Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private G. Fry, 11th Hussars, who possibly rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava, 25 October 1854

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (1137. G. Fry. XIth. P.A.O. Hussars.) Regimentally impressed naming, light file marks to edge and naming rubbed throughout; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (1137 George Fry XI PAO Hussars) contemporarily impressed naming, edge bruising, nearly very fine (2) £1,000-£1,400

George Fry was born at Waverley, near Farnham, Surrey, in 1821, and attested for the 4th Light Dragoons at London on 14 July 1841, before transferring to the 11th Hussars on 17 May 1842. He served with the 11th Hussars as part of the Light Brigade in the Crimea, and was present at the Battles of Alma, Balaclava, and Inkermann, and the actions before Sebastopol. He was invalided to England from Scutari on 1 June 1855 and was subsequently awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged from the Curragh on 15 August 1865, and was living in Brighton in 1875.

Fry’s name does not appear on the latest reconstructed list of ‘Chargers’ as having rode in the Charge; however, 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 it is only the absence of some definite proof that means Fry is not listed as a confirmed ‘Charger’. In the Charge of the Light Brigade the 11th Hussars had 25 men killed, and three officers and 37 men wounded, at Balaklava on 25 October 1854. Eight men were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Note: An officially impressed medal to this man (Geo. Fry, 11th Hussars) was sold in these rooms in March 2002; and an engraved medal to this man (George Fry, 11th Hussars) was sold in these rooms in September 2015.