The superb Military General Service Medal and Waterloo Medal pair to Robert Paton of the 42nd Royal Highlanders, who saw extensive service during the Peninsula War and the Waterloo Campaign during which he was "wounded in the head at Corunna, the left arm at Toulouse and in the right thigh at Waterloo” according to his discharge papers.

 

Robert was born in Glasgow in 1784.

1 Jan 1804      Enlisted age 19 years for unlimited service by Colonel Stirling at Weeley Barracks

1 Apr 1804      Robt Patton) Mustered in No.4 (also muster for No.7) Capt John Frasers Coy 1st Bn RH at Weeley Barracks, age 19 yrs. Identified as “Hosier”. Former service 3 yrs Fencibles

 

In Sept/Oct 1805 The 1st Bn 42nd embarked for Gibraltar.

 

14 Aug 1808    The 42nd were garrisoned at Gibraltar and set sail for Lisbon

 

Corunna

The 42nd arrived in Portugal in the summer of 1808 and was initially attached to Sir John Moore's army. They took part in the famous and gruelling winter retreat to the coast, culminating in the Battle of Corunna on January 16, 1809. The Black Watch fought valiantly alongside the 4th and 50th regiments, making a decisive bayonet charge that repelled the French forces, then evacuated back to Britain. The battalion’s casualties at Corunna were around 150 with some 35 killed. Robert was wounded in the head. The retreat itself lost 99 men marked as “missing.”

 

Walcheren

In the summer of 1809 the battalion then joined the force sent to Walcheren across the English Channel to the Low Countries this battalion was made to suffer the full force of the swamp fevers prevalent in the high summer of 1809, when the call is finally made to evacuate the sorry remnants of this army 1/42nd would record its return to England with no more than 200 men under Arms. Robert suffered from the Walcheren fever as noted on his statement of service.

 

Peninsula

The regiment returned to the Peninsula in 1812 under the Duke of Wellington fighting at Salamanca in July 1812. During this later phase, the 42nd distinguished themselves in the brutal Siege of Burgos.  After pushing the French back into their own territory, they fought at the Battle of the Pyrenees, at Nivelle and Nive and the Battle of Toulouse in 1814, where Robert was again wounded, before returning home just prior to the Waterloo campaign.

Waterloo

Part of the 5th Division, they were instrumental at the bloody prelude of Quatre Bras on June 16, and on June 18, they bravely held the vital left-centre position at Waterloo, enduring devastating artillery fire while repelling massed French cavalry charges. Robert was wounded here for the third time.

 

In John Frasers Coy for MGS Roll, John Campbells (2nd Coy on muster rolls) for Waterloo. At Quatre Bras their commanding officer, Lieut. Colonel Sir Robert Macara, was killed on this occasion a lance having pierced through his chin until it reached the brain.

 

Post Service

7 June 1821    Discharged Royal Hospital Kilmainham and to pension . Served a total of 19 years and 161 days by his discharge papers -  “Ruptured, Rheumatic and Worn out”. Form filled out for Robert Patton and signed for by Robert Paton. Robert appears to have married Margaret the same year back at Barony in Scotland.

1851 Census Residence Woodside Row, 10, Barony, Blythswood, Lanarkshire. A journeyman Hosier. Rob was identified as a Hosier in his 1804 muster and also from Lanark. Sean Connery’s father was from Woodside.

 

1 June 1858                Deceased at age 73 years, at Glasgow. Death certificate with details. Buried next day with his wife Margaret at Sighthill Cemetery, 2in 10th Row N. Plot ( I assume this means 2nd grave in 10th row in North Plot).

 

MGS with clasps Corunna, Salamanca, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive correctly impressed ROBT PATON, 42ND FOOT. Whilst clearly entitled to the Toulouse clasp the medal roll shows him disallowed absent sick and would appear to be a misinterpretation of his wound and presence at that place.

 

Waterloo Medal with replacement ring, correctly impressed ROBERT PATOUN, 42ND or R.H. REG. INFANTRY

 

Together with mixed research of data and media as well as copies of Pension, Statement of Service, some musters and rolls. Above summary is based on best evidence available and only partial analysis of it.

Research Notes