Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Private G. Turnbull, 93rd Highlanders

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (No.2930 Geo. Turnbull, 1st Battn. S.F. Gds.), name officially impressed, number and unit renamed and engraved; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Geoe. Turnbull, H.Ms. 93rd Highlanders); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Umbeyla (244 G. Turnbull, H.M. 93rd Highrs.); Turkish Crimea 1855 (No.2930 Geo. Turnbull, 1st Battn. S. F. Gds.), engraved naming, with ‘British Crimea’ style suspension, worn (4) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Brigadier Brian Parritt, C.B.E..

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George Turnbull was born in the Parish of St. Andrew’s, Edinburgh. A Candle Maker by occupation, he enlisted into the Scots Fusilier Guards at Hawick on 24 April 1843. Serving with the regiment in the Crimean War, he was wounded in June 1855 whilst serving in the trenches before Sebastopol, receiving a musket ball in the upper part of his thigh. He was discharged on 27 October 1856 on the reduction of the army. In his papers he is described as being of ‘bad character’. He was five times tried by court martial and once by the civil powers for drunkeness. He re-enlisted into the 93rd Highlanders on 16 October 1857. With them he served in India for nearly 12 years, including service in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny. He was discharged in May 1873 as being ‘found unfit for further service’. His papers record that his name had appeared 41 times in the regimental defaulters book and that he had been tried by court martial seven times. However a further note states, ‘Has been addicted to drink, but when sober, a brave, clean & excellent soldier & respectful to his officers’. Sold with copied service papers and extracts from medal rolls.