Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Third Kaffir War Medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel the 5th Earl Annesley, 43rd Regiment of Foot, later Scots Fusilier Guards, who was severely wounded in South Africa, and further wounded at the Battle of the Alma, resulting in him loosing 23 teeth and ‘a good bit’ of his tongue.

Elected Member of Parliament for Cavan in 1857, Annesley succeeded his brother to the Earldom in 1874, and subsequently served as an Irish Representative Peer in the House of Lords

South Africa 1834-53 (Ensign Hon. Hugh Annesly. 43rd. Regt.) fitted with a contemporary top silver brooch bar with gold retaining pin, heavy edge bruising and contact marks, about fine £1,000-£1,400

Hugh Annesley, 5th Earl Annesley, was born in Dublin on 26 January 1831, the second son of William Richard Annesley, 3rd Earl Annesley, an Irish peer, and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Dublin. Commissioned Ensign in the 43rd Regiment of Foot by purchase on 18 April 1851, he served with the Regiment in South Africa during the Third Kaffir War, and was severely wounded.

Promoted Lieutenant on 29 July 1853, Annesley transferred to the Scots Fusilier Guards, and saw further service in the Crimea, where his jaw was shattered by a bullet at the Battle of the Alma on 20 September 1854, resulting in him losing 23 teeth and ‘a good bit’ of his tongue. ‘Undaunted, he cheerfully informed his mother the following day that the “summary dentist” had still left him with “four grinders”, and that in spite of his injuries he would be able “to speak as plainly as ever, or at most only with a becoming lisp”.’ (History of Parliament - Irish MPs and the Crimean War refers). After receiving rudimentary medical treatment, Annesley was transferred to the hospital ship London, on which his younger brother, the Hon. Robert John Annesley, lay dying of cholera. Invalided home, Annesley soon recovered from his wounds, for which he was paid £100 in compensation (or £4 6s. 11d. per tooth).

Promoted Captain on 7 August 1855, and Lieutenant-Colonel, by purchase, on 18 May 1860, Annesley was elected conservative Member of Parliament for the family seat of Cavan in 1857, holding the seat until 1874. A reluctant politician, he rarely spoke in the Commons, and then only on Army matters. He succeeded his brother at 5th Earl Annesley upon the former’s death on 10 August 1874, and in 1877 was elected as an Irish Representative Peer in the House of Lords, serving until his death. He died at Castlewellan, County Down, on 15 December 1908, and was succeeded to the Earldom by his son.