Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Taku Forts 1860 (Wm. Woodgate. 44th. Regt.) officially impressed naming, minor edge bruising, very fine £300-360

William Woodgate was born in Lavenham, Suffolk, in 1827 and attested for the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot at Chelmsford, Essex, on 4 January 1847. He served with the Regiment in the Crimean War (received the Crimea Medal with clasps Alma, Inkermann, and Sebastopol; the Turkish Crimea Medal), and was one of only two other ranks from the Regiment to be awarded the Sardinian Al Valore Militari, the citation stating: ‘Private William Woodgate served throughout the whole War in the Trenches. He was found active and vigilant, and always ready for anything. He was present at the attack on the Cemetery, where his gallantry was particularly noticed. He always set a good example to his comrades by his readiness and cheerfulness under the most trying circumstances during the bad winter of 1854.’
Promoted Corporal on 26 May 1858, and Sergeant on 12 February 1859, he was reduced to the rank of Private following a Court Martial for drunkenness, and then served with the Regiment during the Second China War, where he was present at the bombardment and assault on the Taku Forts, 21 August 1860- the 44th Foot were in the vanguard, with two companies detailed to lead the assault on the Northern Fort. There was no cover against the enemy's heavy fire, with bullets, spears, and arrows flying about in every direction, and soon the ditches in front of the Fort were strewn with casualties. As a watching British rifleman noted: ‘The guns were crashing, and the enemy were hurling vases of lime, stinkpots, cold shot, stones, and anything else on which they could lay their Celestial hands, while the air, thick with battle-smoke, resounded with the heathens' yells and noises.’ Lieutenant Robert Rogers, 44th Foot, who led the assault and was the first Englishman in the captured Fort, was awarded the Victoria Cross. Woodgate was restored to the rank of Sergeant, 18 May 1866, and was discharged at his own request on 9 February 1869, after 22 years and 35 days’ service.