Orders, Decorations and Medals

The mounted group of nine miniature dress medals attributed to Lieutenant-General Sir Gerald Graham, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., Royal Engineers

Victoria Cross; Order of the Bath, Military Division, gold and enamel, ring suspension; Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol, edge bruise; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860; Egypt 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-el-Kebir, edge bruise; France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s Badge, silver, gold and enamel; Turkey, Order of the Medjidie, silver, gold and enamel; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue; Khedive’s Star 1882, mounted as worn from old and faded ribbons, in a glazed mahogany display case, generally good very fine (9) £1200-1500

V.C. London Gazette 24 February 1857. ‘Detirmined gallantry at the head of a ladder party, at the assault of the Redan, on the 18th June, 1855. Devoted heroism in sallying out of the trenches on numerous occasions, and bringing in wounded officers and men’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 21 December 1855, 15 February 1856 (Crimea), 4 November 1860 ( China), 3 September 1882, 19 September 1882, 21 September 1882, 6 October 1882, 2 November 1882 (Egypt), 27 March 1884, 11 April 1884, 29 April 1884, 6 May 1884 (Egypt), 23 June 1885, 25 July 1885 (Egypt).

Lieutenant-General Sir Gerald Graham, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.M.G. was born on 27 June 1831 in Acton, Middlesex and was educated in Dresden, Wimbledon, Edinburgh and the Royal Military College, Woolwich. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1850 and promoted Lieutenant in February 1854 shortly before embarking for the Crimea. He served in the Battles of Alma and Inkermann and at the siege of Sebastopol and was twice wounded. He was awarded the V.C. for leading a ladder-party in the assult upon the Redan on 18 June 1855. In the China Campaign he was seriously wounded on 21 August 1860 whilst directing a bombing party at the succesful attack on the Taku Forts but recovered sufficiently to be present at the capture of Peking. Appointed Captain in 1858, he received the brevet of Major in 1859, was promoted Major in 1872, received the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1861 and Colonel in 1869. Appointed Lieutenant Colonel in 1876 and Major-General in 1881, he served throughout the Egyptian War of 1882 in command of the 2nd Brigade and was present at the Battles of Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir, for which he was created a K.C.B. In 1884 he was appointed to the command of the expedition to relieve Tokar and fought in the Battles of El Teb and Tamaai. For his services in the Sudan in 1884/5 he was promoted Lieutenant-General, created a G.C.M.G. and awarded the Order of the Medjidie 1st Class. In 1896 he was created a G.C.B. and in 1899, the same year as he died, he was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers.

With a copied photograph of the recipient in the display case, in uniform and wearing medals. For other items related to Lieutenant-General Sir Gerald Graham, V.C., see also lots 1164, 1165 and 1179.