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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 154

The campaign group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. Villiers, 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot, who was severely wounded when in command of the Regiment at the storming of the Quarries on 7 June 1855

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Capt. James Villiers, 47th Regt.), contemporary engraved naming in cross-hatched serif capitals; France, Legion of Honour, Knight’s breast Badge, silver, gold and enamel; Sardinia, Al Valore Militare (Bt. Lt. Coll. James Villiers, 47th Regt.) mint mark ‘F.G’; Turkey, Order of the Medjidie, 5th class breast Badge, silver, gold and enamels; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, several points bent and light enamel damage on the Legion of Honour, otherwise very fine or better (5)

M.I.D. London Gazette 21 June 1855.

French Legion of Honour London Gazette 4 August 1856.

Turkish Order of Medjidie London Gazette 2 March 1858.

James Villiers was born in 1820 and entered the Army as an Ensign in the 47th Regiment, by purchase, on 31 December 1839. He similarly purchased his Lieutenancy in September 1841 and Captaincy in December 1847.

From 1850 the Regiment was stationed at Corfu, then still under British protection. At the Battle of Inkermann on 5 November, the 47th Foot, commanded by Major Fordyce, held the extreme left of the British position on Home Ridge, overlooking the Mikriakoff Glen. This feature jutted into the British flank, providing covered access for an attacking force. When General Soimonoff's Division attacked the British left at 0700hrs, the 1st Battalion, Katherinberg Regiment charged wildly towards the 47th Foot. Major Fordyce calmly ordered his men to open fire at less than fifty yards' range into the dense Russian column, which shuddered and broke under well-directed British volleys. Unlike some other Regiments, the 47th showed admirable discipline and did not pursue their fleeing enemy.

Promoted to Major on 4 May 1855, Villiers commanded a select group of the 47th which formed part of the 400 strong storming party that attacked the Quarries, an outerwork guarding the approach to the Redan on 7 June. Avoiding the deadly fougasses to their front, the stormers attacked the flanks of the Quarries and took the Russians by surprise, forcing them back to the Redan and inflicting over 100 casualties. Singled out for praise in Lord Raglan's Despatch, Villiers led from the front and was severely wounded during the assault (London Gazette 21 June 1855, refers). Though the 47th sustained losses of 3 officers and 57 men wounded, Raglan wrote that having taken the position '...they repeatedly attacked during the night, and soon after daylight on the 8th, and it was in resisting these repeated efforts on the part of the enemy. I have pleasure in mentioning the following officers, who are stated to have distinguished themselves on the occasion...Major Villiers, 47th...severely wounded.'

Villiers was breveted Lieutenant-Colonel on 17 July 1855. Placed on half-pay on 15 June 1858, he returned to England and married Lucy Elizabeth Drummond Davies, the third and youngest daughter of Lady Lucy Clementina, sister of George Drummond, 14th Earl of Perth and 6th Duke of Melfort.

Returning to active duty Villiers was appointed to the command of the 74th Highlanders, he died at Belasse, India on 10 May 1860.

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Sold for
£2,000

Starting price
£1900