Army Gold Cross for the Peninsular War awarded to Colonel Sir William de Lancey

The Army Gold Cross records the Peninsular War battle honours for Fuentes de Onoro, Badajoz, Busaco and Corunna, with additional clasps on the ribbon for Nive, San Sebastian, Vittoria, Salamanca and Talavera.

Sir William Howe De Lancey began his military career as a cornet in the 16th Light Dragoons in 1792. After service in the East and West Indies with different units De Lancey served as Assistant and then Deputy Quarter-Master General, distinguishing himself in the Peninsular War (1808-1814). In 1815, at Waterloo, the recently married and ennobled De Lancey was fatally wounded by a ricocheting cannon ball as he spoke with his commander, the Duke of Wellington. His wife, who had accompanied him to Belgium, was with him when he died.