Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Private George Bence, Royal Marines

Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Balaklava, Sebastopol (Geo. Bence, R.M.) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue (64 Compy. R.M.) contact marks, otherwise very fine and rare (2) £250-300

Confirmed on the roll of H.M.S. Wasp for these two clasps. This ship received 180 officially impressed medals but only two recipients had the clasp for Balaklava, both Royal Marines who served ashore with the Royal Marine Brigade.

George Bence was born in 1823 at Bradford, Wiltshire, and enlisted at Woolwich in November 1841. He joined Wasp in August 1852 and served in her until January 1856, with the exception of the period 24 October to 5 November 1854, when he was loaned to H.M.S. Diamond, probably for passage ashore to join the R.M. Brigade at Balaklava. He completed his 21 years service and was discharged to pension at Woolwich Headquarters as a Private R.M. on 18 November 1862. Sold with research notes.