NAM.1979-09-27-3

Turkish Crimea Medal 1855, Sardinian issue. Awarded to Cpl John Taylor, 13th (Light) Dragoons. Suspended by a swivelling flattened ring. An embroidered loop has been sewn onto the back of the ribbon for suspending the medal from a button or hook. Associated with Crimean War (1854-1856). John Taylor served in India with the 3rd (King’s Own Light) Dragoons, transferring to the 13th (Light) Dragoons on 1 Jul 1853. He was invalided to England on 15 Apr 1855. Although Taylor legitimately possesses a Balaklava clasp to his Crimea War Medal he is not believed to have participated in the Charge of the Light Brigade. It had been the intention of the Turkish Sultan to award all survivors of the Crimean Army with a silver medal, which he instituted in 1855. Approximately 75,000 medals were claimed by Britain. However not all these reached their destination, owing to a shortfall in production and the loss of a consignment of some 22,000 medals when the SS Pomona sank near Malta on 22 Feb 1860. The shortage in British medals was made up to a great extent by issuing British soldiers with Sardinian or French versions.

Crimean War (1854-1856)