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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 326

Pair: Farrier W. Pitt, 4th Light Dragoons, who was severely wounded having spiked several Russian guns during the Charge of the Light Brigade

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Far...r. W. Pitt. 4th Light. D...oons 1193), contemporarily engraved naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian die, fitted with loops and straight-bar suspension (W. Pitt), contemporarily engraved naming, polished and edge wear, good fine (2)

William Pitt was born at Gloucester in 1820 and enlisted in the 4th Light Dragoons in December 1843. He was a confirmed Charger with the Light Brigade and was severely wounded in the process of spiking several Russian guns, laying out all night on the field until finally given medical assistance the next day (Army & Navy Gazette 10 March 1901, refers). He was sent to Scutari on Christmas Eve 1854 and returned to England in March 1855.

Pitt set up home with his wife in Brighton and worked at the Boot Shop, 61 William Street. Having attended the 1895 and 1899 reunion dinners, he died on 23 February 1901. His burial with his wife in grave W1249 at the Bear Road Cemetery was paid for by the T. H. Roberts Fund. The Royal Field Artillery at Preston Barracks provided a gun carriage, firing party and escort, while the Volunteer Artillery provided a band, under the command of Bandmaster Landried, a fellow Balaklava Charger.

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Sold for
£2,300

Starting price
£480

Sale 20003 Notices
Alma clasp is a tailor's copy.