Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (T. Donnelly. 5th Dragn. Gds.) officially impressed naming, light edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine £800-1000

Thomas Donnelly was born in the Parish of Kilbarton, near Gort, County Galway, and enlisted into the 16th Foot at Gort on 23 September 1846, aged 17 years 6 months. He transferred to the 5th Dragoon Guards on 1 January 1849. He served 2 years in the Crimea and is shown in the musters as being effective from 1st October to 30th November 1854, and probably rode in the charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava.

He was discharged at his own request, free with pension after 24 Years Service on 23 May 1871. His discharge papers note that his ‘Character has been very good and that he is in possession of Five Good Conduct Badges - Crimea Medal with Clasps for Balaklava, Inkermann & Sebastopol & Turkish Medal - Silver Medal with Gratuity of £5.0.0 for Long Service & Good Conduct.’

‘The following letter is from a Corporal in the 5th Dragoon Guards, one of the regiments engaged in the battle of the 25th: “We had two men killed Corporal Tayloe was one and Ealing was the other - fourteen wounded - The Donaly’s are safe... I remain your Affectionate son T. [J] Gough 5th Light Dragoons”’ (The History of the Present War with Russia, pp 333-4, refers). It is probable that the ‘Donaly’s’ refer to 1027 Thomas and 1028 Malachy, their adjacent regimental numbers suggesting that they were brothers who joined together, and possibly 756 Michael. The writer was Corporal Joseph Gough.

Sold with copied discharge papers.