LIEUTENANT (LATER CAPTAIN) J.R. RAMSBOTTOM, 63RD (WEST SUFFOLK) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION MANCHESTER REGIMENT), LATER 97TH (EARL OF ULSTER’S) REGIMENT . Two: Crimea Medal 1854-55, 1 clasp, Sebastopol ; Turkish Crimea Medal.

LIEUTENANT (LATER CAPTAIN) J.R. RAMSBOTTOM, 63RD (WEST SUFFOLK) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION MANCHESTER REGIMENT), LATER 97TH (EARL OF ULSTER’S) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 2ND BATTALION QUEEN’S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT). Two: Crimea Medal 1854-55, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (contemporary privately engraved naming in ornate running script: J.R. Ramsbottom Lt. 63rd. Regt) Turkish Crimea Medal, Sardinian flag to the fore and “La Crimea” legend (unnamed, as issued), with replacement silver swiveling ring and claw suspender. Both medals with matching attractive old dark tone, some edge bruising and surface contact marks (rim contact marks somewhat obscuring the initial “J” in naming on Crimea Medal), otherwise generally Very Fine.

Medal accompanied by 2 pages of photocopied officer’s service papers, extracts from 1851 census, various army lists of the period and Crimea Medal roll.

John Richard Ramsbottom was the son of James Ramsbottom of Windsor, Berkshire. Ramsbottom is recorded in the 1851 census as being a student at Cambrian House School, Newchurch, Ryde. He was commissioned Ensign (without purchase), 63rd Foot, on 19/1/1855 and promoted Lieutenant (by purchase), 8/7/1855 and Captain (by purchase), 16/8/1861. Ramsbottom transferred to the Regimental Depot, 63rd Foot, 10/7/1863. He subsequently transferred to the 97th (Earl of Ulster’s) Foot. Ramsbottom disappears from the Army Lists circa 1870.

Ramsbottom undoubtedly ended his days with the 97th Regiment as a result of a family connection, his brother Henry Batson Ramsbottom seeing service as a Lieutenant with that regiment during the Crimean War, during which campaign he died as a result of being suffocated by the fumes of a charcoal fire on 2/1/1855 (group accompanied by photocopied extract from the Regimental History of the 97th Regiment, giving details of the circumstances surrounding Lieutenant Batson Ramsbottom’s death). There is a commemorative tablet dedicated to Lieutenant Batson Ramsbottom in Winchester Cathedral. Group accompanied by photocopied extracts from the Crimea Medal Roll for the 97th Foot confirming Lieutenant HB Ramsbottom entitled Crimea Medal with Sebastopol clasp.

Group also accompanied by last will and testament of Henry Batson Ramsbottom, who appointed his father and brother as executors.

In 1851 Henry Batson Ramsbottom, then serving as a Lieutenant with the 4th Foot, became involved in what were known at the time as the Weedon Courts-Martial, when five officers of the 4th Foot were court martialed for accusing their commanding officer for acting in a manner contrary to the “rules of war”. The accused officers were apparently held for 72 days whilst under arrest and subject to court martial. After the trial, three officers were stripped of their commissions, Henry Batson Ramsbottom being one of the two officers to survive scrutiny and retain his commission.

A James Ramsbottom, presumably the father of the two Ramsbottom brothers, is recorded as being a Commissioner of the Pavement for Windsor in 1824 and a Magistrate for Windsor in 1825.