SERGEANT W. CHRISTELOW, 2ND BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE. Three: Crimea Medal, 2 clasps, Alma, Indian Mutiny Medal, 1 clasp, Lucknow, Turkish Crimea Medal, Sardinian flag to the fore and “La Crimea” legend

SERGEANT W. CHRISTELOW, 2ND BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE. Three: Crimea Medal, 2 clasps, Alma, Sebastopol (officially impressed: (SER)Jt. W. CHRISTELOW. 2nd. BATn. RIFLE Bde.) Indian Mutiny Medal, 1 clasp, Lucknow (officially impressed: S(E)RJt. Wm. CHRISTELOW, 2nd. Bn. RIFL(E) Bde) Turkish Crimea Medal, Sardinian flag to the fore and “La Crimea” legend (contemporary engraved naming, in sloping serifed capitals: St W CHRISTELOW. 2nd. B. R.B.). Small sections of naming partially obscured as a result of rim bruising from contact between medals (as indicated), Turkish Crimea holed to take original double ring suspender, scattered surface contact marks and rim nicks, otherwise with an attractive matching old dark tone, and generally Very Fine to Good Very Fine.

Group accompanied by 4 pages of copied discharge papers, copied medal rolls for the Crimea and Indian Mutiny Medals, confirming medals and clasps, and copied extract from 1901 census.

William Christelow was born in the parish of Bray, Maidenhead, Berkshire. He enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade on 6/7/1840. At the time of enlistment Christelow was 17 years and 1 month old and gave his trade as that of labourer. Christelow was promoted Corporal 1/8/1852, demoted to Private six days later, on 7/8/1852, promoted back to Corporal, 12/4/1853, and to Sergeant on 8/10/1855. Christelow was discharged on 9/4/1862 as a result of “his having been found unfit for further military service”, after 20 years and 87 days pensionable service with the colours (discharge papers note that at time of discharge Christelow was suffering from chronic hepatitis and enlargement of the liver caused by tropical service). In addition to service at home, Christelow saw service in Bermuda for 10 months, North America for 9 years and 10 months, the Crimea for 2 years and 5 months and India for 1 year and 4 months (Crimea Medal roll confirms Alma clasp only, but the Sebastopol clasp would have been awarded automatically on the basis of presence in the Crimea during the siege, and service papers confirm the award of a 2 clasp Crimea Medal.) Christelow was 38 years old at time of discharge, and gave his intended place of residence as “Ship, Charles Street, Westminster”. At time of discharge his conduct was described as having been “good”, although he was noted as having had a number of brushes with the military authorities during his time with the colours. There are extensive notes on Christelow’s discharge papers with regard to payment of pension and medical examinations, the latter resulting in increases in pension payments, up to June 1904.

At the time of Sergeant Christelow’s discharge, April 1862, the qualifying period for the award of the LSGC Medal was 18 years pensionable service. Sergeant Christelow, with over 20 years service, would have qualified, were it not for his poor disciplinary record, his name having beeh three times entered in the Regimental Defaulters Book, and he having been three times convicted by courts-martial, the courts-martial having taken place in May 1847 (44 days imprisonment from 21/5/1847), in October 1847 for being absent without leave (5 months and 25 days imprisonment from 14/10/1847) and in August 1857 (reduced to Private from Corporal, 7/8/1857).

William Christelow is recorded in the 1901 census as a 77 year old head of household and army pensioner living in the parish of Bedfont St. Mary, Staines, Middlesex, with his 70 year old wife, Mary Ann Christelow.

The Ship, 46 Charles Street, Westminster, a historic London public house, was one of four pubs that stood on the south side of Charles Street. It was demolished with the rest of the street in 1868 to make way for government offices.