PRIVATE W. MOORE, 50TH (QUEEN’S OWN) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION QUEEN’S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT). Crimea Medal, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol

PRIVATE W. MOORE, 50TH (QUEEN’S OWN) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION QUEEN’S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT). Crimea Medal, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (officially impressed: W. MOORE. 50th. REGt.). Attractively toned, Almost Extremely Fine.

Medal accompanied by copied medal roll extracts, confirming medal and clasps.

3605 Private William Moore is confirmed in the medal rolls as having died on campaign on 11/2/1855.

Balaklava clasp rare to the 50th Foot, only 29 being awarded to other ranks from the regiment (one sergeant and 28 privates) who saw service at Balaklava with what was known as the “Battalion of Detachments”, which comprised men who were mostly ill and pressed into front line service when the Russians launched their attack on Balaklava.

As a result of the emergency created by the Russian attack on Balaklava, 25/10/1855, what has come to be known as the “Battalion of Detachments”, comprising one officer, one sergeant and 30 men from several regiments, invalids from the hospital at Balaklava, was hastily pressed into service. They formed part of the “thin red line” at Balaklava, being positioned to the left of the Highlanders. That line, of course, formed the last line of defence between the attacking Russian cavalry and Balaklava, the attacking cavalry being famously brought to a standstill by the sustained and unwavering fire from the thin red line.