Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Crimea medal awarded to Private John Hallaway, 4th Light Dragoons, who is believed to have been wounded in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava and sent to hospital at Scutari on the following day

Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Alma, Sebastopol (John Hallaway. 4th Lt. Dragoons.) contemporary engraved naming in running script, with original ribbon and separate clasp for ‘Balaklava’ fitted with brooch for suspension, in original named card box of issue, the lid inscribed ‘J. Hallaway 4th Lt. Dgns’, light edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise toned, very fine £2,000-£3,000

John Hallaway is confirmed as a ‘charger’ by Lummis & Wynn, Crider, Brighton, and Sewell. However, his name does not appear on the official casualty list, nor does he appear on the medal roll for the ‘Balaklava’ clasp.

He was born circa 1834, possibly in Lancashire, and enlisted into the 4th Light Dragoons at London on 2 January 1854, aged 20. Most sources confirm that he was wounded in the Charge, 25 October 1854, and was sent to Scutari on the following day, remaining in hospital until 15 January 1855. He is also shown as being sick at Scutari from 4 April to 5 November 1855. He attended the first Balaklava Banquet on 25 October 1875, where he is shown on the invitation list as ‘John Holloway’. He is also shown as a member of the Balaklava Commemoration Society in the 1877, and was killed in an accident at Victoria Station, London, around 1879. His nephew, Sergeant S. Hallaway, D.C.M., M.M., 4th Hussars, did attend the centenary Dinner held in London on 2 June 1954.