Family Group:

A Crimea D.C.M. pair awarded to Sergeant J. B. Mumford, 42nd Highlanders, for gallantry as a sharpshooter before Sebastopol, 17 to 24 October 1854; he was later severely wounded by a musket ball through the neck at Lucknow, 11 March 1858.
Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Co... Joseph Mumford. 42nd. Highlanders.); Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Serjt. J. Mumford, 42nd. Highlanders) heavy contact marks, suspension post re-pinned, good fine or better

An Egypt D.C.M. awarded to Corporal H. E. Mumford, Royal Highlanders, the son of Sergeant J. B. Mumford, for gallantry at the Battle of Tamaai, 13 March 1884
Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (2655 ... H. E. Mumford. 1/R. Highr ... 1884) suspension claw re-pinned, heavy pitting and traces of acid cleaning, worn, therefore fair; a rare instance of two Victorian D.C.M.s in a family group, father and son (3) £3000-4000

D.C.M. recommendation dated 12 January 1855.
‘For gallant conduct when employed as a sharpshooter before Sebastopol between 17 and 24 October 1854.’

Joseph Brett Mumford was born at Horndon-on-the-Hill, Essex, on 30 September 1833, and attested for the 90th Light Infantry at Westminster on 31 October 1850. Transferring to the 42nd Royal Highlanders on 1 March 1854, he served with his new regiment during the Crimean War, was present at the Battles of Alma, 20 September 1854, and Balaklava, 25 October 1854, and the siege of Sebstopol, and was promoted Corporal on 17 October 1854. For his gallantry as a Sharpshooter before Sebastopol he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, together with a gratuity of £10. Promoted Sergeant on 1 January 1856, he went with the Regiment to India for service during the Great Sepoy Mutiny, and was severely wounded by a musket ball through the neck during the final relief of Lucknow, 11 March 1858. Invalided back to England, he was discharged on account of his wound on 6 November 1860, after 9 years and 47 days’ service. He subsequently served for 26 years as 1st Class Sergeant Instructor of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Essex Regiment, at Romford, and he died at Romford on 2 February 1902.

Jospeh Mumford married Miss Esther Brown in Dover, Kent, on 29 July 1857, with whom he had three sons and three daughters.

Sold together with a photographic image of the recipient.

D.C.M. London Gazette 6 May 1884.
‘For distinguished coolness, and for encouraging his comrades at Tamaai.’

Henry Ezekiel Mumford was born in Romford, Essex, on 16 February 1867, the eldest son of Sergeant J. B. Mumford, and attested into the 57th Brigade at Edinburgh on 27 May 1881. Posted to the Royal Highlanders, he was appointed a Drummer on 26 June 1881, and served with the regiment in Egypt and the Sudan, where he was present at Suakin; the battles of El-Teb, 29 February 1884, and Tamaai, 13 March 1884; the Nile Expedition of 1884-85; and the action at Kirbekan, 10 February 1885. For his services in Egypt and the Sudan he received the Egypt Medal with four clasps, the Khedive’s Star, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry at Tamaai, 13 March 1884. He was promoted Corporal on 28 August 1885, before transferring to the Grenadier Guards as a Private on 16 March 1887. He was discharged on 7 August 1902, after 21 years and 73 days’ service, and died at Warley Hospital, Brentwood, Essex, on 4 October 1941.

Note: Seven of the 18 D.C.M.s awarded to the Black Watch for the Crimea were to Sharpshooters before Sebastopol.
Four of the 11 D.C.M.s awarded to the Black Watch for Egypt and the Sudan were for the action at Tamaai.
An article in the Orders and Medals Research Society Journal, Spring 1988, entitled ‘One for the Crimea and One for the Sudan’ states: ‘Even more unusual is that the Black Watch had in its ranks a father and son, who both received the Distinguished Conduct Medal during their service, and it appears certain that no other unit can equal this.’