Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Captain W. Kemp, Royal Irish Regiment

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Ensign Wm. Kemp, Rl. Irish) engraved naming; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse undated (Captn. Wm. Kemp, 2nd Bn. 18th Foot) impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue,pierced with ring suspension (Capt. W. Kemp, 18th R.I.); Ottoman Empire, Order of Medjidie, 5th Class breast badge, by Hunt & Roskell, late Storr & Mortimer, London, silver, gold and enamel, with additional support hook to reverse, all three with silver buckle bars, some edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4) £800-1000

Ensign William Kemp served in the Crimea with the 18th Royal Irish Regiment. In the First Attack on the Redan, 18 June 1855, he was wounded by a bullet in the knee. It was decided to amputate, but as he was too weak, the operation was postponed. He subsequently became ill from fever and was ordered home, thereby saving his leg. He was awarded the Order of Medjidie 5th Class. Promoted to Lieutenant in January 1855. The regiment arrived in India early in 1858 but took no part in the active campaign and did not qualify for the Indian Mutiny Medal. The muster roll of 25 June 1858 shows Lieutenant Kemp in India as Adjutant. Promoted to Captain in August 1859. Kemp was with the newly created 2nd Battalion when it arrived in New Zealand in July 1863. He was placed on Half Pay on 12 June 1866. With copied service notes.