HE may not have been one of Sharpe's 'chosen men' but, unlike actor Sean Bean, he really did fight in Spain.

That was Leigh soldier Private John Smith was wounded at the Battle of Salamanca in Spain 200 years ago today - on July 22,1812.

And 164 years ago he was awarded a silver medal that has just realised £1,900 at auction.

The Military General Service 1793-1814 medal presented to Private Smith is particularly valuable because he was wounded at the Battle of Salamanca in Spain 200 years ago this coming Sunday - on July 22,1812.

That injury, to Private Smith’s left foot, made the medal more valuable to the successful bidder than the original estimated value of £1,200-£1,600 – because it confirmed to medal collectors that he actually took part in this key battle of the Peninsular War and was not simply a bystander.

But he was lucky to have survived the battle in which 3,129 British troops were either killed or wounded.

The battle was between the French army and the allied forces of Britain,Spain and Portugal led by General Arthur Wellesley, who, two years later,became the Duke of Wellington.

As a result of Wellington’s victory in this battle, his army was able to advance to and liberate Madrid.

And Leigh soldier Private John Smith played a part in this historic moment.

The Battle of Salamanca is mentioned in Tolstoy’s novel, War and Peace; and in Bernard Cornwell’s novel, Sharpe’s Sword.

The crimson and dark blue ribbon attached to Private Smith’s medal features five clasps, each one denoting a battle in which he was involved.

They are for the battles of: Salamanca, Vimiera, Corunna, Pyrenees and Toulouse.

Private Smith’s medal was put up for sale at Spink in Bloomsbury, London.

John Smith enlisted in the 36th (Herefordshire) Regiment of Foot in October, 1799 and spent nearly 23 years in the army.

He was discharged in April 1822 on account of “being worn out.”

He then had to wait another quarter of a century for his Military General Service medal as it was not introduced until 1847 and not issued until 1848.

Whether John Smith returned to his native Leigh – or what became of him – remains a mystery.