Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (963. Thos. Gleeson. 5th. D.G.), engraved naming, very fine £500-£700

Thomas Gleeson was born on Thurles, Co. Tipperary, around 1828 and attested into the 5th Dragoons in 1847. He served with the Regiment in the Crimea, and was present at all the actions in which the regiment were engaged, including with the Heavy Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava, 25 October 1854. He is listed in the latest reconstructed list of ‘Chargers’ as ‘Probably rode in the Charge’, and indeed the vast majority of members of the Heavy Brigade who were entitled to the Balaklava clasp, in the absence of any evidence or status details to the contrary, did take part in the charge. A habitual offender during the early part of his service, serving two terms of imprisonment, he later transferred into the 7th Dragoons. Discharged after 21 years service on 15 September 1868, he was later admitted into the Royal Hospital and died as an ‘In Pensioner’ on 30 January 1890.

Sold with copied service papers and copied research.