Lieutenant John Waters, 5th Garrison Battalion, 1809 (c)

Watercolour on ivory, artist unknown, 1809 (c). Mounted in a glazed, oval, gilt decorative brooch fitting with both pin and suspension loop at the back.

Thought to be Lieutenant John Waters, the sitter wears a shoulder belt plate bearing the number five for the 5th Garrison Battalion. An ensign in the 61st Regiment of Foot from 1808, John Waters transferred to the 5th Garrison Battalion the following year. He transferred again in 1810, this time to the 21st Regiment of Foot. In 1816 Waters was placed on half pay as part of the reduction of the army following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), Emperor of France.