The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment

A Crimean War D.C.M. awarded to Drummer J. Roe, 63rd Regiment of Foot

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Drummer John Roe. 63rd. Regt.) heavy edge wear, polished and heavily contact marked, end of ‘Regt’ worn and edges a little rounded from wear, therefore fair to fine £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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Usher Collection, Glendining’s, July 1975.

John Roe was born at Gibraltar on 2 March 1833. He enlisted as a ‘boy’ soldier in the 63rd Foot at Chatham on 3 February 1848 at the age of 14. He was promoted to ‘Drummer’ on 25 November 1848. He served at Salford Barracks, Newcastle on Tyne, and in Ireland. In June 1854 the 63rd was ordered to join the expeditionary force in the East and embarked for Turkey and then to Varna on the Black Sea to join the 4th Division. The 63rd reached the Crimea on 14 December 1854, and force marched to the Alma, and then to besiege Sebastopol. The 63rd were heavily engaged at Inkermann on 5 November 1854. Following instructions received from the War Office of December 1854 the commanding officer of each regiment was instructed to direct the officers and men to select those men whom they considered most entitled to an award of the ‘Silver Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field’, Drummer John Roe was so recommended and received the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the trenches before Sebastopol on 28 April 1855.

On 26 April 1856, John Roe and the 63rd embarked on the steamship Andes for Malta, where they trans-shipped for onward passage to Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was one of only 8 officers and 45 men of the 63rd who had served continuously through the Crimean campaign. He remained in Canada being appointed Private on 4 March 1864, and Corporal on 13 July 1864, having duties in the Officers Mess. He was appointed to be ‘Orderly to the Major General’ in January 1865. He returned to the U.K. on 12 August 1865, at Aldershot and undertook recruiting duties. He was discharged at Chatham on 4 June 1872, being additionally entitled to the Crimea Medal with clasps for Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann and Sebastopol, the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and the Turkish Medal. He was admitted a Chelsea out pensioner in 1872.

Sold with copied discharge papers and extensive research.