Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Light Brigade D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private J. Whitechurch, 8th Hussars, who died in the Crimea

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Jas. Whitechurch. 8th. Hussars); Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (J. Whitechurch. 8th. Dragoons.) officially impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian die, pierced, unnamed as issued, good very fine (3) £12000-15000

Provenance: This group first sold at Debenhams in March 1898 and was acquired by the noted collector E. E. Needes. When sold at Glendining’s as part of his collection in 1939, it was offered with a French Legion of Honour but there is no evidence that Whitechurch was so entitled.

D.C.M. recommendation dated 12 January 1855.

James Whitechurch embarked for the Crimea in the Wilson Kennedy on 2 May 1854, and died in the Regimental Hospital in Camp on 14 August 1855. He is recorded in Irish Medals by O. D. Cresswell as being one of the ‘21 officers and 159 men who took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade’ on 25 October 1854, although his name does appear on the latest reconstructed list of ´Chargers´. Most members of the Light Brigade entitled to the Balaklava clasp, in the absence of any evidence or status details to the contrary, took part in the Charge, and their absence from one of more reconstructions does not preclude them from having taken part in the Charge of the Light Brigade. In the case of Whitechurch it is hard to believe that he was recommended for the D.C.M. for anything other than distinguished conduct on that occasion. Of the eight D.C.M’s won by the regiment in the Crimea, all recommended on the same date, all but one other are to confirmed chargers, the one other, Private Patrick Dunn, being attached to Lord Raglan’s staff.