Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Crimea Medal awarded to Private W. Eaton, 17th Lancers, who served with the Light Brigade at the time of the Charge at Balaklava on 25 October 1854, and died of dysentery at Scutari in January 1855

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (W. Eaton. 17th. Lancers.) officially impressed naming, fitted with Bailey, Coventry, silver top riband bar, unofficial rivets between clasps and traces of solder to clasp carriage, nearly extremely fine £3,000-£4,000

Provenance: J. B. Hayward, December 1969.

William Eaton attested for the 17th Lancers in 1846 and served with the Regiment in the Crimea, verified on Muster Roll as being present with the Regiment on the occasion of the Charge of the Light Brigade, 25 October 1854, where the Regiment had three officers and 25 men killed, and six officers and 55 men wounded; in addition, eight men were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was sent to Scutari on 13 December 1854, and died of dysentery at Scutari on 20 January 1855.

Although Private Eaton’s name does not appear on the list of confirmed ‘Chargers’, this does not preclude him from having taken part in the Charge of the Light Brigade. Most members of the Light Brigade entitled to the Balaklava clasp, in the absence of any evidence or status details to the contrary, took part in the Charge.

Sold with a 17th Lancers badge and button; copied medal roll extracts; and other research.