Auction Catalogue

6 July 2004

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

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Lot

№ 559

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6 July 2004

Hammer Price:
£3,300

An outstanding campaign group of five awarded to Major H. J. Frampton, 50th Foot, who had an arm amputated after the battle of Aliwal, was again wounded at Inkermann, and taken prisoner in the trenches before Sebastopol

Punniar Star 1843 (Lieutt., Her Ms. 50th Regt.); Sutlej 1845-46, for Moodkee 1845, 2 clasps, Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal (Lieut., 50th Regt.); Crimea 1854-55, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Capt., 50th Regt.) contemporary engraved naming; Legion of Honour, Knight’s breast badge, silver and enamels, gold centres, enamels much chipped; Turkish Crimea, a contemporary officer’s type, unnamed, all fitted with silver ribbon brooches, the second with pitting from star, generally nearly very fine or better (5) £2000-2500

Heathfield James Frampton was appointed an Ensign in the 50th (The Queen’s Own) Regiment on 4 August 1840, and purchased a Lieutenancy in August of the following year. He was present with the 50th Regiment at the battle of Punniar (Bronze Star), and in the campaign on the Sutlej (Medal with two clasps), including the battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur and Aliwal, in which last he was dangerously wounded and had his left arm amputated.

Frampton became a Captain by purchase in September 1848, and accompanied the regiment to the Crimea in April 1854. He took part in the battle of the Alma, and was wounded at the battle of Inkermann. On the night of the 21st/22nd December the Russians made a determined sortie against the trenches before Sebastopol. Moving silently, in dense masses, they overlapped our left of the advanced trench, which was held by Captain Frampton, Lieutenant Clarke, and 150 men of the 50th. Frampton and Clarke were both taken prisoner, the latter wounded, and the Russians continued on to the second trench before being finally repulsed. The loss of the 50th Regiment consisted of 14 killed, 12 wounded, and 2 officers and 9 men taken prisoners.

Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-Colonel) M. A. Clarke gives a full account of this incident in the regimental history: ‘Frampton and myself, after a hand-to-hand fight, were knocked down and taken prisoners, and borne off by parties of the enemy.’ He goes on to recount their captivity and ultimate release in September 1855. Frampton had been promoted to Major just one week after his capture but by now had had enough excitement and retired from the Army in December 1855.