Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (W. Stoddart, 17th Lancers) officially impressed naming, fitted with silver ribbon buckle, old repair to suspension claw, edge bruises and contact wear, otherwise nearly very fine £1400-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Gordon Everson.

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An impressed medal sold at Debenham’s in November 1901, at Glendining’s in July 1919, and by Spink in January 1968.

William Stoddart was born at Marylebone in September 1820, and enlisted into the 4th Light Dragoons on 30 April 1841. He transferred to the 17th Lancers on 17 May 1842, and was present with the regiment throughout the Crimean campaign, at the Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann and Sebastopol, losing several toes from frost-bite. In Nunnerley’s Short Sketch of the 17th Lancers, and Life of Sergeant-Major J. L. Nunnerley, he writes: ‘At Balaklava they had a cook, named Stoddard (sic), whose feet were frost-bitten; and, when frost-bitten, the feet are quite numb. He shewed them his feet, and took hold of his toes one after the other, and, to their surprise, they came off at the first joint. He held them up separately, saying “I am only a piece of a man now,” and threw them away.’

Stoddart was sent to hospital at Scutari in November 1854, and subsequently served in India for just over 2 years. He was promoted to Corporal on 17 December 1860, and to Sergeant on 23 March 1863. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal prior to his discharge on 4 July 1865, and died at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 7 February 1869, aged 47.

In the Charge of the Light Brigade the 17th Lancers had three officers and 25 men killed, and six officers and 55 men wounded, at Balaklava on 25 October 1854. Eight men were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Sold with full research including a letter from Canon W. M. Lummis, dated November 1977.
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