Reuben Stout was born in Great Limber, Lincolnshire in 1778. Little is known of his early days other than his trade was an agricultural worker. In 1805 at the age of 26 he enlisted in the British Army and in July 1809 he embarked for Portugal for service in the Peninsular Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars. His military records show that he took part in the siege of Badajoz in spring 1811 with the 2nd Battalion 34th Regiment of Foot in Wellington’s victory against the French under Marshall Massena.
picture by E. Heinneke
On 16th May 1811 he was again in action this time at the Battle of Albuera, in Spain. This was a bloody battle, Wellington’s subordinate, Marshal Beresford defended a ridge against Marshal Soult’s French army. The 34th were in the front line of this pyrrhic victory, the British suffered 4,200 casualties out of 6,000 men and Reuben himself received a gunshot wound to his elbow.
As a result of his wound at Albuera, Reuben was admitted the Royal Chelsea Hospital to recover. He convalesced there until 28 Apr 1813 when he was discharged from the army. He was discharged as an In-Pensioner from Chelsea and would then receive an allowance as an Out-Pensioner of 9 pennies a day. He was described as about 34 years of age, 5ft 7ins tall, with light hair, grey eyes, and pale complexion, profession an illiterate labourer.
Remarkably those who fought in the Peninsular wars were not rewarded with Medals until in 1848 when The Military General Service Medal 1848 was retrospectively issued to all those serving in the British Army who were present at specified battles, during the period 1793 to 1840 and who were still alive in 1847. The medal was only issued to those entitled to one or more of the clasps, a clasp being given to mark each battle. There were 21 clasps available for service in the Peninsular War. The medal had to be applied for and was not automatically issued. A combination of factors, from general illiteracy to limited publicity for the new medal meant that very many did not. The next of kin could not apply for a medal on behalf of a deceased relative. However, the medal was awarded to next of kin of those claimants who had died between the date of their application and the date of presentation. There were some 25,650 applications in total. The medal is circular, 36mm in diameter and was struck in solid silver. The obverse of this medal bears the head of Queen Victoria with the inscription; ‘VICTORIA REGINA’. The reverse depicts the Queen placing the victor’s laurels on the head of the Duke of Wellington with the inscription; ‘TO THE BRITISH ARMY’ and the dates; ‘1793-1814’. The ribbon suspender is of a plain, straight and swivelling style, attached to the medal by a claw mount. The recipient’s details can be found on the medal’s rim impressed in Roman capital letters.
After being discharged from the Army, Reuben didn’t settle back in Lincoln but moved to Loughborough, in Leicestershire and on 15th April 1813 he married Mary Thompson who was born in Hathern on 15th Dec 1776. The Marriage took place at the All Saints Church, Loughborough. Over the next 25 years they had 3 daughters, Harriet (b 1813), Jane (b 1824), Sarah (b 1826) and a son William (b 1821). In 1841 the family was living in Wards End, Loughborough. In 1851 Reuben 69 & Mary 66 were now living at 99 Wood Gate, Loughborough with their daughter Jane . Both were still working Mary was a Tripe Seller and Reuben was an Agricultural Laborer. On the 1851 Census he also put his Occupation as a Chelsea Pensioner to show that he was still being paid the Army pension. Reuben died on 2nd February 1853 aged 74 at Loughborough, and his death is also recorded in the Royal Chelsea Hospital Register. Mary died in 1859 at the age of 72.
