MASTER GUNNER R. STRAIN, NO. 8 COMPANY, 4TH BATTALION ROYAL ARTILLERY AND COASTAL BRIGADE, ROYAL ARTILLERY. Crimea Medal, 1 clasp, Sebastopol

MASTER GUNNER R. STRAIN, NO. 8 COMPANY, 4TH BATTALION ROYAL ARTILLERY AND COASTAL BRIGADE, ROYAL ARTILLERY. Crimea Medal, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (renamed, engraved in plain block capitals: MASTER GUNNER R. STRAIN. ROYAL ARTILLERY.). Almost Extremely Fine.

Medal accompanied by 4 pages copied service papers, transcript Chelsea Pensioner admission record and extract Crimea Medal Roll, confirming medal.

Robert Strain was born in the parish of Donagh, near Glasslough, county Monaghan, in 1835. He enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Lisburn on 10/3/1853. At time of enlistment Strain was 18 years of age and gave his trade as labourer. Strain saw service initially as 3827 Gunner no 8 Company, 4th Battalion Royal Artillery. He was discharged at Portsmouth on 6th October 1876 and granted a pension on 24/10/1876. Chelsea Pension admission records confirm that at the time of being pensioned Strain was serving as 4630 2nd Class Master Gunner with the Coastal Brigade Artillery.

Service papers confirm Crimea Medal with Sebastopol clasp, that Strain was also entitled to the Turkish Crimea Medal and the LSGC Medal, and that while serving his conduct had been “very good”. Service papers also confirm that, in addition to service at home, Strain saw service in the Cape of Good Hope for 7 years, Gibraltar for 4 years and 7 months and the Crimea for 1 year and 6 months.

Service papers additionally confirm that Strain was twice married, that his first wife died at the Capt of Good Hope on 21/6/1871 and that he remarried at Kentish Town on 16/11/1871. Strain had two children by his first marriage and three children by his second marriage, all born whilst Strain was still serving.