PRIVATE (LATER LANCE-SERGEANT) S. EDWARDS, 2ND DRAGOONS (LATE ROYAL NAVY). Turkish Crimea Medal

PRIVATE (LATER LANCE-SERGEANT) S. EDWARDS, 2ND DRAGOONS (LATE ROYAL NAVY). Turkish Crimea Medal, Sardinian flag to the fore, “La Crimea” legend (regimentally impressed naming in serifed capitals: S. EDWARDS. 2ND. DRAGOONS.). Few scattered edge nicks, otherwise Good Very Fine.

With 4 pages of photocopied Discharge Papers. Samuel Edwards was born in the parish of St Pancras, London, and enlisted into the 2nd Dragoons at Westminster on 4/3/1856. At time of enlistment he was 20 years of age and gave his trade as that of clerk. Assigned regimental number 1995, Edwards was promoted Corporal 10/8/1868, and was discharged at Aldershot with the rank of Lance-Sergeant, on 31/3/1874, after 18 years and 28 days with the colours. Edwards was discharged as a result of “being found unfit for further service .. .. extensive ulcers on legs and general debility, apparently the effects of military service .. .. scrofulous constitution as he has served over 4 years in the navy and 18 in the army.”

There is no man by the name of Edwards on the Crimea Roll for the 2nd Dragoons. Since discharge papers confirm Edwards as having enlisted in 1856, after the war was over, but having previously seen 4 years service with the navy, I suspect that this medal was actually awarded to him for service with the navy in the Crimean War. When he subsequently joined the 2nd Dragoons, and the men of the regiment were having their medals regimentally named, he had his Turkish Crimea named to his then unit, 2nd Dragoons.

Edwards would have been approximately 16 years of age when he joined the Royal Navy.

Scrofula: tuberculosis of the lymph glands in the neck, resulting in swelling of the glands, also known colloquially as The Kings Evil