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Auction: 17003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 525

A Crimea Legion of Honour group of three to Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Margesson, 56th Foot, and afterwards a prominent and wealthy landowner in Sussex

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Capt. W. G. Magesson [sic]), officially impressed naming; France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, 5th Class breast badge, silver and enamel, poincon mark to tassel; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, fitted with Crimea 1854-56 suspension, heavy wear overall, fair (3)

William George Margesson was born in 1821, the eldest son of the Reverend William Margesson of Vann, Ockley, Surrey. He obtained his Ensigncy by purchase in the 56th Foot in July 1841, and served in Bermuda and Ireland in the period leading up to the Crimea War.

Advanced to Captain in November 1850, he arrived in the Crimea on 25 August 1855, and was present at the siege and fall of Sebastopol (Medal & clasp; Turkish Medal), services that were recognised by his appointment as a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour. Promoted Major in the 80th Foot in October 1866 and to Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1870, he was placed on the Retired List in June 1872.

Margesson took a keen interest in cricket and hunting after purchasing Findon Place in Sussex in the same year. When he died in March 1911, aged 90, his estate was valued at a little over £33,000 - about £3,500,000 in today's money; sold with copied research.

His diaries for the period 1866-96, and the documentation of his family's history (1263-1938), are held by the West Sussex Record Office, see:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/90bdb9c0-1388-4a3a-b08c-2b2277cf77b9




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Sold for
£420