Crimean War medals
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 British Crimean War Medal |
 Turkish Crimean War Medal [Sardinian issue] |
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[edit] Turkish Crimean War Medal
The Sultan of Turkey issued this medal to allied military personnel involved in the Crimean War of 1854-56. There are three different issues of this medal for those issued to British, French or Sardinian personnel. The obverse shows the Sultan of Turkey’s cipher with the Mohammendan date for 1271 on all versions. The reverse depicts a cannon with four flags to its rear. The flag to the fore on the second from the left depicts the country to which the medal was intended. The inscription in the exergue reads ‘La Crimee 1855’ for French issue, ‘La Crimea 1855’ for Sardinian issue and ‘Crimea 1855’ for British Issue. The ribbon is attached through a steel ring which is attached to the medal by a smaller silver ring, however many medals are found with privately attached scroll type suspenders.
[edit] Clasps
None authorized for this medal.
[edit] Ribbon
The original ribbon issued with this medal measured only .50” wide but was replaced by one of 1.25” when awarded to British personnel. The ribbon itself is watered and of dark crimson with green edges.
[edit] Naming
This medal was issued unnamed but examples are found with privately engraved naming of varying styles.
[edit] Notes
Most collectors mistakenly believe the reverse with the flags and cannon are the obverse of this medal and indeed many of the recipients at the time wore them that way. The side with the Sultan's cypher or toughra is actually the obverse.
The medal was originally worn via one or two very small steel rings from a half-width ribbon (rather like a miniature medal ribbon) and often using two widths, but they were almost universally altered to take a wider ribbon to conform to standard British types and their suspensions altered accordingly. It is therefore common to encounter the original medals with the steel ring (which is prone to rusting) from which the ribbon was attached replaced by a scroll or other type of suspender akin to British medal types. Such medals are still considered contemporary and the alterations do not alter their value.
Due to the loss by shipwreck of many of these medals intended for British recipients, awards were made with whatever issue came to hand, the most common being of the Sardinian type. The general quality of these medals was poor and many British officers had copies of superior quality made in 925 silver with plain or scroll suspenders. These have clearer detail and are generally thicker and heavier; they are often seen in groups mounted by Messrs. Hunt and Roskill.
[edit] British Crimean War Medal
[notes by Michael Hargreave Mawson ]
The Crimean War Medal was sanctioned on the 15th December 1854 by order of Queen Victoria. Two clasps were also authorised at this time, for the battles of Alma (20th September 1854) and Inkermann (5th November 1854). The clasp for the battle of Balaklava (which took place before that of Inkermann, on 25th October 1854) was not authorised until 23rd February 1855. The clasp for the fall of Sebastopol (9th September 1855) was granted on 13th October 1855. A clasp was also awarded to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines for actions in the Sea of Azoff (25th May - 22nd September 1855), being announced in the "London Gazzette" of 2nd May 1856. The clasps are worn in date order, with the clasp for Alma being closest to the Medal. The medal itself is a 36mm disc of sterling silver, bearing the diademed head of Queen Victoria on the obverse, together with the legend "VICTORIA REGINA" and the date "1854"; the reverse shows a Roman legionary (carrying a gladius and circular shield) being crowned with a laurel wreath by a winged figure of Victory; to the left is the legend "CRIMEA", which is written vertically. The suspension is an ornate floriated swivelling suspender unique to the Crimea Medal; the clasps are also unique, being in the form of an oak leaf with an acorn at each extremity. The ribbon is 27mm wide, pale blue with yellow edges.
275,000 un-named Crimea medals were awarded (at the time, the largest distribution ever made) to all those in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines who took part in the campaign in the Crimean peninsula, or in related service afloat. Those who took part in the Baltic campaign or the actions in the Pacific were not entitled: the former received the Baltic Medal; the latter, nothing. Some civilians, most notably the reporter for "The Times", William Howard Russell, also received the medal. Medals could be returned to the Mint for naming (in a style known as "officially impressed"), but many were crudely stamped with names by recipients who were presented with their medals in the Crimea ("Depot impressed"), or were privately engraved by jewellers in Britain.
[edit] Further reading
- The Origins of the Crimean War David M. Goldfrank
- The Crimean War, 1853-1856 Winfried Baumbart
- Historical Dictionary of the Crimean War Guy Arnold (Editor), John Worronoff (Editor)
- Ultimate Spectacle: A Visual History of the Crimean War Ulrich Keller
- Eyewitness in the Crimea : The Crimean War Letters of Lt. Col. George Frederick Dallas George *Frederick Dallas, Michael Hargreave Mawson (Editor)
