Auction Catalogue

13 December 2007

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 940

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13 December 2007

Hammer Price:
£13,000

A Light Brigade D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private James Whitechurch, 8th Hussars, who died in the Crimea

Distinguished Conduct Medal
, V.R. (Jas. Whitechurch, 8th Hussars); Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (J. Whitechurch, 8th Dragoons) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, generally good very fine (3) £14000-18000

This group first sold at Debenhams in March 1898 and was acquired by the noted collector E. E. Needes. When sold at Glendining as part of his collection in 1939, it was offered with a French Legion of Honour but there is no evidence that Whitechurch was so entitled.

D.C.M. recommendation dated 12 January 1855.

Private James Whitechurch died in the Regimental Hospital in Camp on 14 August 1855. He may have ridden in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava on 25 October 1854, but there is no absolute evidence to prove this. It is, however, hard to believe that he was recommended for the D.C.M. for anything other than distinguished conduct on that occasion. Of the eight D.C.M’s won by the regiment in the Crimea all but one other are to confirmed chargers, the one other, Private Patrick Dunn, being attached to Lord Raglan’s staff, is considered by most authorities to be a possible charger.