Document signed by King William III goes on display for Orange Heritage Week

A document signed by King William III will go on display in the Museum of Orange Heritage at Schomberg House during Orange Heritage Week (21-28 September).

This intriguing document highlights the level of welfare provision in operation for wounded veterans after the war to secure the Glorious Revolution. 

Mrs. Jean Imrie and son, Gordon, District Lecturer of Castlewellan District Orange Lodge No. 12.

Signed by King William III on 30 May 1699, at Kensington Palace, London, it granted the bearer a pension in recognition of his service at the Battle of Aughrim in 1691.

The soldier in question is simply described by his surname Gamell/Garnell, and the document records that he lost a hand in the service of the King in this battle. Consequently, he was rendered incapable of further service, and it was requested that he be enrolled in the “List of Invalids.”  

Support for wounded soldiers has been a constant and evolving aspect of warfare for centuries, but what is interesting is that this soldier had to wait over eight years to receive this pension. It may have been the case that, although gravely wounded in 1691, he remained in some sort of role in the army until his disability prevented further work. 

The Battle of Aughrim was fought on 12 July 1691 in County Galway. It was the last major field battle of the war and represented a major push by Williamite forces to finally break Jacobite forces west of the River Shannon and take the strongholds of Galway and Limerick. 

Aughrim was a very bloody affair. The plan of action was devised by Scottish Major-General MacKay and involved stretching the Jacobite centre and right, to draw forces away from the Jacobite left flank, where a breach could be made. Fighting was intense, especially between those European based Regiments fighting on each side. At the climax of the battle the Jacobite leader, General St. Ruth, was decapitated by a cannon ball. The impetus swung towards the Williamites and by nightfall they had won the day. 

It is interesting that this document is to The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury of our ancient Kingdom of Scotland. It begs the question, had this soldier enlisted in one of those Scottish Regiments raised during the Williamite campaign or had he been serving under Hugh MacKay as part of the Scots Brigade, a British mercenary unit serving in the Dutch army, prior to the Glorious Revolution? 

Before being passed into the possession of the Imrie family, it belonged to Richard George Salmon King, who was Dean of Derry, 1921-1946. 

This item has been placed on loan to the Museum of Orange Heritage in memory of the late Wor. Bro. Robin Imrie, D.G.M.I., by his wife Mrs. Jean Imrie and son, Gordon, District Lecturer of Castlewellan District Orange Lodge No. 12.