NOONANS SELL MEDALS AWARDED TO ICONIC FIGURE OF THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE FOR A HAMMER PRICE OF £22,000 – ALMOST THREE TIMES TOP ESTIMATE

An important group of three medals awarded to Sergeant James William Wightman of the 17th Lancers, who was the central figure in the iconic painting of the Charge of the Light Brigade, sold for a hammer price of £22,000 – almost three times its top estimate – today (Wednesday, June 17, 2026) in an auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria at Noonans Mayfair (16 Bolton Street). The medals, which have remained in the same collection for the past 40 years, attracted significant interest and were purchased by a new collector of medals.

Christopher Mellor-Hill, Head of Client Liaison at Noonans added: “I am delighted to see how well the medals did and that the military romance attached to The Charge of The Light Brigade continues to echo clearly in our history 175 years on!”

Wightman was the key figure in Richard Caton Woodville’s iconic painting, which is now hangs at the National Army Museum, who also have his diaries. He was born in York in 1834, enlisted in 1852 and was severely wounded in no fewer than 13 places and subsequently taken prisoner in the Charge of the Light Brigade on 25th October 1854. He rejoined his regiment in the winter of 1855, fought in the Indian Mutiny, and was promoted to Ensign in the Military Train in 1865. He later became Secretary of the Balaklava Commemoration Society and left one of the finest first-hand accounts of the charge. Wightman spent the rest of his life living in London, until his death in February 1907 and he was buried in Brompton Cemetery.