British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Thin Red Line’ group of four awarded to Private Angus McGillivray, 93rd Highlanders

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (Augus. McGilvery. 93rd Regt.) impressed naming but not Royal Mint; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (3037 A. McGillvray, H.Ms. 93rd Regt.); India General Service 1854-94, 1 clasp, Umbeyla (3037 A. McGillivray H.M. 93rd Highrs.); Turkish Crimea, British issue, unnamed, note variations in spelling of surname, nearly extremely fine (4) £1800-2200

On 24 October 1854, the 93rd routed the Russian cavalry charge at Balaklava earning themselves the nickname of “The Thin Red Line”. The Times correspondent, William Howard Russell, who standing on the hills above could clearly see that nothing stood between the Russian cavalry and the defenceless British base but the “thin red streak tipped with a line of steel” of the 93rd. This was condensed almost immediately into “The Thin Red Line” and later immortalised in the painting by Lady Butler.