Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Surgeon-Major J. N. Shipton, 13th Hussars and Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued, clasp loose on riband, bottom lugs pierced, top left lug missing; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Asst. Surgn. John N Shipton, 1st Bn. 23rd. R. W. Fusrs.); Turkish Crimea 1855, unnamed as issued, plugged with ‘Mutiny’ style suspension, mounted for display, all with contemporary silver top riband buckles, generally very fine (3) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Rob Campbell Collection relating to Clevedon, Somerset.

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John Noble Shipton was born in Clevedon in December 1831, ‘his father being the late Martin Noble Shipton Esq [Surgeon], of Park House, he had, during a long period of active service in the army, re-visited the home of his youth from time to time, and frequently expressed the wish that if he died in England he might lie at Clevedon, near his father.

Surgeon-Major Shipton first entered the army in the time of the Crimean War [Medical Department from March 1855], in the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers [from March 1857], was present at the siege of Sebastopol, the three attacks on the Redan, and at most of the important operations of the war, proceeding with his regiment from thence to India, being again present at the relief of Lucknow and other affairs connected with the mutiny [also present at the defeat of the Gwalior Contingent at Cawnpore, siege and capture of Lucknow, actions at Tulrowlee, Poorwah an Dundiakeira]. From that time to a very recent period he was, with short periods of leave, in active service in India, in some of the first regiments in the service, having held commissions in the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queens Bays) [from March 1860] , the 2nd Foot [from January 1869], and for a very long period in the 13th Hussars [from July 1871], from which he was invalided, and being found unfit for further service in India, was appointed to the medical superintendence of the 8th Brigade Depot, at Warwick, having during his active service obtained medals for the Crimea, relief of Lucknow, and Order of the Medijie [last unconfirmed].

His death occurred quite suddenly, when on the point of rising from his bed on Tuesday July 2 [1878], the cause being an attack of apoplexy, after which he never spoke, and expired in a few minutes. He leaves a young widow, having only married a few months since, and infant daughter.

On Monday last his remains, under the care of his brother-in-law... were brought down from Warwick, and received at Rutland Lodge, being interred the following day at the old churchyard, the Union Jack, under which he had seen so much and such gallant service, being used as an appropriate pall. As a token of the respect in which he was held, the whole of the officers and men at the barracks at Warwick turned out on Monday to escort his remains from his late residence to the railway station, the excellent band of the 2nd Warwickshire Militia playing the Dead March without intermission during the progress, which occupied one hour and a quarter.’ (Obituary included with the lot refers)

Surgeon-Major Shipton is buried in St. Andrews Church, Clevedon.

Sold with considerable copied research.