War Medals

CRIMEA WAR MEDAL 1854-56 : SCOTS FUSILIER GUARDS : KILLED IN ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF INKERMANN

Bars, 'Alma', 'Balaklava', 'Inkermann', 'Sebastopol',with officially impressed naming - THOS. CHALMERS, Scots Fusr. Gds. (Scots Fusiliers Guards) : (THOMAS CHALMERS - 4053 Private, had served with 1st. Battalion, Scots Fusilier Guards for less than a year when he landed in the Crimea on 13 September 1854 and just one week later took part in the Battle of the Alma.: The Battle of Balaklava followed on 25 October 1854 and then on 5 November 1854 came 'The Soldiers Battle' at Inkermann, where the Guards Brigade was involved in the epic struggle at the Sandbag Battery, which the Russians had taken possession of : The Guards managed to drive the Russians out of the Battery and regain possession of it : An account of the battle from a soldier in the Scots Fusilier Guards is most informative, "We had another general engagement, on the 5th of November. Well shall I remember that day. A strong force of about forty thousand men, (we are informed), under the command of General Osten-Sacken from Odessa with numerous artillery got possession of some heights and opened fire driving in the outlying pickets. We had only six companies - two on picket; the Grenadier Guards five companies; and I believe, the Coldstream Guards seven companies. We were of course all taken by surprise, finding that the enemy being so near and had gained possession of a redoubt. (After retaking the Sandbag Battery, the Grenadier Guards were in the Battery, the Scots Fusilier Guards were outside on their left and the Coldstream Guards were to the left of these). Well then, they were only twenty yards from us, and we were firing at each other. Things looked desperate as we had no support. We were all surrounded, no getting out, the Grenadier Guards nearly lost their colours, they had only about forty men to defend them". The Guards had succeeded in driving the enemy out at the point of the bayonet and down the hill and when ordered to retire would not, in fact they had got down the steep hill it is unlikely that they could have got back up again. During the action the Scots Fusiliers Guards had one Officer, two Serjeants and forty-seven rank and file killed, with eight Officers, eight Serjeants., two drummers and one hundred and five rank and file wounded. The recipient is recorded on the Medal Rolls as 'Killed at Inkermann' and is also listed as such in the London Gazette dated 11 December 1854 : There is no other man of this name recorded as serving with the Regiment in the Crimea.) : Sold with copy Medal Rolls; copy London Gazette and copy Casualty Roll. One slight edge bruise above 'MER' of surname, but naming not affected, medal mounted on approximately eight inches of original silk ribbon. Toned GVF- NEF £1650