Leeds Local Regiment Silver Medal 1812

This silver medal is engraved 'LEEDS LOCAL REGIMENT / GR / III / SECOND BATTALION' and on the reverse 'ABRAHAM WADE / BEST SHOT / 1812'. In February 1812 several Leeds factories were attacked by Luddites. The Luddite movement had begun in 1811 in Nottingham when the 'Army of Redressers' sent threatening letters and later broke into factories to smash machinery. The issue behind the riots was wage reductions and the use of unskilled workmen paid lower wages than skilled artisans
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