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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 68

(x) 'The bullets were then flying over us; we were quite close to each other. Captain Nolan, cool as a cucumber, dismounted, looks round his horse, remounts, and joins Lord Raglan. My brother Trumpeter, by name Dick Davis, rode over to me and asked me if I had had a shot; I said 'No', I thought they were not near enough. He told me that he had had several. I then thought it was time for me to get my pistol ready.'

So wrote Trumpeter Harry Powell, 13th Light Dragoons, in his recollections of the Crimean War.

The impressive and rare Light Brigade 'Charger's' campaign group of three awarded to Trumpeter R. Davis, 13th Light Dragoons, a long-lived veteran of the "Noble Six Hundred" who was additionally decorated by the French for his service during the Crimean War and features by name on many occasions in eye-witness accounts of that challenging campaign.

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Serjt. Richard Davis, 13th Lt. Dragoons.), officially impressed naming; France, Second Empire, Medaille Militaire, unnamed as issued; Turkish Crimea 1855, British die, unnamed as issued, all individually mounted on silver riband buckles, very fine (3)

It should be noted that another group of medals attributed to Davis is known, however when offered at auction by Wooley and Wallis (20 November 2019) it included an unofficially engraved Crimea Medal including clasps in the incorrect order. It can therefore be suggested that the medals offered here are Davis's original and entirely correct group.

Richard Davis was born on 9 April 1828 in Arcot, Madras Presidency, into a military family: his father, William Davis, was at that time serving as a Lance-Corporal in the 13th Light Dragoons and so it is perhaps unsurprising that young Richard followed him into the regiment in December 1841 at the tender age of 13 years old. Giving his 'Trade' as Musician, at the age of 20 David was appointed Trumpeter in the 13th: a responsible position for a young man and clearly indicative that he had progressed to learn a useful military skill - he was also one of only four men to hold that position in the regiment during the Crimean War.

Ordered for active service as one of five regiments making up Lord Cardigan's Light Brigade of Cavalry, the initial stages of the campaign were disappointing for Davis and his comrades: time and again they were forced to be mere observers in actions where the infantry did all the hard work - indeed the overall cavalry commander, Lord Lucan, was disparagingly renamed 'Lord Look-On' by some of the men under his command. Though they may have suffered few casualties in action, just like the rest of the Allied army the Light Brigade came in for more than their share of men falling seriously ill due to disease and the harsh climate; it is understandable therefore that, at the fateful Battle of Balaklava on 25 October 1854, they were more than ready to finally engage the enemy in battle.
That infamous charge has gone down in the annals of military history and need not be recounted in full here: the 13th were positioned in the front rank of the Brigade on the right flank, with the 17th Lancers to their left. Being a Trumpeter, Davis would likely have relayed various stirring calls as the regiment moved forward towards the Russian guns. Many years later, a local newspaper described Davis's experiences in more detail:

'He rode with his commanding officer between the guns without mishap, but on returning had the misfortune to lose his horse, which was killed by round shot. For some time he lay beneath the animal, unable to extricate his foot from the stirrup. By hard struggling he eventually released himself, then ran as hard as he could to the rear, but owing to the smoke from the guns he had but little idea where he was going. Whilst he was in this situation the short carriage of his sword belt, together with his trumpet, was shot away. For some time he was brought to a standstill, then he commenced again to run and soon succeeded in reaching the ground from which the advance had commenced.' (The Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 24 December 1902, refers). Despite several close calls with death or serious injury, remarkably Davis appears to have survived the charge without a scratch.
Promoted Sergeant on 9 February 1856, perhaps Davis did not enjoy his new responsibilities as he is noted as reverting to Trumpeter 'at his own request' on 10 November 1857. He then encountered a short spell of trouble when he was tried by Regimental Court-Martial in the autumn of 1858 for being 'Absent Without Leave from Watch-setting' - this resulted in one month's imprisonment and reduction to Private, though his talents ensured he remained with the regimental band. After this, Davis remained on the straight and narrow and he regained his former ranks, being promoted Corporal in February 1863 and Sergeant in August 1868. He was finally discharged at Piershill Barracks, Edinburgh, on 5 July 1870: 'By his own request, free to pension after 24 [sic] years service'. His conduct was assessed as 'Very Good', and in addition to his British and Turkish campaign medals he had also received the French Medaille Militaire: though at this time the names of specific recipients for this medal were not listed in the London Gazette, confirmation of the award can be found from the Crimean War recollections of his fellow Trumpeter and close comrade Harry Powell, who wrote: ...'the Commanding Officer had made a sort of lottery of the decorations given to the Regiment by the French; one of the trumpeters, by name R. Davis, was lucky enough to win one'... ('Recollections of a Young Soldier During the Crimean War', Harry Powell, 1876, refers).

Somewhat impressively for the time, Davis lived on until 1902, dying in Sheffield on 19 December that year at the age of 74; his advanced years and being obviously known in the local community led to a local newspaper recording the event:

'Balaklava Charge: Sheffield's Last Survivor Dies
Mr. Richard Davis, of 51 Thirza Street, who is stated to be the last survivor in Sheffield of the gallant troops who so distinguished themselves so highly in the historic charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, passed away at his home on Friday last at the age of 74 years. The late Mr. Davis was an ex-band-sergeant and trumpeter in the 13th Hussars; his regimental number being 1108; and he was one of the few men who passed through the famous charge practically unscathed. The deceased spent 24 years in the Army, and when he retired was for many years a warder at the South Yorkshire Asylum, in connection with which institution he drew a pension up until the time of his death. The remains will be conveyed from his home at 1.45pm tomorrow for internment at Burngreave Cemetery. The funeral will be with military honours, and it is requested that as many members as possible of the Crimean and Indian Mutiny Veterans Association will attend.' (Sheffield Daily Independent, 22 December 1902, refers.)

Sold with copied paperwork and research, including extracts from 'Forgotten Heroes: the Charge of the Light Brigade' and a comprehensive typed summary of the recipient's life and military career.

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

Sold for
£5,500

Starting price
£2400