Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Seaman M. Scholefield, V.C., Royal Navy

Victoria Cross (copy); Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Azoff (Mark Schofield (sic), Coxn. Bge., H.M.S. Albion), contemporary engraved naming, contained in a fitted glazed frame, very fine £250-350

The recipient’s original Victoria Cross was sold at Glendinings on 19 May 1965 and again in Spink’s Numismatic Circular, April 1998. In the former sale it was sold with a Crimea 2 clasp and a China 1857-60 2 clasp medal, both unnamed; in the latter, with an officially impressed Crimea 2 clasps and an unnamed Turkish Crimea.

V.C. London Gazette 24 February 1857.

‘On 5 November 1854 at the Battle of Inkerman, Crimea, when the Right Lancaster Battery was attacked and many of the soldiers were wounded, Seaman Scholefield with two other seamen and two others who were killed during the action, mounted the defence work banquette and, under withering attack from the enemy, kept up a rapid, repulsing fire. The muskets were re-loaded for them by the wounded soldiers under the parapet and eventually the enemy fell back and gave no more trouble’ (Ref: The Register of the Victoria Cross). The ‘two others’ - Seamen J. Gorman and T. Reeves, were also awarded the Victoria Cross for this action.

Not entiled to Azoff clasp.