Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Crimea 1854-56, no clasp (Wm. Kidwell.) contemporary engraved naming, nearly very fine £160-£200

William Kidwell was born at Snodland, Kent, on 5 September 1815. He attested for the Royal Marines at Chatham on 19 October 1835, aged 20 years 1 month, and served with the R.M. Battalion in Northern Spain, April 1836 to September 1840. He was afterwards embarked aboard H.M.S. Tortoise, May 1841 to December 1843, convict ship to Australia; H.M.S. Cruizer, September 1844 to June 1848, operations against Borneo pirates in August and September 1844, and afterwards departed for Hong Kong; H.M.S. Mageara and Cyclops, May 1851 to May 1856, in the latter vessel employed running between Sinope and Kamiesch Bay with cattle for the supply of the Crimea fleet. He was invalided in 1856 but then joined the Royal Navy as a Sick Berth Attendant, November 1858 to June 1861, and then Ship’s Cook until April 1866, when he was discharged. Sold with copied record of service.