Waterloo 1815
Lieut. W. A. Griffiths, 23rd Regiment Foot, R.W.F.)
Silver clip and straight bar suspension
William A. Griffiths was born at Wrexham, Denbighshire, on 14 February 1792. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 23rd Foot from the Denbigh Militia on 14 March 1811, and promoted 1st Lieutenant on 13 May 1812. He served in the Peninsula from January 1812 to September 1813 and was present the Battle of Salamanca 22nd July 1812. Battle of Waterloo 18th June 1815.’ ‘Received a gun shot wound in left arm at Salamanca 22nd July 1812 (1829 statement of service). Received a gun shot wound at Waterloo in the right thigh 18th June 1815. One years pay received.’ He is also listed in the London Gazette as having been slightly wounded at the storming of San Sebastian, 31 August 1813.
The regiment’s records ‘Two days earlier a small contingent of volunteers have left to join the storm of San Sebastian it is likely that a handful of these including Lieutenant Griffiths will not return immediately to the ranks of 1/23rd’
He served at Waterloo in the Grenadier Company and is noted in the North Wales Gazette as having been severely wounded. He was appointed Depot Paymaster in April 1828 and promoted to regimental Paymaster on 12 October 1830. Placed on Half Pay in 1831, he died in 1832. (The Waterloo Roll Call attributes his death as a result of his wound received)
