Auction Catalogue

13 December 2007

Starting at 11:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 941

.

13 December 2007

Hammer Price:
£3,300

A Crimean War D.C.M. group of four awarded to Private Robert Welsman, 41st Regiment, a veteran of the 1st Afghan War, who was dangerously wounded at Inkermann and was presented with his Crimean medal by Queen Victoria

Distinguished Conduct Medal
, V.R. (Robert Welsman, 41st Regt.) officially impressed naming, but this rubbed from onetime circular mount and suspension re-fixed; Candahar Ghuznee Cabul 1842 (Robt. Welsman, 41st Regt.) fitted with replacement steel clip and German silver bar suspension; Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Pte. Robt. Welsman, 41 Foot) contemporary engraved naming, suspension claw re-fixed with solder; Turkish Crimea, British issue, unnamed, contact marks and polished, otherwise nearly very fine (4) £1500-2000

D.C.M. recommendation dated 26 January 1855.

Robert Welsman was born at Honiton, Devon, and was attested for the 41st Regiment of Foot at Bristol on 29 May 1840, aged 19 years one month. He joined the regiment at Belgaum and in September 1840 went with it to the Scinde. He served throughout the Afghan campaign of 1842 and received the medal for Candahar, Ghuznee and Cabul. During the Crimean War he was present at the Alma, the sortie of 26th October 1854, and at Inkermann, at which battle he was dangerously wounded. He was one of ten men of the regiment to be awarded the D.C.M., receiving also a gratuity of £5 and the Crimean medal with three clasps which was presented to him by Queen Victoria at Horse Guards Parade on 26 May 1855.

Having been promoted to Sergeant in May 1857, Welsman was tried by a Regimental Court Martial on 11 June 1857, for being drunk in barracks and reduced in rank to Private. He was discharged to Pension as a Private at Aldershot on 21 July 1861, having served a total of 21 years 17 days. Sold with copy discharge papers and a copy of the booklet Vincent of the 41st by Geoffrey Moore, the story of a soldier whose career was similar to that of Robert Welsman.