Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Captain James Baird, 41st Foot, commissioned from Drum-Major in the Crimea and afterwards a Military Knight of Windsor

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Captn. J. Baird 41st Regt.) later engraved naming; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue (Captn. J. Baird 41st Regt.) fitted with a later bar suspension, named as before, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £260-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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James Baird was born at Bellary, East Indies, on 6 September 1827, and enlisted as a Private into the 41st Foot on 19 April 1842, aged 14 years 7 months. He was promoted to Sergeant on 10 January 1850 and was appointed Drum-Major of the 41st. Baird was promoted from the ranks to an Ensigncy in recognition of Her Majesty’s approval of the gallantry displayed by the non-commissioned officers and privates at the battle of Inkermann, his commission being dated 5 November 1854. He was further promoted to Lieutenant, without purchase, on 9 March 1855. He served throughout the war in the Crimea and was ‘Present at the Battle of Alma and a powerful Sortie at Inkermann on 26 Octr. 1854. The Battle of Inkermann on 5 Novr. 1854. Was present at the Storming of the Redan on the 18th June and the 8th September 1855.’ He was ‘slightly wounded in the left thigh on the 9th June 1855 when on a working party.’

Baird purchased a Captaincy in the 41st Foot on 9 March 1860, but exchanged into the 18th Foot on 24 July 1860, and into the 88th Foot on 29 May 1866. He retired by the sale of his commission on 20 October 1869, and was afterwards appointed a Military Knight of Windsor. He died in 1896. Sold with copied Statement of Services and other research.