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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 32

(x) The Crimea Medal awarded to Private H. J. Wakelin, 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own), who was killed in action in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava on 25 October 1854

Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Balaklava, Sebastopol (H. J. Wakelin. 11th Hussars.), second clasp loose upon riband, officially impressed naming, fitted with a Bailey, Coventry riband brooch, in a distressed leather display box, a few knocks overall, very fine

Henry John Wakelin was born at Guyhim, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in 1830, the son of John and Rebecca Newsham. Working as a Farmer at Newbridge before attesting he enlisted at King's Lynn on 20 December 1851 with the 11th Hussars. Deploying with the rest of the Light Brigade on the outbreak of the Crimean War he appears on the muster rolls as sick at Devna on 5 February 1854 and sick at Varna on 5 March.

He was present at Balaclava on 25 October 1854 when the Anglo-French Army was surprised in the field by a large Russian Army under General Liprandi. The Russian advance in the North Valley above the town of Balaclava saw them seize a number of redoubts held by Turkish troops. Due to a combination of factors, often quoted and hotly debated, the British Light Brigade- ordered to prevent the Russian troops carrying away the guns in these redoubts- charged the wrong guns at the end of the valley.

The 11th Hussars were part of the second line of the charge and suffered losses of 25 N.C.O.s and other ranks as a result of the heavy Russian fire. Their experience of the charge was outlined by Troop Sergeant-Major Loy Smith who records a great deal of detail in the action. As they moved off, he states:

'As we moved off the Russians opened fire from all their batteries, the round shot passed through us, and the shells burst over and amongst us, causing great havoc. The first man of my Troop that was struck was Private Young, a cannon ball taking off his right arm, I being close in his right rear, fancied I felt the wind from it as it passed me, I afterwards found I was bespattered with his flesh.'

As the charge progressed, 'Many riderless horses were now galloping along with us, forcing their way up into the ranks, and keeping their places as though their masters had been on their backs.' Despite heavy fire Smith made it to the Russian lines with only a bullet through his cuff for the privilege. Having made the gun line they found themselves confronted by Russian cavalry and the Colonel saw their only option: 'Colonel Douglas, seeing that there was no time to lose called out "Give them another charge, men, Hurrah"... Waving our swords over our heads, on we galloped ...'.

At this stage Smith estimated that 80 men of the Regiment were still with them and as they engaged the gunners the Russian cavalry swooped upon them. Surrounded and outnumbered they had no option but to try and fight their way out with the Colonel's shout of ''Then fight for your lives' ringing in their ears. Smith fought several skirmishes on his retreat across the valley and relates that two of his comrades were killed by Russian Lancers, no doubt this scene was repeated all over the battlefield. It is unknown where Wakelin fell but if he saw the same action as Smith it is as likely to have been on the retreat as the charge.

The few men left started to return to whence they came. Smith rode through a group of Russian lancers and then his horse was wounded. Her leg was broken, so Smith quickly jumped down and started to run, carrying his sword: he was about a mile from safety. He passed a square of Russian infantry "The ordeal was something frightful, for I expected every moment to be struck." He was then chased by some Russian lancers, who left him and killed two of his comrades.

It is unknown where Wakelin himself was killed, either at the charge or during the savage fighting of the retreat. Smith recalls the roll call after the action where he 'called out 63', being the last man out of the valley. Wakelin was buried at the battlefield; sold together with a great deal of copied research and a C.D. of additional research.

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

Estimate
£4,000 to £6,000

Starting price
£3200