One of the many spoils of war seized by Wellington’s officers and men at the Battle of Vitoria in 1813 was Joseph Bonaparte’s enormous baggage train of over 100 wagons.
The British fell upon the treasure-laden train as it became stuck in the narrow Spanish streets, while Napoleon’s brother and the French army fled.
This dark blue wool army general officer’s coat was among the items taken and brought back by the 3rd Earl of Abergavenny, John Nevill, to his family seat at Eridge Castle in Sussex. It has remained in the family since and is guided at £15,000-20,000 at Mellors & Kirk’s two-day sale in Nottingham on September 19-20.