Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (1608. John. Donaldson. 93 Sutherland. Highlanders) Regimentally impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue (No. 1606 [sic] John Donaldson 93d. Highlanders) contemporarily engraved naming, plugged and fitted with a ‘Crimea-style’ suspension, light contact marks and edge bruising, very fine and an extremely rare clasp combination to the Regiment (2) £1,200-£1,500

Only Captain Ewart; 2143 Sergeant P. Gillespie; 1608 Private J. Donaldson; and 2902 Private J. McDonald of the 93rd Highlanders received a 4 clasp medal for the Crimea.

Approximately 10 ‘Inkermann’ clasps to the 93rd Highlanders.

John Donaldson was born in Dundee, Forfarshire, in 1817 and attested for the 93rd Highlanders at Cupar, Angus, on 17 May 1842. He served with the Regiment in North America for three years and two months, before proceeding with them to the Crimea, where he was present at the Battle of 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.’

Donaldson was also present at the Battle of Inkermann, 5 November 1854, one of only 10 men from the Regiment who qualified for that clasp. After proceeding with the Regiment to India, Donaldson saw service during the Great Sepoy Mutiny, being present at the Second Relief of Lucknow and subsequent operations. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, together with a gratuity of £5, on 17 May 1863, he was discharged on 21 July 1863, after 21 years and 66 days’ service.

Sold with a 93rd Sutherland Highlanders Dirk; a pair of detachable brass candlesticks; the recipient’s Account Book; and copied research, including the recipient’s service papers and medal roll extracts.