Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Surgeon W. Y. Jeeves, Royal Artillery, late 38th Foot

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Asst. Surgn. W. Y. Jeeves, 11th Bde. Rl. Art.); France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, Knight’s breast badge, silver, gold and enamel, damage to tips of points, and enamel damage in parts; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, plugged and fitted with a Crimea-style suspension, all fitted with top silver riband buckles and mounted on a contemporary carved wood frame, the last with enamel damage, otherwise toned, good very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

William Younge Jeeves was born at Sharrow Grange, Yorkshire, in February 1829, and was appointed an Assistant Surgeon in the 38th Foot on 7 April 1854. He served in the Eastern Campaign of 1854-55, including the battles of Alma, Inkermann and siege of Sebastopol, seeing service in the trenches, and also took part in the assault and capture of the cemetery, 18 June 1855, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches (Medal and three clasps, Turkish Medal, and Knight of the Legion of Honour).

Major-General Eyre’s despatch stated ‘Assistant Surgeon Jeeves of the 38th, whilst exposed to a most galling fire, having exerted himself in the field in attending to the wounded in so zealous and humane a manner as to call forth special notice’.

Jeeves was appointed on the Staff in August 1856, and to the Royal Artillery in January 1857, subsequently seeing service with the 11th Brigade R.A. during the Indian Mutiny. He became Surgeon in November 1864, was appointed to the 2/25th Foot in 1865, and retired on half-pay in 1872. He died at Northallerton, Yorkshire, on 7 March 1875.

Sold with 3 original commissions as Assistant Surgeon to the Forces (1 August 1856), Assistant Surgeon in the Royal Artillery (9 January 1857), and Surgeon to the Forces (21 November 1864); two letters of thanks for services in the Crimea, one signed by Sir John Hall, Inspector General of Medical services in the Crimea; and three portraits of the recipient’s father, John Jeeves of Sheffield, one particularly fine in oils on card and contained in a contemporary carved wood frame.