A Crimean War D.C.M. group of three awarded to Drummer Thomas O’Connor, 72nd Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Drummr. T. O’Connor, 72nd Regt.); Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed; Turkish Crimea 1855, unnamed, pierced with ring suspension, edge bruising, otherwise very fine (3) £2000-2500

The D.C.M. awarded to 2829 Drummer Thomas O’Connor, 72nd Highlanders, was ordered on 24 December 1856. One of only eight D.C.Ms. awarded to Drummers for the Crimea.

It is reportedly mentioned in a history of the 72nd Highlanders that Drummer O’Connor’s D.C.M. was awarded for ‘being engaged in hand to hand combat with Russian soldiers’.