NAM.2001-08-248-1

Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1855. Awarded to 2687 Cpl Michael Lynch, 3rd (The East Kent) Regiment of Foot (The Buffs). From the collection of the former Buffs Regimental Museum. Circular, silver medal with, on the obverse, a trophy of arms, designed by Benedetto Pistrucci. On the reverse, the inscription, ‘For Distinguished Conduct in the Field’. The dark crimson ribbon has a central navy blue vertical stripe. On the night of 31 Aug 1855, outside Sevastopol, a patrol of the Buffs under Capt Charles C Ross encountered a Russian picket. Michael Lynch carried back the mortally wounded Sergeant McCabe under heavy fire and for his gallantry was promoted corporal and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) with an annuity of £5. He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) with a £5 gratuity for gallant conduct during the Second Assault on the Redan on 8 September, during which he was slightly wounded. It has been surmised that, in the event, Lynch received the DCM instead of, rather than in addition to, the MSM, although his name remained on the MSM Annuity Roll.

Sevastopol, Siege of, 1854-55 (Crimean War 1854-1856)