Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 1006 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 193

The Important Crimea Group of Three to Trumpet Major W. Perkins, 11th Hussars, Who Charged With the Light Brigade and Had His Horse Killed Under Him, 25.10.1854; Perkins Was Trumpeter to Colonel J. Douglas During the Famous Charge and is Recorded as Having Sounded the Rally Before the 11th and the 4th Light Dragoons Charged the Russian Lancers Crimea 1854-56, four clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Trum.. Wi..... Perkins. XI.th. P.A.O. Hussar..), regimentally impressed, suspension re-affixed, top right lug missing; Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (Trumpet Maj: W. Perkins. 11/Hussars.); Turkish Crimea, Sardinian die (Sergt. W. Perkins 11th P.A.O. Hussars.), contemporarily engraved in upright serif capitals, pierced for ring suspension, M.S.M. very fine, others worn therefore fine or better, all with contemporary silver top riband buckles (3) Estimate £ 14,000-16,000 1304 Trumpet Major William Perkins, born Maidstone, Kent; enlisted 11th Hussars, 1846; served in the Crimea with the Regiment and was one of three Trumpeters of the 11th Hussars who rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade, Perkins stated, ´I was a Trumpeter to Colonel Douglas and rode close to him in the charge and the retreat, until my horse was killed after passing the Lancers. When halted about 100 yards in right rear of the guns, I hear Colonel Douglas call out, ´What are we to do now Lord Paget?´, he replied, ´Where is Lord Cardigan?´ and galloped away. I never saw nor heard him again. The 11th alone pursued the Russian Hussars to the end of the valley. When surrounded, Colonel Douglas ordered us to rally on the 17th Lancers. I immediately sounded the rally. We were then close face to face with the Russian Cavalry. When engaged with the Lancers I saw Lieutenant Dunn [V.C.], with one stroke of his sword sever a Russian Lancer´s head all but off´ (A Victorian RSM, George Loy Smith refers). Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas led the Regiment in the Charge, and Perkins, as his Trumpeter, would have been party to the key events involving the Regiment during the charge to the guns and the retreat through the Russian Lancers, ´Shortly after the Light Brigade had climbed into their saddles and been ordered to advance, Colonel Douglas turned to address the men. In a firm loud voice he said: "Eleventh, attention. Now men, in all probability we shall meet the enemy today. When you do, don´t cut but give them the point and they will never face you again." What was left of the 11th after they had reached the guns rallied behind Douglas and was then joined by the 4th Light Dragoons under Paget (there is some debate as to who took command). It was not long before they realised that the Russian Lancers were blocking their retreat, recognisable due to the pennons hanging from their lance heads. Douglas describes what happens next: "I saw in our rear two squadrons of Lancers drawn up. I instantly proclaimed, "They´re the 17th. Let us rally on them". At that very moment Lieutenant Roger Palmer rode up and said, "I beg your pardon, Colonel, that is not the 17th, that is the enemy" Well I exclaimed, "We must only retire and go through them". So with the 4th Light Dragoons we charged the Russian Lancers and got past them with few casualties" (Forgotten Heroes, The Charge of the Light Brigade, R. Dutton refers). It would appear that Perkins sounded the rally before the 11th Hussars and the 4th Light Dragoons charged back through the Russian Lancers. Perkins was promoted to Sergeant in 1858 and to Trumpet Major in 1864. He received a L.S. & G.C. with a gratuity of £10 in 1869, before returning this medal (as was the practice of the time) when he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1896. Perkins was discharged in 1871, after 24 years of service with the Colours. Perkins attended the First Balaklava Banquet, 25.10.1875; was a Member of the Balaklava Commemoration Society in 1879; and attended the Annual Dinners in 1890, 1892, 1893 and 1897. During the Lord Mayor´s Show of 1890 a number of Crimean War Veterans (under banners of ´Battle of Balaklava Heroes´) processed in open topped carriages accompanied by the bands of the Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards and the 2nd Life Guards. In the programme for the event it lists that Trumpeters Landfried of the 17th Lancers and Perkins of the 11th Hussars were in a carriage at the head of the procession. In later life Perkins lived at 13 Red Post Lane, Forest Gate, Essex. He died in 1899 and his burial was paid for by the T.H. Roberts Fund.

Sold for
£9,500