Beschreibung:

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Martinique, Albuhera (Wm Lancaster, 23rd Foot), very fine (Quantity: 1) Clasps confirmed and appears on the published transcript roll with the comment 'Glendining 1982, possibly renamed. Private collection'. This is incorrect as the medal is entirely as issued. A scarce combination of clasps, given the time between the two actions. Martinique, 30 January to 24 February 1809, a British force under Lieutenant General Beckwith landed on the island of Martinique, which was in French possession in the Caribbean Sea. On 1 February, some skirmishing took place, but the following day the enemy took a more determined stand and a sharp action followed. The French were driven from their position with considerable loss and retired into Fort Desaix. After a vigorous siege, the garrison surrendered on 24 February. Three eagles and several bass drums were captured. The British force numbered about 10,000 and its loss was 3 officers and 81 men killed, 9 officers and 325 men wounded. It could well be that Private William Lancaster was one of the men wounded and therefore did not see any further action until Albuhera on 16 May 1811. The Peninsular War battle is described as 'one of the fiercest on human record' with over 6000 including 2500 Spaniards, Germans and Portuguese killed, wounded and missing. Of this there were 984 English killed, 2993 wounded and 570 missing. The estimated loss of French was in excess of 8000. An interesting medal and worthy of further research.