Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines

A fine C.B. and Crimean Al Valore Militare group of five awarded to Major-General F. W. Fremantle, Coldstream Guards, late Rifle Brigade, severely wounded when in command of the ‘Woolsack’ party of the Light Division in the assault on the Redan

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) breast badge in 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1886, complete with gold swivel-ring suspension and gold ribbon buckle; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Ensign, 2nd Bn. Rifle Bde.) contemporary engraved naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Capt., 2nd Bn. Rifle Bde.); Al Valore Militare (Lieutt. Fitz Roy William Freemantle, 2nd Bn. Rfe. Bgde.); Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, unnamed, the first good very fine, the Crimea medal good fine, otherwise with contact wear but generally nearly very fine or better (5) £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines.

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Fitzroy William Fremantle was born on 15 December 1836, younger son of Major-General John Freemantle, C.B., a distinguished Peninsula veteran and formerly A.D.C. to the Duke of Wellington. He was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, on 14 July 1854, and was promoted Lieutenant on 22 December 1854. He served in the Crimea from December 1854 until July 1855, including the siege of Sebastopol. Fremantle commanded 163 men at the last sortie of the Russians against the Quarries on the 8th June 1855, and commanded the Woolsack party of the Light Division in the assault on the Redan on 18 June and was severely wounded.

The assault on the Redan was conducted by three columns formed by detachments from the light, second and fourth divisions, the whole under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir George Brown. Preceeding these attacking columns were covering parties of the Rifle Brigade with soldiers carrying wool-sacks and sailors carrying ladders. However, no sooner had they shown themselves beyond the trenches than they were assailed by a most murderous fire of grape and musketry, and all in advance were either killed or wounded. Lieutenant Fremantle commanded the Woolsack party of the Light Division, in advance of the right attacking column, and was himself severely wounded.

“I have never before witnessed,” wrote Lord Raglan, “such a continued and heavy fire of grape combined with musketry from the enemy’s works, which appeared to be fully manned; and the long list of killed and wounded in the light and fourth divisions, and the seamen of the Naval Brigade... will show that a very large proportion of those that went forward fell.”

Fremantle was rewarded with the Italian silver medal for bravery, the citation stating: ‘Joined in the Crimea on the 1st December, 1854, and did duty in the trenches from that date until the 18th of June, 1855. Was present at the last sortie made on the Quarries on the 8th of June. Commanded the woolsack party of the right column of attack on the 18th of June, on which occasion he was severely wounded.’

Promoted to Captain on 24 November 1857, Fremantle also served in the Indian Mutiny with the 2nd Battalion, including the siege and capture of Lucknow, the Trans-Gogra campaign and the expedition into Nepal, for which he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 2 September 1859). His exploits in the Indian Mutiny warrant several mentions in Sir William Cope’s History of the Rifle Brigade, particularly for his part in the clearing of the Yellow Bungalow during the capture of Lucknow in March 1858, in the operations around Mejidia in December 1858, and in the expeditions near the Raptee in April 1859.

On 17 July 1860, Fremantle exchanged into the Coldstream Guards and was promoted Major on 1 July 1881 and Colonel on 29 Spetember 1881. He was placed on half-pay on 8 December 1884, and appointed to the command of No. 11 Regimental District (Devon) at Exeter on 7 March 1885. He was gazetted C.B. in the London Gazette of 21 June 1887, on the occasion of the celebration of the completion of the fiftieth year of Queen Victoria’s reign. Placed back on half-pay on 7 May 1890, he was promoted to Major-General on 7 August 1892. He died at The Chuffs, Holyport, near Maidenhead, on 12 February 1894.