Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Private W. Ledgett, 50th Regiment

Punniar Star 1843 (Private William Ledgett, 50th Queen’s Own Regt.) fitted with riveted V-shaped suspension; Sutlej 1845-46, for Aliwal 1846, 1 clasp, Sobraon (Wm. Ledget, 50th Regt.) note spelling of surname; Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Inkermann, Sebastopol (1334 William Ledgett, 50 Regt.) engraved naming with correction to surname; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, fitted with swivel straight-bar suspension, the second and third with neatly refixed suspension claws, contact marks and edge bruising, good fine and rather better (4) £1000-1200

Ex D.N.W. 2 April 2003, when it was sold with an original ‘In Memoriam’ card entitled ‘Death of a Crimean Veteran’ - no longer with the lot but the text of which read:

‘On Tuesday 22 January 1901, there died at Moorgate, Retford, William Ledgett, an old Crimean and Indian veteran. The deceased (who leaves a widow but no children) was the same age as the Queen, and died on the same day. He had, since his retirement from the army, been in business for himself as a baker and provision dealer, and was most highly esteemed by all who knew him. In the army he had an eventful career. He joined the Fiftieth Foot in 1837, the year of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne, and went out shortly after with his regiment to New South Wales. He was twice shipwrecked, and in 1840 was present with the regiment in India, and saw a great deal of fighting against the Sikhs. For this campaign he was awarded two medals with bars for Puniah (sic), Aliwal and Sobraon. After seven years in India, the veteran was invalided to England suffering from a serious wound in the back. After several months he was discharged from hospital in time to embark with his regiment for the Crimea, and was present at the battle of Inkermann and the fall of Sebastopol, and for this campaign he also received two medals, in addition to which he was awarded the long service and good conduct medal. The deceased left the army in 1862, after serving in the ranks for exactly a quarter of a century.’

Ledgett is listed as being wounded at Sobraon on 10 February 1846.