Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

20th Foot Medal 1838, a cast bronze-gilt medal, 42mm, the obverse embossed with a Sphinx in front of crossed colours, XX and crown above, all within wreath, the reverse with radiating battle honours within wreath, XX at centre, and ‘For highly Meritorious Conduct during period of 18 Years June 13 1838’, within Battle honours, edge unnamed, with steel clip and small ring suspension, very fine £140-£180

Referenced in Balmer, R.238. The original of this medal, in gold, with devices soldered on and named on the edge ‘Presented by his Brethren in Arms XXth Rgt. to John Dorrington, Quartermastger-Sergeant’, formed part of the Cheylesmore Collection, and is now held by the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum. The Stansfeld Collection, sold at Spink in June 1984, included an unnamed medal of this description and is illustrated in Balmer; it is believed that the medal in this lot is this same example.