Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 153

‘I am Trumpeter Lanfried. One of the surviving trumpeters of the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. I am now going to sound the bugle that was sounded at Waterloo, and sound the charge as was sounded at Balaclava on that very same bugle, on the 25th of October, 1854.’

The man himself, just before sounding his bulge on a recording in 1890, the result survives to this day.

The famous campaign group of four awarded to Trumpet-Major M. L. Landfried, 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own), who reputedly sounded the ‘Charge’ and was wounded at Balaklava

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (Trumpeter M. L. Landfried. 17th Lancs.), contemporary engraved naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Trumpt. Majr. Martin Landfried. 17th Lancers); Volunteer Force L.S., V.R., unnamed as issued; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (M. L. Lanfried. 17th Lancers) regimentally impressed naming, the campaign medals fitted with silver ribbon buckles, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (4)

Provenance:
Ex-Needes Collection, 1906.

Martin Lanfried/Landfried was born in Gibraltar on 25 August 1834, and is said to be the son of Bandmaster Leonard Lanfried of the 60th Rifles. He was enlisted into the 17th Lancers at Dublin on 10 November 1844, by ‘Special Authority, and to go to the Band’. He was then aged 14 and paid a bounty of £2/2/0.

On 9 June 1854, he was appointed Trumpeter in Captain Webb’s “D” Troop. He was shot through the right arm during the action of Balaclava, the bullet, striking his pouch, glanced off and killed his horse. He was brought out of action by No. 1149 Private James Mustard, an act that kept them in close friendship all their lives. Every signed copy of the Balaclava Dinner menus seen have their signatures next to each other. Lanfried was sent to Scutari on 26 October 1854, and was invalided from there to Chatham Invalid Depot aboard the Sultana on 21 December 1854. He was then sent to the Brighton Depot on 10 May 1855, before rejoining the regiment at Cahir, Ireland, on 1 June 1856. He appeared before Queen Victoria in the Mess-Room at Brompton Barracks, Chatham, on 3 March 1855. He was promoted to Trumpet-Major, vice Henry Joy, on 7 October 1857, and embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. Great Britain on the following day. In India he was in action against the rebels at Zeerapore on 29 December 1858 and at Baroda on 1 January 1859. He was reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on 29 January 1860, and promoted to Trumpet-Major again on 22 September 1860.

Returning to England, he was discharged, ‘time expired’, from Colchester on 27 May 1865, having served 12 years 228 days, to count. In his later life he gave the reason for his leaving the Army as, having passed through Kneller Hall, he had been offered a position as a Bandmaster in a Foot Regiment (said in his obituary to have been the 43rd Foot) but had no wish to leave the Cavalry. Lanfried attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875, was a member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879, signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887, and was present at the Annual Dinners in 1892-93-95-97 and 1899. He was likewise present at the Jubilee celebrations given by T. H. Roberts in his Fleet Street offices in June of 1897, and also signed the testimonial given to Mr. Roberts on that occasion.

The gallant soldier latterly settled on the south coast and joined the 1st Sussex Volunteer Artillery as Sergeant-Trumpeter and was awarded his Long Service Medal in January 1895. Martin Lanfried died on 8 December 1902, when living at No 4 Portland Road, Hove, Sussex. He was buried in Hove Cemetery on 13 December 1902, with full military honours. His grave bears the following inscription on the stone erected over it:

‘Here lies a soldier of the King and of the King of Kings.

Martin Leonard Landfried, Who from his 15th year he served his country in the 17th Lancers at Sevastopol, the Alma, Balaclava - sounding the charge at the latter engagement - and in the Indian Mutiny, and retiring as Trumpet-Major in 1865. Joined the 1st Sussex R.G.A. (Vols.), becoming Bandmaster in 1890. Born 25th August 1834. Died 8th December 1902.

God grant that he may sleep sound from the “Last Post” until “Reveille”.

This monument was erected by the Officers, Non. Com. Officers & Gunners, 1st Sussex R.G.A. (Vols.)’

In January of 1977 a programme was broadcast in New Zealand on the Centenary of Thomas Edison and the subject of sound recording. One of the items broadcast was a recording made in or about 1890 of Trumpeter Martin Lanfried of the 17th Lancers sounding the Charge on a bugle which he said had been used at both Waterloo and Balaclava. In this recording he can be heard sounding the ‘Charge’ and says:

‘I am Trumpeter Lanfried. One of the surviving trumpeters of the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. I am now going to sound the bugle that was sounded at Waterloo, and sound the charge as was sounded at Balaclava on that very same bugle, on the 25th of October, 1854.’

A female voice then says, ‘Record made at Edison House, Northumberland Avenue, London, August 2nd, 1890.’

On 27 October 1890 a special Variety Performance was given and The Times subsequently reported that:

‘At a given moment, some of the famous “Six Hundred” to the number of 30 or 40, appeared on the stage, when Trumpeter Landfried sounded the “Charge” as he did on October 25th 1854, whereupon Mr. Charles Warner came forward and recited Lord Tennyson's poem, with much feeling. The veterans, who appeared in civil garb, were loudly cheered, and by way of response, they waved their hats and shouted “Hurrah”.’

To hear this actual recording please go to the following link:

http://chargeofthelightbrigade.com/allmen/allmenL/allmenL_17L/lanfried_m_986_17L.html

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£9,500

Starting price
£7000