Maida the 1st Battalion 81st Foot formed part of Colonel Coles First Brigade. The battle was a convincing victory for the British army, which scattered the French forces in Calabria. After the 2/78th Highlanders, the 1/81st Foot had the highest casualty rate of any of the British regiments engaged at Maida.