Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Captain John Lawrence, 23rd Regiment

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lieut. John Lawrence, 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers) neatly engraved in ‘Old English’ style lettering; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Lieut. John Lawrence, 1st Bn. 23rd R.W. Fus.); Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed, replacement swivel suspension, good very fine (3) £700-800

John Lawrence was born in Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, Gwent on 14 February 1835. He was commissioned, without purchase from the Royal Monmouthshire Militia, as an Ensign in the 23rd Regiment on 28 November 1854. Promoted to Lieutenant without purchase on 9 March 1855, he served in the Crimea, being present at the siege of Sebastopol, July-September 1855 and at the storming of the Redan. Then, during the suppression of the Indian Mutiny, he joined the Army at Cawnpore on 23 December 1857 and was present with it until the fall of Lucknow in March 1858. Appointed Captain by purchase in the 23rd Regiment on 2 August 1859. He retired at that rank on 7 January 1862 and later lived in Canada. With copied Statement of Service and other research.