British Crimean medal

Silver stamping. The diameter of the circle 36 mm. Width 4 mm. the edge On the obverse on the left side the inscription in Latin "VIСTORIA" (Victoria). On the right side the Latin inscription "REGINA" (Queen). At the bottom center, the date 1854. In the center butovoe the image of Queen Victoria in profile and with a tiara on his head (portrait created by sculptor William Vallons in 1834). Under bust (on the slope of the terrain) bad read eight letters. Reverse: on the left side the inscription "CRIMEA" (Crimea). In the centre the figure of a Roman soldier in full growth with a sword embedded in the sheath, and a shield on which is depicted running to the right of the British lion. On the left, the ancient Roman goddess Victoria, the right hand holding a Laurel above his head and in its left a palm branch (a symbol of the arc meeting). The story symbolizes the victory of British arms in the Crimea in 1854-1855 (war with Russia). On the right side at the bottom of the letters in small font-line inscription "B. WYON. SC" denoting the master-medalist Benjamin Vayona (1802-1858 gg.). Fixing the suspension is a threefold movable quarter turn hinge (except the bottom). The top item is designed for connection to tape the bottom to hold the medal, and the medium is an intermediate binding link between them. The safety is good.

Crimean medal (eng. Crimea Medal) is a British medal for participation in combat (eng. Campaign medal). The medal was established on 15 December 1854 for awarding servicemen of the British Army, Royal Navy and Marines for participating in the fighting against Russia in the Crimea during the Eastern war. There are also cases of awarding this medal to allied military personnel of the French army. The issue was produced in English and French money at the Royal mint since the beginning of 1855 (prior to 1860 had made 379 908 copies). Awards were made to soldiers of the British army, naval brigade and Royal Marines for the fighting against the Russian Empire in the Crimea and adjacent waters during the Crimean war of 1853-1856 there was Also a release of medals for the French (decree of Napoleon III on April 26, 1856, about rewarding their forces British medal “the Crimea”), Sardinian and Turkish allies. The total number of Soviet medals made up of the 235,000 copies, and they were almost identical to the awards for British troops except for some details.

There are many versions of when and where were distributed the Crimean medals to British servicemen. The official distribution of the Crimean medals is considered the moment when Colonel sir Thomas Troubridge, maimed at the battle of Inkerman (lost right arm and left leg), received the award from the hands of Queen Victoria. There are many pictures about the ceremony, but they are extremely inconsistent on dates. Some investigators dated may 18, 1856, and some even may 18, 1858 (that is, the first batch of awards were given at a time). However, if we take into account the fact that Troubridge (with the reward he received the rank of Colonel and the position of the personal adjutant of Queen) in November, 1855, married Jane Louisa Henry, then in all drawings of a later time he was depicted with his wife, which is absent in all the figures until 1856.

On the basis of this information, we can conclude that the first awarding Crimean medals occurred on 18 may 1855 (18 may in the UK – the official holiday of the order of St. George founded by George I on 18 may 1725). You can also take into consideration that between the release and the award should not take a long time. There are some official documents that indicate that perhaps the first awarding of the medals took place in the Crimea, but they are not confirmed by photographs of the time. Even if they were heard, it happened later than in England, as among the Crimean mass of photographic material relating to 1855, they are not (there are no rewards at all). The first photo with the medals refer to 1856 and are visible in individual and group photographs of British troops, which were already present on their uniforms (the other awards are excluded, as they were not, and, in addition, beard and the mixture of uniforms suggests that this combat veterans, not fresh recruits. This award belongs to the British military and refers to the so-called lack of the type of medals in the absence Gurtovoy inscriptions (there are other Crimean medal, but with Gurtovoy inscription indicating the name of the owner and the number or name of the unit). All medals “Crimea” was released promptly and unregistered (because of the greater number of awards was impossible to know in advance the name of the owner and the number or name of the unit), except for the case when the mint issued medals 8500 in terms of the unit (the majority were cavalry). After receiving the award the owner can take the medal at the Royal mint for use on its edge his name and number (names) of the unit or to order an engraved inscription from the private master. There are two possible reasons for which this medal was inscribed:

1) he was awarded for some reason didn't want to do it;

2) the awarding of the medal took place posthumously.