Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Crimean War group of four awarded to Captain H. W. Verschoyle, Grenadier Guards, who carried the regimental colours at the battle of Inkermann

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Captn. Verschoyle Grenr. Gds. Sepr. 20th 1855); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue; Order of the Medjidie, 5th class breast badge by Maison Fayolle, Paris, silver, gold and enamel; Al Valore Militare, Spedizione D’Oriente 1855-1856 (Captain Hy. Willm. Verschoyle, Grenr. Guars.) mounted on a contemporary bar for wearing, some pitting, otherwise very fine(4) £2000-2500

Henry William Verschoyle was appointed Ensign in the Grenadier Guards on 19 April 1851, and promoted to Lieutenant & Captain on 22 December 1854. He served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the battles of Alma, Balaklava and Inkermann, siege and fall of Sebastopol, and was wounded in the Trenches on the 5th September, 1855 (Medal with four clasps, 5th Class of the Medjidie, Sardinian and Turkish medals). He was promoted to Captain & Lieutenant-Colonel on 15 January 1861, and died on 21 August 1870.

Al Valore Militare: ‘Captain Henry William Verschoyle served through the whole of the campaign and carried the regimental colours at Inkermann, when surrounded by the enemy.’

The following extracts are taken from Hamilton’ History of the First or Grenadier Guards:

‘Lieutenants Sturt and Verschoyle carried the Colours of the Battalion, and it is believed that the Grenadier Guards were the only corps that carried their Colours into action on that day; at all events it was the only one that carried them into such an advanced position.’

‘A continued struggle, and hand to hand combat, now ensued, the men fighting with the desperation of those who know there is no support if they fail, and being often at such close quarters, that having no opportunity of reloading, they would make use of the butt-ends of their muskets... At one time the centre of the Battalion had advanced to the edge of the plateau, with Sturt and Verschoyle still gallantly carrying the colours in that advanced position, the men on each side kneeling and firing into the enemy’s ranks, whenever they could be seen through the stunted brushwood.’

‘This contest continued with more or less intermission for about three hours, the companies becoming much mixed. Many men, as well as some officers, had already fallen, and all the mounted officers were by this time on foot... It was at this moment that Henry Neville, who was near the colours, received a mortal wound, the shot passing through the body and striking the spine, producing paralysis... Lieutenant Napier Sturt, a moment later, while carrying the regimental colour, was severely wounded, shot through the body, but before falling, handed the colour to a Grenadier, from whom it was subsequently taken by Lieutenant Turner, who carried it the rest of the day.’

‘In the meantime the contest continued in and about, and on the left of the sand-bag battery, where the headquarters of the Grenadiers, and the small remainder of the Coldstreams and Fusiliers, were still holding their own. Owing to the surrounding brushwood, nothing could be ascertained by them of what was going on in other parts of the field, or of the strength of the Russian attacking columns. Their ammunition well nigh exhausted, and themselves separated from the centre and left of the army, the few Guards in and about the sand-bag battery had remained together and driven back the Russians whenever they appeared in their front. The colours of the Grenadier Guards were still with them in this advanced position, and the enemy were often on three sides, vainly endeavouring to capture what would have been to them so glorious a trophy, but they were safe in the hands of those to whom they had been entrusted.’

‘On the anniversary of the battle of Alma, the 20th of September, 1855, the Brigade of Guards paraded in front of Lord Rokeby’s tent, when each Officer and Soldier was presented with the Crimean medal and bars to which he was entitled. Out of nearly 100 Guards’ officers who took part in that action, but twenty-two combatant officers, exclusive of five Surgeons and Quarter-Masters were now remaining in the Crimea.’

See Lot 602 for his group of miniature medals and Lot 864 the medals awarded to his son who died of wounds in the Boer War.