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Turkish Crimea Medal 1855, Sardinian issue, Major-General William Fergusson Beatson, the Bashi Bazouks, Crimean War (1854-1856)
Turkish Crimea Medal 1855, campaign medal, foreign award
Accession Number

NAM.1963-11-31-7

Description

Turkish Crimea Medal 1855, Sardinian issue. Awarded to Maj Gen William Fergusson Beatson, Turkish irregular forces, the Bashi Bazouks. Associated with the Crimean War (1854-1856). Lt Col (later Maj Gen) William Fergusson Beatson had long experience of commanding native troops in India and, the skill being considered transferable, in 1854 he was given charge of the Bashi Bazouks, Turkish irregulars in British pay. He took part in the Charge of the Heavy Brigade during the Battle of Balaklava as a member of Brigadier James Yorke Scarlett's staff. 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.

Campaigns

Crimean War (1854-1856)

Associated collection