Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Sergeant J. Smith, 93rd Highlanders, one of the ‘Thin Red Line’ at the Battle of Balaklava

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (J. Smith. 93rd. Regt.) officially impressed naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Jas. Smith, 93rd. Highlanders) edge nicks, latter with traces of acid cleaning to reverse, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £1,200-£1,600

James Smith was born in Inverness, Scotland, and attested there for the 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders on 8 November 1850. He was promoted Corporal in February 1854, but reverted to the rank of Private at his own request on 11 June of that year. He served with the Regiment in the Crimea, and was present at Balaklava on 25 October 1854, when the 93rd routed the Russian cavalry and won themselves the title of ‘The Thin Red Line’. The Times correspondent, William Howard Russell, who, standing on the hills above, could clearly see that nothing stood between the Russian cavalry and the defenceless British base but the ‘thin red streak tipped with a line of steel’ wrote of the 93rd:
‘With breathless suspense everyone awaits the bursting of the wave [of Russian Cavalry] upon the line of Gaelic rock, but ere they came within 200 yards another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifle, and carries terror into the Russians. They wheel about, open files right and left, and fly back faster than they came. “Brave Highlanders! Well done!” shout the spectators.’

Smith subsequently proceeded with the Regiment to India, and saw service during the Great Sepoy Mutiny, being present at the Second Relief of Lucknow and subsequent operations. He was again promoted Corporal on 5 December 1858, and Sergeant on 18 October 1862, before committing suicide on 22 September 1863.

Sold with copied muster rolls and medal roll extracts, which confirm that while there were three men with the name ‘James Smith’ in the Regiment at the time of the Crimea, there was only one man with this name still in the Regiment at the time of the Indian Mutiny.