The Crimean War medal awarded to Private Henry Parker, 11th Hussars; taken prisoner at Balaklava he was a Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society of 1875-79 and signed the Loyal Address of 1887

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (H. Parker, 11th Hussars.) officially impressed naming, light contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £4000-5000

Ex Glendining’s November 1902 and January 1906, medal with four clasps in both cases.

Confirmed as a charger and taken prisoner in all published sources. Not entitled to clasp for Inkermann but medal is clearly as issued with four clasps. At least eight other Light Brigade chargers, five of whom were taken prisoner, are also known to have received four-clasp medals due to an administrative error.

Henry William Parker was born at Windsor in July 1831, and entered the 11th Hussars at London District Headquarters on 27 August 1850, aged 19 years 1 month, a servant by trade. He was taken prisoner in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, 25 October 1854, and rejoined his regiment in the Crimea on 1 January 1856. Parker was one of eight men of the regiment taken prisoner, all of whom had been wounded or had their horse killed under them. Parker must have been in the latter category as his name is not included in any return of wounded men.

Parker is mentioned in The Prisoners of Voronesh, the Diary of Sergeant George Newman, 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, who was also a prisoner of war, having been captured at Inkermann on 5 November 1854:

‘Warren, being a good tumbler was persuaded to become a pantaloon, and a young fellow of the name of Parker of the 11th Hussars as his comrade Joey. Dresses were made and Warren gave lessons to Parker in tumbling and other tricks, and they would enliven us in the interval between songs and dances.’

Parker also took part in a play performed before an audience of prisoners of all ranks, the Russian guards and several prisoners, the Wicked Country Squire in two acts, in which Parker played the role of Philip, a peasant.

Parker was transferred to the 1st Life Guards on 1 March 1857, and promoted to Corporal of Horse on 8 January 1862. He was, however, discharged on 12 October 1864, being found ‘unworthy to serve’. He was a member of the ‘Balaclava Commemoration Society’ of 1875, 1877 and 1879, and signed the illuminated Loyal Address to Queen Victoria in 1887. Sold with research and a copy of The Prisoners of Voronesh.