Four: Brigade Sergeant Major W. Higgs, Royal Horse Artillery, who despite losing the sight in his right eye following a gas explosion at Portobello Barracks on 11 July 1863, ended up serving for almost 40 years

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Driver Willm. Higgs. R.H.A.) name and unit officially impressed, the rank contemporarily engraved; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (14 Serjt: - Maj: W. Higgs. R.H.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Sergt. Major W. Higgs. (Late) R.A.) engraved naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, crudely plugged and fitted with a fixed ring suspension, mounted court-style for display, the LS&GC and MSM both with contemporary top silver brooch bars, the Crimea pair both with edge bruising and contact marks, these good fine, the LS&GC and MSM good very fine (4) £600-£800

William Higgs was born in Croydon, Surrey, in 1836 and attested for the Royal Horse Artillery at Woolwich on 28 October 1854. He served with ‘A’ Battery in the Crimea, and was promoted Corporal on 13 September 1858; Sergeant on 23 December 1860; Quartermaster Sergeant on 3 August 1865; and Sergeant Major on 23 December 1868. He lost the sight in his right eye following a gas explosion at Portobello Barracks on 11 July 1863, was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in January 1874. He was discharged on 17 June 1879, after 24 years and 233 days’ service, of which over 10 years were spent soldiering in India, the majority of it as a Staff Sergeant based in Meerut. He saw further service on the Permanent Staff of the 2nd Kent Volunteer Artillery as a Brigade Sergeant Major Instructor from 18 June 1879 to 31 July 1894, taking his total service to just shy of 40 years, and was awarded his Annuity Meritorious Service Medal in 1887. He died in 1906.

Sold with copied record of service, medal roll extracts, and other research.

For other medals to the Higgs family, see Lot 302.