Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Crimea Medal awarded to Private J. Blake, 1st Royal Dragoons, who was severely wounded during the Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava, 25 October 1854

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (745 James Blake. 1st. Rl. Dragoons.) contemporarily engraved naming, second and third clasps unofficially attached, sometime abrasively cleaned, edge bruising and worn in parts, otherwise nearly very fine £400-£500

James Blake was born in Devizes, Wiltshire, and attested for the 1st Royal Dragoons at London on 27 February 1841. Promoted Corporal on 25 November 1846, he was subsequently reduced to Private on 14 August 1852, after having been tried by District Court Martial and sentenced to 56 days’ imprisonment. He served with the Regiment during the Crimea campaign, and was severely wounded during the charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava on 25 October 1854. The muster roll shows that he was sent to Scutari on 26 October, and was sent home on 29 March 1855. He was discharged on account of his wounds on 26 January 1857, the cause of discharge noting ‘weakness of right leg the result of exposure to cold and wet, and a gunshot wound, the ball passing through his left leg received at the Battle of Balaclava.’

Note: The 1st Royal Dragoons were not present at the Battle of the Alma.

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