The Rare ‘Scots Greys’ Waterloo Medal awarded to Trumpeter Peter Bunce, 2nd (Royal North British) Dragoons, who presumably helped to ‘sound the charge’ and then took part in the decisive charge of the Union Brigade at Waterloo on 18 June 1815, which helped to turn the tide of the battle, comprising: Waterloo, 1815 (Peter Buncle, Trumpeter, 2nd or R. N. Brit. Reg. Drag.), with contemporary replacement steel clip and silver straight bar, with additional claw-type top bar with reverse pin for wear, a few tiny marks and very minor edge bruise, otherwise extremely fine, lustrous and rare Trumpeter Peter Buncle is listed in ‘Grey’s Ghosts: Men of the Scots Greys at Waterloo’ by Mellor, as having been born in Faversham, Kent. Having previously worked as a labourer, he was present at the Battle of Waterloo at the rank of Trumpeter in Poole’s Troop, taking part in the regiment’s famous charge in which Ensign Ewart captured a French Imperial eagle. Mellor states that remarkably, Buncle ‘appears not to have sustained any injuries at Waterloo’ despite Poole’s Troop having suffered the second highest ratio of casualties in the regiment (28.6%), and with Captain Poole himself having received 5 separate wounds – and having subsequently been taken prisoner.According to Mellor, Buncle served with the regiment for 30 years, including seven as Sergeant, and was eventually discharged as ‘worn out’. Peter Buncle is also shown as having registered as a pensioner at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea from 23 July 1823 (his residence marked as ‘Birmingham’). As suggested by the Waterloo Medal Roll, this medal is one of just 4 trumpeters who charged with the Scots Greys at Waterloo, and presumably helped to sound the charge.Ex Glendining, December 1961; ex Christie’s, September 2001.

Estimate: GBP 8000 - 10000