Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Crimea D.C.M. group of four awarded to Gunner and Driver, later Corporal Collar Maker, F. Gard, Royal Artillery

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Gunner & Driver F. Guard [sic], Rl. ...) suspension claw reaffixed; Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Inkermann, Sebastopol (E. [sic] Gard. Gr. & Dr. 12th. Btn. Rl. Arty.) officially impressed naming, suspension claw reaffixed; China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Taku Forts 1860 (Gunner Fredk. Gard. . 4th. Bde. Rl. Arty.) suspension claw reaffixed post 1873, with first type riband; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, pierced with ring suspension, contact marks and edge bruising, therefore nearly very fine (4) £1400-1800

Provenance: Birkin Collection, Glendining’s, March 1921; O’Hara Collection, December 1961; Spink, September 1993.

D.C.M. recommendation dated 23 August 1855.

Frederick Gard was born in Yeovil, Somerset, on 20 December 1834, and attested there for the Royal Artillery on 21 December 1851. He served in the Crimea with No. 4 Company, 12 Battalion, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, together with a gratuity of £10. He transferred to the 4th Brigade on 1 May 1859, and was present in China at the capture of the Taku Forts on 21 August 1860. He was promoted Collar Maker on 13 October 1864, and Corporal Collar Maker on 13 October 1869, and was discharged on 26 December 1873, after 21 years and 7 days’ service.