Sergeant William Bryant 1831


At the age of 19 Bryant joined the Grenadier Guards at Deptford on 2nd Dec 1813 and very soon found himself on active service in Holland. He was present at the storming of Bergen-op-Zoom and was wounded in the head and taken prisoner. He was soon released when hostilities ceased in April 1914. The medal on his chest shows that Bryant fought at Waterloo. He would also have had the letter W after his name on the regimental list to denote Waterloo man. He was promoted to corporal in 1817 and sergeant in 1820. He was in no. 11 Company. Two years after this was painted by Dubois Drahonet, Bryant was discharged on 9th April 1833 because of 'diseased state of the lungs'.

His coat has gold chevrons and epaulettes as well as a gold laced collar and pocket flaps behind. He also has a crimson sergeant's sash and a sword. It is interesting to compare his uniform with that of a private. See Private, Marching Order c1835


Soldiers | Regimental details


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by Stephen Luscombe