Medal to fetch £1,600

A silver medal awarded to an Oldham war hero 160 years ago is set to fetch up to £1,600 at auction in London tomorrow.

The 1793-1814 Military General Service medal was won by Oldham-born Private Samuel Dunkerly, who fought against Napoleon’s French army in the Peninsular War between 1808 and 1814.

Private Dunkerly was forced to quit the Army in 1815 after he was wounded in the head on August 2, 1813, on the last day of the seven-day Battle of the Pyrenees in Spain.

He had to wait 33 years before his war exploits were officially recognised and rewarded as the 1793-1814 Military General Service medal was not introduced until January, 1848.

There are four clasps attached to the crimson and dark blue edged ribbon of Private Dunkerly's medal.

These are for the battles in Egypt, Maida, Corunna and Vittoria.