Press Release October 2004

The Earl of Lucan's Baton to be offered for sale at Spink

(Press Enquiries: Emily Johnston 020 7563 4009)

Orders, Decorations & Campaign Medals Auction
Tuesday 30 November 2004 at 10am

A Field Marshal’s baton presented to George Charles Bingham, Third Earl of Lucan, will be one of the highlights of an auction of Orders, Decorations and Medals to be held at Spink on Tuesday 30 November. One of only eight Field Marshals’ batons to be offered for sale in the past 50 years, this highly important example is expected to fetch £50,000-60,000.

Presented to Lord Lucan (1800-1888) in 1887, for his many military achievements, including the Command of the Cavalry Division in the Crimea, the 55cm. long baton features an 18ct gold top surmounted by a superbly modeled equestrian figure of St. George with the dragon. Covered in its original Imperial purple velvet and studded with 18 gold lions, the baton bears the inscription, ‘From Her Majesty Alexandria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to Field Marshal The Right Hon. “The Earl of Lucan G.C.B.”.

One of most celebrated personalities of the Victorian era, the Third Earl of Lucan was born in London in 1800 and entered the British Army in 1816. His career flourished thereafter; from 1826-1830, he was M.P. for County Mayo and in 1840 was elected a representative peer of Ireland.

In 1854, Lord Lucan was appointed to the command of the Cavalry Division of the Eastern Army in Turkey. He served in the Crimea with some distinction, notably at Balaklava on 25 October 1854, where some 2,000 advancing Russian Cavalry were driven back by the brilliant charge of the Heavy Brigade made under Lord Lucan’s direction. After defeating and breaking the Russian Cavalry in the morning with less than half their number, he launched the famous ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ in the afternoon, in accordance with what seemed to be the reasonable interpretation of the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Raglan’s ambiguous order to advance, ‘Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly to the front and try to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. Troop of Horse Artillery may accompany. French Cavalry is on your left. Immediate.’ All subsequent efforts to prove that Lucan was wrong in his interpretation of that order, to advance into the ‘valley of death’, failed.

Lord Lucan was wounded in the leg by a bullet during these operations and the Light Brigade was reduced from 600 men to less than 200 and two heavy cavalry regiments were depleted. Lord Lucan vindicated himself in the House of Lords in 1855 and received the Medal with four clasps for his services in the Crimea, Decorations from France and Turkey and was created K.C.B. the same year. In 1887, his military achievements were fully rewarded with his promotion to Field Marshal.

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Note to Editors:
The title, Lord Lucan, became somewhat notorious after the disappearance of Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan in 1974, who is suspected of the murder of his children’s nanny.

Auction: Tuesday 30 November 2004 at 10am
Public Viewing: Friday 26 (10am-5pm) and Monday 29 November (10am-7pm)
Public Enquiries: 020 7563 4000 – www.spink.com - info@spink.com
Images & Further Information: Spink Press Office on 020 7563 4009