Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Crimean War C.B. group of five awarded to General J. E. Goodwyn, 41st Regiment, who was wounded in the first attack on the Redan and succeeded to the command of the regiment after the death of Colonel Eman in the final attack on the Redan; he was later Colonel-in-Chief of the 41st

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1855, maker’s mark ‘WN’ for William Neale, fitted with gilt swivel-ring bar suspension and gold ribbon buckle; Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Colonel. J. E. Goodwyn, C.B. 41st Regt.) regimentally impressed naming, with silver ribbon buckle; Legion of Honour, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gilt and enamels; Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unofficial type by ‘J.B.’, unnamed, the Legion of Honour chipped in places, otherwise very fine or better (5) £3000-3600

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

View
Collection

Sold with the following original documents: Warrant of award for C.B., together with accompanying letter from the Heralds College; Warrant of award for the Legion of Honour, dated 21st June 1856; Warrant of award for the Order of the Medjidie; Statement of Services showing all appointments, promotions, engagements and medals; and two London Gazette supplements dated 1856 and 1858.

Julius Edmund Goodwyn was born in Middlesex on 21 February 1824, the son of Thomas Wildman Goodwyn and Elizabeth, of Blackheath. He entered the Army as Ensign in the 41st Regiment of Foot on 5 January 1844, and by May 1850 he had attained the rank of Captain, by purchase, in the same regiment. In September 1854, with the 1st Battalion 41st Foot, Captain Goodwyn landed in the Crimea and subsequently fought in the battle of Alma, where he was promoted to Major, the siege of Sebastopol, the battle at Inkermann, where, finding himself in an isolated position, was suddenly surrounded by Russians. He immediately drew his revolving pistol, and by the accuracy of his fire and the coolness of his judgement, put his enemies to flight. He was present at both the assaults on the Redan, on 18 June, when he was wounded, and on 8 September, when he succeeded to the command of the regiment upon the death of Colonel Eman in that action.

For his services in the Crimean War Goodwyn received the Crimea Medal with three clasps, the 5th Class of the Medjidie, the Turkish Medal, and was created a Knight of the Legion d'Honneur. On 2 January 1857 he was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

From 18 May 1857 to 30 April 1860 Goodwyn was posted in the West Indies, and in March of 1858 he was promoted Colonel. During this posting in the West Indies he married Euphemia Alexandrina Victoria Kent on 29 September 1858, at Port Royal, Jamaica.

On 14 March 1866, he was appointed to the command of a brigade in Bengal, and on 6 March 1868, he received the rank of Major-General. He vacated his Indian command on 28 February 1870, which was his last active military employment. He became Lieutenant-General on 1 October 1877, and was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the 28th Regiment on Inkermann Day, 1880. On 10 January 1881, he was promoted to General, and on 20 January 1883, was transferred to the 41st Regiment as Colonel. General Goodwyn died on 4 March 1890, at Bath, Somerset, aged 66.