Orders, Decorations and Medals

A ‘Light Brigade’ Crimea M.S.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant William Clarke, 11th Hussars
Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (Corpl. Wm. Clark, 11 Hussars) contemporary engraved naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (1367 Serjt., XI PAO Hussas) regimentally impressed naming, fitted with contemporary replacement suspension; Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Sergt., 11/Hussars) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (3) £2000-2500

M.S.M. awarded on 19 June 1899, together with an Annuity of £10.
William Clark(e) was invalided from Scutari to England on the 1st January 1855, along with others of his regiment who had been wounded in the charge. He was one of eight men of the 11th Hussars (3 officers, 5 other ranks) to be presented with his Crimea medal by Queen Victoria on Horse Guards Parade on 18th May, 1855. After leaving the Army, Clarke was on the permanent staff of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, stationed at Calne in Wiltshire. He died at Teddington, Middlesex, on 28 October 1906, the 21st Lancers providing full Military Honours at his funeral. The lot is sold with copy service papers which confirm Crimean medals and clasps, muster rolls, and a report from the Surrey Comet on his funeral which states that he did take part in the famous charge.