Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A very fine early Indian campaign and Crimea ‘Heavy Brigade’ group of five awarded to Sergeant Bernard Shamburg, 3rd Light Dragoons and 4th Dragoon Guards

Cabul 1842, with ‘Victoria Regina’ obverse (Bernard Shamberg, 3rd Dragoons.) later officially impressed naming circa 1850; Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon (Bernard Shamberg, 3rd Dragoons.) later officially impressed naming circa 1850; Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Corpl. B. Shamburg, 3rd Lt. Dragns.); Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Sejt. Bernd. Shamburg. 4th Dn. Gds.) contemporary Hunt & Roskell engraved naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed, contact wear but generally very fine and very rare (5) £3,000-£4,000

Provenance: Sotheby, September 1989.

Bernard Shamburg was born in the Parish of Tuam, County Galway, and attested for the 4th Dragoon Guards on 29 September 1832, aged 21 years 2 months, a farmer by trade. He volunteered to the 3rd Light Dragoons on 1 July 1837 (Regtl. No. 605), and subsequently saw service in Afghanistan in 1842, in the Sutlej campaign of 1845-46, and in the Punjab campaign of 1848-49, being present with Pollock’s ‘Avenging Army’ in 1842, and at the battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur, Sobraon, Chilianwala and Goojerat. Returning to his old regiment, the 4th Dragoon Guards on 1 July 1853, and recently promoted to Sergeant, he sailed with his regiment for the Crimea where he was present in the famous charge made by Scarlett’s heavy cavalry at Balaklava on 25 October 1854. Transferred to Scutari just over a month later, Shamburg was sent home on 26 February 1855, and discharged at Sheffield on 28 October 1856.

His discharge documents record that ‘His Conduct & Character have been good although three times tried by Court Martial, twice for absence without leave & once for improper conduct as a Non Commissioned Officer.’ The regimental surgeon reported that he was suffering from ‘Rheumatism and general debility. The rheumatism first appeared in the East Indies about 12 years ago - he suffered greatly from it in Autumn of 1854 when in the Crimea - was sent home from the seat of war being crippled by the disease. It has therefore been induced by Military Service.’ Bernard Shamburg appears to have died in early 1877, when his widow received a grant from the Patriotic Fund. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.