A fine Crimea War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Colour-Sergeant J. Wilson, 47th Regiment, who was wounded at the Battle of Alma and in a magazine explosion before Sebastopol: described as a ‘very good and gallant soldier’, he was decorated ‘more particularly’ for his deeds ‘at the Battles of Alma and Inkermann, and during the siege of Sebastopol’ - deeds that also won him the French Legion of Honour

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Color Serjt. John Wilson, 47th Regt.); Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Colr. Serjt., 47th Regt.), contemporary engraved naming; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letters reverse (2513 Cr. Serjt., 47th Foot); French Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, with gold and enamel centre, the crown suspension with red-coloured infill; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (2513 Color Serjt., 47th Regt.), depot impressed naming, together with a period portrait photograph wearing his awards, the French piece with usual enamel and arm-point damage (see illustration), edge bruising and contact marks, thus good fine and better (5) £3500-4000

D.C.M. recommendation dated 31 January 1855.

John Wilson was born in Glasgow and originally enlisted in the 34th Foot, in August 1843, aged 17 years. Advanced to Corporal in August 1845 and to Sergeant in November 1847, he transferred to the 47th Foot in the latter rank in May 1849 - all of his subsequent honours and awards from the Crimea are verified in his discharge papers, as is the fact he was slightly wounded at the Battle of Alma on 20 September 1854 (see Peter Abbott’ roll of D.C.M. winners), and by the explosion of a French siege train magazine before Sebastopol on 15 November 1855 (see London Gazette 29 November 1855). However, as explained by Peter Abbott, Wilson was also the recipient of a second recommendation for a D.C.M.:

‘Following the end of the Crimean War D.C.Ms with annuity continued to be awarded to Sergeants and above who had served in it, the last award under the 1854 R.W. being in the submission to the Queen of 17 August 1861 in respect of Colour-Sergeant J. Wilson, 47th Foot ... However, Wilson had already been awarded the D.C.M. with a £15 gratuity as the result of his Commanding Officer’s recommendation of 31 January 1855 (see P.R.O. WO 102/14). Nevertheless, following the submission mentioned above, on 20 August 1861 a second D.C.M. for him was ordered from the Royal Mint, see P.R.O. MINT 21/7 (Order No. 421), and the endorsement on the submission itself. Under the provisions mentioned below he would have been required to relinquish the gratuity and one of the D.C.Ms. Wilson’s annuity was almost certainly appropriated from the vacancy created when Colour-Sergeant E. Downey of the same regiment was commissioned as Quarter-Master on 9 April 1861.’

This later recommendation, dated at Horse Guards in August 1861, stated:

‘That an Annuity of £20, with a Silver Medal, be granted to John Wilson of the 47th Regiment, as a reward for his distinguished and meritorious services and gallant conduct in the Field; more particularly at the Battles of the Alma and Inkermann, and during the siege of Sebastopol’.

Wilson, who had been advanced to Colour-Sergeant back in May 1855, was actually serving in Canada at the time, having been appointed a Lieutenant-General’s Orderly in Montreal, and enjoyed periods of atttachment to the Royal Canadian Rifles before finally taking his discharge at Hamilton in January 1865.