Australian Singles

Lot 2431    SESSION 16 (9.30AM FRIDAY 25TH NOV)    Australian Singles

Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $5,500

48TH FOOT REGIMENTAL MEDAL 1819, obverse inscribed on scroll, 'Adam Tilley', reverse inscribed with five actions, 'Talavera, Albuera, Rodrigo, Badajos, Salamanca'. Dark toned, very fine.

This medal was awarded whilst the regiment was serving in Australia, 1817-24, and most, if not all, of the approximately 20 known recipients served in New South Wales. It is the first military medal to have been issued in Australia. There is strong evidence that the medals were engraved by Samuel Clayton, transported to Australia for seven years in 1816 and working as a painter, engraver and silversmith in Sydney as early as January of the following year.

Adam Tilly was born at St John's Antigua. When he attested at Gibraltar on 25 December 1799 at age 10 he was recorded as a labourer. He was promoted to Corporal 25 January 1817 and reduced to Private 24 May 1817. Adam Tilly died 11 June 1824, at the age of 34, at St Thomas Mount, Madras, India long before the Military General Service Medal he was entitled to could be claimed by him.

Research provided with the lot states that Tilley was sick/absent at the retreat from Burgos and taken as POW and remained as such from October 1812 to June 1814 (approx).

While he was stationed in Australia Adam Tilly and his wife, Jane, had three children, Thomas born 10 September 1818, Sarah born 4 December 1820 and George born 15 June 1823. All three were baptised at St Philip's Church in Sydney, NSW

With extensive professional research including copies of Baptismal Certificates for the children born in Australia.