Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Colour Sergeant T. How, Grenadier Guards, later 1st Royal East Middlesex Militia

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (3309. Thomas How 3rd. Battn. Grenr. Guards.) depot impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, fitted with a Crimea-style suspension, both fitted with contemporary Bailey, Coventry, top silver riband bars, edge bruising to first, nearly very fine and better (2) £500-£700

Thomas How was born in the Parish of St. Pancras, London, around 1816, and enlisted for the Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards on 4 February 1837. He saw extensive fighting with the 3rd Battalion in the Crimea and is confirmed on the rolls as entitled to the Medal with four clasps. Discharged at his own request having completed 21 years with the Colours, How later resided at 63, Malvern Road, Willesden, and took an active role in the local militia. He died in April 1893, following almost 30 years of retirement, and was buried at Paddington Cemetery, Kilburn.

Sold with the recipient’s original Parchment of Service Certificate, this an extremely rare survivor, stating his conduct as ‘good’; a further document with wax seal from his Commanding Officer, dated 2 May 1857, noting the recipient married the widow of the late Private Osmond of the Grenadier Guards; and two documents relating to the recipient’s funeral, the latter stating he was buried in a ‘stout and strong elm coffin, smoothed, polished and furnished neatly.’