Orders, Decorations and Medals

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Lt. & Adjt. F. Padfield, 20th Ft.) engraved naming, solder marks by claw, minor contact marks, good very fine; together with a Presentation Pocket Watch, by Dent, London, 18ct. gold, 101.5g., inside front cover inscribed, ‘Major Francis Padfield from his brother officers of 23rd Highland Depot Battalion 17th May 1864’, also numbered, ‘27891’ and stamped ‘J.W.S.’ and with the London hallmark letter for 1862, the face inscribed, ‘Dent 61 Strand, London, 27891’, the movement additionally inscribed, ‘Dent 27891 Watchmaker to The Queen, 61 Strand, London’, with hallmarks for London 1862, movement also contains one diamond and two rubies, with engraved back cover, condition of internal workings unknown, otherwise very good condition (2) £600-800

Crimea Medal, ex Dr A. W. Stott Collection 1997.

Francis Padfield was born on 15 March 1812 at Shepton Mallet, Somerset. He married Alice Tarrant on 12 September 1841 and they had one son named Francis James born on 8 June 1842. Francis Padfield enlisted into the Coldstream Guards as a Private on 19 March 1831, being promoted to Corporal in August 1833. He transferred to the 20th Regiment in November 1837, being promoted to Sergeant; he was then advanced to Colour Sergeant in July 1839 and Sergeant-Major in July 1841. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with £10 annuity in December 1847. Then after 17 years of serving in the ranks he made the rare transition to the officer class and was commissioned an Ensign without purchase in the reserve battalion of the 20th Regiment on 7 April 1848. He was subsequently promoted, all without purchase, to Adjutant of the reserve battalion in December 1848 and then of the regiment on consolidation of the 1st Battalion in April 1850. Further promotions followed, to Lieutenant in June 1854, Captain in September 1855 and Major in May 1864. Padfield served as a Lieutenant in Crimean War, serving at the battles of Alma and Balaklava; then at Inkermann, 5 November 1854, when his horse was shot from under him and he suffered a contusion of the left side; then again at the storming of the Quarries, 8 June 1855, when he was severely wounded by a musket ball through the hip. In the latter battle, when acting as an observer, he was the only man of his regiment to be wounded. He returned to England on 3 July 1855 as a consequence of his wounds. Sold with copied service papers and other research.