LIGHT BRIGADE MEDALS AT AUCTION

‘Into the Valley of Death, rode the six hundred…’ He had a way with words, that Tennyson fellow. And the Charge of the Light Brigade he was writing about also has a stirring effect on militaria collectors.

The famous 1854 action in the Crimean War is one of the best-known British military blunders and it exerts a strong pull at auction, with medals from chargers among the most valuable to collect.

A group of three medals earned by a participant who survived the ‘volley and thunder’ is estimated at £10,000-15,000 at Laidlaw Auctioneers on September 30 in Carlisle.

There can be a problem with Charge of the Light Brigade memorabilia: many more people said they had taken part than actually did (a bit more than Tennyson's six hundred, around 675, although he can be permitted a bit of poetic licence).

Laidlaw adds “our chap is a confirmed charger. The Crimea Medal is indeed correctly impressed TP SJT MJR J S BAKER 4th LT DRAGNS.”

The group on offer comprises Baker's Crimea Medal with four clasps (Sebastopol, Inkermann, Balaklava, Alma), a so-called Turkish Crimea Medal and his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

“At or near issue they have been jeweller-mounted on a silver laurel suspender and presented in a fitted case with miniatures,” says Laidlaw, who adds that the vendor wishes to remain anonymous but he can confirm the group “has not previously appeared on the market”.

To read the complete article, see:
Charge of the Light Brigade medal group gallops into Carlisle auction (https://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2017/charge-of-the-light-brigade-medal-group-gallops-into-carlisle-auction/)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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