Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Colour Sergeant J. Collens, 14th Foot

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (... Collens No.3028 14th. Regt. Band) regimentally impressed naming, attempted erasure of ‘Band’; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (3028. Colr. Serjt. J. Collens, 1-14th. Foot.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (3028. J. Collins [sic] ... 1.B. 14. Foot.) contemporarily engraved naming, rank erased, with Mutiny-style swivel suspension, contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine, the LS&GC nearly extremely fine (3) £280-£320

James Collens was born in Antrim in 1837 and attested for the 14th (Buckinghamshire) Regiment of Foot at Limerick on 22 June 1852. He was promoted Corporal on 1 May 1868, Sergeant on 22 November 1869, and Colour Sergeant on 3 November 1870, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, together with a gratuity of £5, on 1 April 1875. He was discharged on 17 July 1876 after 20 years and 299 days’ service, due to ‘chronic congestion of liver due to long tropical service, having served abroad for 19 years and 5 months, in the Crimea for 1 year 4 months, in Malta and the Ionian Islands for 6 years and 7 months, in the West Indies for 4 years and 2 months, and in the East Indies for 7 years and 4 months. He was subsequently an out-patient of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

Sold with copied service papers (which lists his name as James Collins) and medal roll extracts.