Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Troop Sergeant Major J. Switzer, 5th Dragoon Guards, later a Yeoman Warder, H.M. Tower of London

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (No. 775 Serjt. J. Switzer. 5th. Dragoon Guards.) contemporarily engraved naming; Jubilee 1887, bronze, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (775 Troop Sergr. Mjr. John Switzer 5th. Dgn. Gds.) impressed naming, suspension claw re-affixed; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue (No. 775. T.S.M. Jno Switzer. 5th. Dragoon Gds.) contemporarily impressed naming, ‘z’ of surname corrected, plugged and fitted with small ring suspension; all with Bailey, Coventry, to silver laurel riband bars; together with two unofficial Golden Jubilee 1887 badges, heavy edge bruising and contact marks to first, the naming details partially obscured, this fair to fine, the rest better (6) £500-£700

John Switzer was born in Killeen, Co. Limerick, Ireland, on 21 April 1821 and attested for the 5th Dragoon Guards on 31 May 1842. Promoted Corporal on 1 October 1848, and Sergeant on 1 November 1853, he served with the Regiment in the Crimea during the latter half of 1855, and was promoted Troop Sergeant Major on 12 November 1857. He was discharged at Curragh Camp on 13 March 1867, after 24 years and 295 days’ service, and subsequently served as a Yeoman Warder (a ‘Beef-eater’) at the Tower of London, in which capacity he was awarded the Jubilee Medal. He died on 11 May 1891.

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