NAM.2001-04-262-1

Pattern 1803 infantry officers sword, 1807 (c). Carried by Maj William Claude Campbell, Grenadiers, The Buffs at the Battle of Corunna, 1809. Presented to the officers of 1st Bn The Buffs by Gen Sir Julius Raines on the ninety-fifth anniversary of the Battle of Albuera, 16 May 1906. Silver rather than the gilt brass of standard 1803 pattern swords. With leaf-shaped pierced guard including cypher ‘GR’, ivory grips decorated with vertical lines, lion’s head pommel, curved steel blade, flatback, double-edged for last 6.5 in, hilt of silver. Different grip to standard 1803 pattern. Hallmark on guard, 1795, London. From the collection of the former Buffs Regimental Museum. William Claude Campbell transferred to the Buffs from 101st Regiment of Foot as a Lieutenant. He was wounded at Grenada in the West Indies on 25 March 1796 and commanded the Grenadier Company of the Buffs as a Captain. This company was with Sir John Moore in his retreat to Corunna, fighting almost continuous rearguard actions and finally taking part in the Battle of Corunna in 1809. He was appointed a major on 16 Aug 1810 and was still with the Buffs in the Army List of December 1814. In the 1821 Naval and Military Calendar he is a Lieutenant Colonel on half pay with the 62nd Regiment of Foot.

Wars of the French Revolution, West Indies (1793-1797), Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815)

Corunna, Battle of, 1809 (Peninsular War 1808-1814), Albuera, Battle of, 1811 (Peninsular War 1808-1814)