The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 1)

Four: Crimea 1854-55, 3 clasps, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Pri. John Bunton R.M.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (John Bunton, Pte. R.M. Woolh. Divn. Crimea) three letters of surname officially corrected; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (Pte. R.M.); Legion of Honour, 5th class breast badge, silver, gold and enamels, chips to the enamel on the last, otherwise good very fine and very rare (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

View
Collection

Private John Bunton served with the Royal Marine Brigade in the Crimea, borne aboard H.M.S. LEANDER, and was one of only seven NCO’s and Privates to receive the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for Gallantry, with a Gratuity of £5. All the recipients were Royal Marines who had fought at the battle of Inkermann, where John Bunton had been severely wounded in the left forearm. Among these recipients was Corporal John Prettyjohn who was also awarded the Victoria Cross, and it is thought that Bunton received his silver medal and Legion of Honour for the same incident in which a small party of Marines cleared some caves occupied by the enemy’s sharpshooters. Bunton’s Crimea medal was presented to him by Queen Victoria on 18 May 1855, at the Horse Guards Parade, just eight days after he had been discharged on medical grounds.

For further details of these seven Gallantry L.S. & G.C., and two M.S.M.’s awarded under similar circumstances, see Naval Medals 1793-1856, pp 395-403