The Military General Service Roll 1793-1814- With slipcase.

"Thus was war terminated and with it all remembrance of the veteran's services,"

When the historian of the Peninsular War, Sir William Napier, was writing these words a further two decades had yet to elapse before an ungrateful government reluctantly yielding to the pressure of public opinion, performed a diplomatic about turn and granted a medal, albeit thirty four years after the event, to those surviving veterans of a war which had finished in 1814.

At the period when Sir William was working on his History there were still many old soldiers on the active service list, and a far greater number of those who had returned to civilian life. Their phraseology may well have differed from that of the soldier turned historian, it is certain however that one and all will have been united by the strong sense of resentment that, no tangible symbol of the nation's gratitude had been awarded to them.

It is not difficult to appreciate how this neglect must have rankled, even without the constant reminder occasioned by the Waterloo Man proudly wearing his medal,there was the additional irritant that with the medal, he had been granted two years service towards pension.

There is ample evidence the veterans of the Peninsula and other campaigns did feel strongly that, they had been most unfairly treated. This is borne out in the writing of former officers, who, more literate than the rank and file, were capable of expression through the medium of the press and in their memoirs. Nor can it be claimed that those in authority were unaware of the situation, for when within some regiments, the officers applied for permission to present medals, this was speedily and readily granted, subject to the proviso that any expense involved should be defrayed by the applicants. This generous and very thoughtful example was one which authority steadfastly chose to ignore.

When finally the plea for a medal was raised in the House of Commons, it was for the surviving officers or former officers of the Peninsula Army only. In opposing the motion, the point was made that this was most unfair to those officers who had served in other parts of the world, nor under the circumstances could the claim of the rank and file be ignored.

It is ironical that this argument was to breach the wall of officialdom and procrastination which had withstood all earlier attempts, leading finally to the award of the General Service Medal to the Army, with, as a direct result, to that of the Navy and very belatedly to the Army of India.

Original dark red 1/4 leather and marbled boards, gilt lettering to spine. All edges gilded.

Half title. Portrait. Title. Preface. Dedication. 726 pages detailed text, records, data and information.

The book is fine the slipcase has some wear.