Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private G. Wilson, 93rd Highlanders, one of the ‘Thin Red Line’ at the Battle of Balaklava, 25 October 1854

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (3167 ... Wilson 93 Sutherland ...landers) contemporarily engraved naming in the style associated with the 93rd Highlanders, with added palm decorations; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (Geo Wilson, 93rd. Highlanders) ‘3167’ additionally engraved before name; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue (3167 Corpl. G. Wilson. 93rd. Highlanders.) contemporarily engraved naming, plugged and fitted with a Crimea-style suspension, heavy contact marks, especially to first, edge bruising, good fine and better (3) £1,800-£2,200

George Wilson attested for the 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders and served with the Regiment in the Crimea. He was present at Balaklava on 25 October 1854, when the 93rd routed the Russian cavalry and won themselves the title of ‘The Thin Red Line’. The Times correspondent, William Howard Russell, who, standing on the hills above, could clearly see that nothing stood between the Russian cavalry and the defenceless British base but the ‘thin red streak tipped with a line of steel’ wrote of the 93rd:
‘With breathless suspense everyone awaits the bursting of the wave [of Russian Cavalry] upon the line of Gaelic rock, but ere they came within 200 yards another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifle, and carries terror into the Russians. They wheel about, open files right and left, and fly back faster than they came. “Brave Highlanders! Well done!” shout the spectators.’

Wilson subsequently proceeded with the Regiment to India, and saw service during the Great Sepoy Mutiny, being present at the Second Relief of Lucknow and subsequent operations.