A silver snuff box and military medals presented to a man who fought under the Duke of Wellington centuries ago have been uncovered in Oxfordshire.
Memories of the Peninsular Napoleonic Wars have emerged thanks to the discovery of the silver military presentation snuff box and medals awarded to Sgt-Major William Livsey whose descendants live in Banbury.
The snuff box, set for auction at Banbury’s Hanson Holloway’s Ross saleroom on October 7, estimate £800-£1,000, features a miniature cannon – an exact replica of one used in Europe’s Peninsular War (1807-1814). It bears the inscription, ‘Presented August 29th 1856 to Sgt-Major William Livsey, by the Officers and Men of The West Essex Yeomanry Artillery for his meritorious services in bringing that Corps to its present efficiency’.
The same auction includes a pair of medals presented to Sergeant Major William Livsey, Royal Artillery, dated 1793-1814, revealing a story of bravery from two centuries ago. One has five clasps marking the serviceman’s participation in the Pensinsular conflict in Tolouse, Orthes, Pyrennes, Vittoria and Albuhera. It’s being offered together with a Long Service/Good Conduct medal and copies of Livsey’s service record and discharge papers, estimate £1,000-£1,500 (lot 185).
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The 167-year-old snuff box and medals have been treasured through the generations by his Oxfordshire descendants. However, the family have decided the time has come to part with the military heirlooms.
The snuff box, hallmarked Birmingham 1853 with the makers mark Yapp and Woodward, comes with a 1967 cutting from the Oxford Times explaining its provenance.
The article features Sidney Farrow, a former janitor at Oxford’s Museum of the History of Science who inherited the snuff box in the 1920s. Sgt-Major Livsey, who signed up for the Royal Artillery at the age of 18 in 1808, was his great grandfather.
Jasper Marsh, auctioneer at Hanson Holloway’s Ross, said: “It’s a wonderful historical find made on our doorstep. It reminds us of the gallantry of a man who proudly served our country two centuries ago under Wellington, a renowned military leader.
“Historical treasures like this are part of Britain’s heritage and we look forward to finding a it new home, perhaps with a collector or museum.”
The Peninsular War was a conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the UK against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), was among the commanders who won and ended the Napoleonic Wars when the Seventh Coalition defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The Dublin-born Anglo-Irish statesman, soldier and British Tory politician was a leading military and political figure in 19th century Britain, serving twice as UK prime minister.
Auction: The silver snuff box, lot 186, and medals, lot 185, will be offered on Saturday, October 7 in Hanson Holloway’s Ross Fine Art and Antiques Auction, Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Catalogues: www.hansonlive.co.uk and www.the-saleroom.com
Enquiries: [email protected]
