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Auction: 4020 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 156

The Light Brigade Group of Four to Major T G Johnson, West Yorkshire Yeomanry, Late Captain, 13th Hussars Crimea, three clasps, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, lugs removed from top clasp (Regt Serjt Major, Thomas, George Johnson. 13th Light Dragoons), regimentally impressed in medium-size serif capitals; France, Legion of Honour, Second Empire, Fifth Class breast Badge, silver, gold centres, and enamel, extremely fine; France, Médaille Militaire, 1st type, some enamel damage; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian die (T G Johnson 13th Light Dragoons), with contemporary swivel suspension, light contact marks and wear to medals, therefore very fine or better, all with plain silver top riband bars, the group displayed in a gilt frame engraved 'Major T. G. Johnson. Late Captain 13th Hussars.' (4) Estimate £ 6,000-7,000 Major Thomas George Johnson, born 1816; Private 4th Light Dragoons 1837; Trumpeter 1839; transferred to 13th Light Dragoons 1846; Corporal 1848; Sergeant 1853; Johnson rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade 25.10.1854, during which his horse was wounded. Regimental Sergeant-Major 1854; Cornet 1857; Lieutenant and Adjutant 1860; Captain, Instructor of Musketry 1866; retired 1869 and served as Adjutant 2nd West Yorkshire Yeomanry. In Kingslake's History, in paragraph 8 of 'Lord Cardigan's Evidence in Proof', at the Calthorpe trial, 1863, Johnson is quoted as saying 'As to the opinion that we ought to have reformed etc., why sir, there were none to form had it been possible. Instance my own regiment. We turned out 112 of all ranks, and lost 84 horse; in fact only ten of us assembled on the spot from whence we charged. We had 26 men wounded, 13 taken prisoner, and 12 killed; consequently all the generals in the Crimea would have been puzzled how to reform us.' On his retirement in November 1881, the Officers of the 2nd West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry established the Major Johnson Testimonial Fund, and a total of £1,000 was raised.

Sold for
£10,200