John Winterbottom
1781 - 1838
The memorial to John Winterbottom of Saddleworth, in St Chad's Church.
Paymaster of the
52nd Light Infantry Regiment(formerly the 52nd (Oxfordshire) /TD later the 2nd
Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and The Royal
Green Jackets).
"The finest non-commissioned officer the British army ever had".
Gen. Sir William
Napier.
Click here for an extract from
the “Historical Record of the Fifty-Second Regiment (Oxfordshire
Light Infantry) from the year 1755 to the year 1858.
Compiled under direction of the Committee and edited by W.S.Moorsom
M.I.C.E. Late Captain 52nd Light Infantry, and D.Q.M.G.
An Officer & Private of the 52nd Regiment of Infantry
from Charles Hamilton Smith's Costumes of the Army of the British Empire, according to the last regulations 1812, published by Colnaghi & Co. 1812-1815.
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Waterloo Medal
18th June 1815
From L. L. Gordon, British Battles and Medals, 5th Edition revised:
Though styled the Waterloo Medal, it was awarded to anyone who had taken part in one or more of the following battles Ligny, 16th June; Quatre Bras, 16th June; Waterloo, 18th June. Every soldier present at either of these battles was credited with two extra years' service, to count for all purposes.
By a General Order dated 29th July, 1815, the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards were granted the title of "Grenadiers" for their service during the battle of Waterloo.
This is the first medal issued by the British Government to all soldiers present. This statement must not be confused and read as if this were the first battle for which a general issue was made. The Dunbar Medal of 1650 was issued to both officers and men, but there is no verification of its having been given to all officers and men. The Military General Service Medal commemorates earlier battles, but was not issued until 1848.
It is also the first campaign medal awarded to the next-of-kin of men killed in action. (The Highland Society's medal of 1801 was not a campaign medal.)
It is not generally known that this medal also has another distinction in that it was the first on which the recipient's name was impressed around the edge by machine.
Major L. L. Gordon, British Battles and Medals, 5th Edition revised by Edward C. Joslin,
London, Spinks & Son Ltd., 1979