Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Heavy Brigade’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant J. Wale, 1st Royal Dragoons

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (John Wale. 1st Rl. Drags); Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (..rjt. J. Wale. 1st Rl. Dragoons.) officially impressed naming, suspension claw re-affixed, suspension slack; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, plugged with fixed foliate suspension, edge bruising overall, good fine (3) £4000-5000

Provenance: Buckland Dix and Wood, April 1995.

D.C.M. recommendation dated 9 January 1855.

John Wale was born in Cambridge, and attested for the 6th Dragoon Guards at London in May 1841. He transferred to the 1st Royal Dragoons in April 1847, and served with the Regiment in the Crimea. Wale took part in the famous charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava, 25 October 1854, and advanced to Corporal in February 1855. He was promoted Sergeant in December of the same year, and discharged at his own request, aged 42, 1 July 1865.

1 of 8 D.C.M.’s awarded to the Regiment for the Crimean Campaign.