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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 55

(x) The Crimea Medal awarded to Private J. Fitzgibbon, 8th Dragoons, killed in the Charge of the Light Brigade

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (J. Fitzgibbon, 8th Dragoons) officially impressed naming, good very fine and rare

Provenance:
Sotheby’s, 1 March 1881.
Glendining’s, September 1919, March 1927, June 1929, and October 1937.

John Fitzgibbon was born in Limerick and enlisted for the 8th Dragoons on 23 June 1847. A harness-maker prior to enlistment, he embarked for the Crimea aboard the transport Echunga on 25 May 1854. He is confirmed by every source as having been killed in the charge of the Light Brigade on 25 October 1854. Lieutenant-Colonel Sherwell led them into the Charge but had forbidden two soldiers to carry their swords for they had '...disgraced the regiment by smoking in the presence of the enemy'. Their part in the action, which cost the life of Fitzgibbon, is vividly described by Lieutenant The Honourable S. Calthorpe, who was an Aide-de-Camp for the unit:

'The pace of our Cavalry increased every moment, until they went thundering along the valley, making the ground tremble beneath them. On they went headlong to death, disregarding aught but the object of their attack. At length they arrived at the guns, their numbers sadly thinned, but the few that remained made fearful havoc amongst the enemy's artillery.'


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£8,500

Starting price
£7500