Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Crimea Medal awarded to Colonel J. W. “Jimmy” Hassell, latterly commanding officer of the “Royal Scots” with whom he saw action before Sebastopol

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lieut. J. W. Hassell, 1st The Royal Regt.), old engraved naming, with Phillips riband buckle for wearing, together with a period portrait miniature of the recipient in uniform wearing his Crimea Medal, in a partly damaged gilt frame (see illustration), the first with minor edge bruise, very fine and toned (2) £600-800

James William Hassell was born in Hessle, near Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, in July 1834, and originally joined the 84th Foot by purchase as an Ensign in September 1853. Less than a month later, however, he transferred to the 1st Foot (Royal Scots), and was advanced to Lieutenant in December 1854. Departing the U.K. for the Crimea, via Malta, in the summer of 1855, he saw action before Sebastopol and was awarded the Medal & clasp, in addition to the Turkish Medal. Subsequently employed in Ceylon, India and the West Indies, he saw no further active service, but gained advancement to Major in November 1878 and to Lieutenant-Colonel in July 1881 and, on being elevated to full Colonel in June 1885, took command of the regiment. Placed on the Retired List in July 1887, he made one or two contributions to the regimental journal The Thistle, including an entertaining account of a return visit to Jamaica in 1905, when he bumped into some old “Royal Scots” who had settled there. The Colonel died in 1921; sold with copied service record and further details.