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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 58

A fine Crimea Medal awarded to Private S. Bruce, Scots Fusilier Guards, who was wounded at the Alma, receiving a 'contusion of the neck' and later died at Scutari - likely in consequence of his infected wound and contagion within the hospital

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (S. Bruce. Scts. Fusilr. Gds.), officially impressed naming, nearly extremely fine

Sinclair Bruce was born in 1821 at Wick and enlisted for the Scots Fusilier Guards on 24 April 1843. A labourer by trade, five feet and eight and three-quarters inches in stature, but 'pitted with small pox', he served over 11 years with the regiment, arriving in the Crimea on 28 February 1854 and being present at the Battles of the Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann and Sebastopol (Medal and clasps confirmed). A career soldier, his papers note a couple of minor indiscretions which resulted in the forfeiture of pay, but otherwise his service was unblemished. It ended prematurely however after receiving a wound to the neck at the Alma whilst serving with the 1st Battalion (The Evening Freeman, refers). Bruce died six months later on 7 March 1855 in consequence of an abscess (The Daily Express, 2 April 1855, refers); sold with copied service record and research, including a copied letter from a 'soldier of the artillery' published in The John O'Groats Journal on 30 March 1855, which notes:

'I believe the Highland Brigade - that is the 42nd, 71st, 79th, and 93rd are to form part of the storming party, together with the Rifle Brigade, Connaught Rangers and Scots Fusiliers. They are a fine lot of Regiments, and they are sure to do their duty, for any General that commands them can place dependence on them…

You want to know about the walls of Sebastopol. They are strong; there are guns in every direction; and barricade upon barricade, so that it will be a hard job to take it. I have no more to say at present. I have not found out Sinclair Bruce yet, his camp is about a mile from ours.'


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Sold for
£1,000

Starting price
£400