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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 374

(x) A fine group of three to Paymaster Henry Seymour Michell, 49th Foot, who served with the Regiment in China during 1839-42 and throughout the Crimean War.

China 1842 (H. S, Michell. Lieut. 49th Regiment Foot.), officially impressed; Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (H. S. Michell 49th Foot 1855.), officially engraved by Hunt & Roskell in large serif capitals, unofficial rivets between 2nd and 3rd clasps; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, privately manufactured by Hunt & Roskell, the first and second with heavy edge knocks, very fine or better (3)

Henry Seymour Michell joined the 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Regiment of Foot as an Ensign on 22 May 1835. Promoted to Lieutenant on 22 March 1839, he served with the Regiment throughout the First Opium War and was present at the storming of Chusan on 5 July 1840. After the withdrawal from Canton, he fought at the Battle of Amoy on 27 August 1841, when an amphibious British assault carried the citadel and caused its magazine to explode. His Regiment took part in the Battles of Chapoo, Woosung and Chin Kiang Foo in June 1842, actions which enabled the British fleet to sail into the Yangtze estuary and force the Qing Empire into signing the Treaty of Nanking.

Michell was appointed Paymaster of the 49th Foot on 9 April 1847, and he held that rank throughout the Crimean War. The 49th formed part of Adams's Brigade in De Lacy Evans's 2nd Division, positioned on the British right flank at the Battle of the Alma. With the burning village of Bourliouk blocking their advance, the 49th split in two, marching in fours around the inferno. In one sense the Russian 'scorched-earth' tactic backfired, for the column of smoke screened the 49th's movements from Russian artillery on Telegraph Hill. Michell was present at the Battle of Inkermann (clasp) on 5 November, an action in which the 49th played a conspicuous part (see next Lot). He also served throughout the Siege of Sebastopol. On 1 January 1860 he was made an Honorary Major of the 49th; sold with copied extracts from Hart's Army List.


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Sold for
£1,800