THE INDIAN MUTINY MEDAL TO LIEUTENANT (LATER CAPTAIN) J.C. MOORE, 2ND BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE, WHO ALSO SAW SERVICE IN THE CRIMEA WITH THE RIFLE BRIGADE (WOUNDED, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, AWARDED CRIMEA MEDAL WITH SEBASTOPOL CLASP, SARDINIAN AL

THE INDIAN MUTINY MEDAL TO LIEUTENANT (LATER CAPTAIN) J.C. MOORE, 2ND BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE, WHO ALSO SAW SERVICE IN THE CRIMEA WITH THE RIFLE BRIGADE (WOUNDED, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, AWARDED CRIMEA MEDAL WITH SEBASTOPOL CLASP, SARDINIAN AL VALORE MILITAIRE MEDAL AND TURKISH CRIMEA MEDAL). Indian Mutiny Medal, 1 clasp, Lucknow (officially renamed, engraved in serifed block capitals in a similar style to that seen on other known late issue and replacement medals awarded to army officers in the early 1860s: LIEUt. J.C. MOORE, 2nd. BATT. RIFLE Bde.). Almost Extremely Fine.

Medal accompanied by biographical details, extracts 1841 and 1881 census returns, copied extracts Army Lists of the period and Indian Mutiny Medal Roll (2, original and published), confirming medal and clasp, extract Crimea Medal roll confirming also entitled Crimea Medal with Sebastopol clasp and citation for Sardinian Al Valore Militaire Medal.

John Croft Moore (1836-1889) was born in Fanshaw, Kent, in 1836, the son of the Reverend George Bridges Moore. He is recorded in the 1841 census as a 5 year old child living with his parents in the parish of Tunstall, Milton, Kent. Moore was first commissioned Ensign, Rifle Brigade, 17/11/1854, and promoted Lieutenant, 29/12/1854, and saw service in the Crimea as a Lieutenant with the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, from 10/6/1855 onwards, including the assault of the Redan on 8/9/1855 (wounded, mentioned in despatches, awarded Crimea Medal with Sebastopol clasp, the Sardinian Al Valore Militare and Turkish Crimea Medal). The citation for Moore’s Al Valore Militaire Medal reading as follows:

“Lieutenant Moore joined in the Crimea on 10th June 1855 and served in the trenches until the fall of Sebastopol. In the attack of 8th September he commanded an advanced party of about thirty men which was pushed forwards for the purpose of keeping down the fire of some embrasures on the proper right of the Redan, which enfiladed the attack. He was mentioned in Sir James Simpson’s Despatch.”

Moore subsequently saw service in the Indian Mutiny as a Lieutenant with the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, 1857-58, including the siege and capture of Lucknow, subsequent operations in Oude and the battle of Nawabunge (awarded Indian Mutiny Medal with Lucknow clasp). Moore was promoted Captain (by purchase) 7/5/1858. After retiring from the army Captain Moore was appointed Captain in the Hampshire Rifle Volunteers, 23/6/1875. He is recorded in the 1881 census as a 45 year old Magistrate (retired Captain) living in Winchester, Hampshire.

When I purchased this medal (Noonans, 11/9/2024, lot 779, part), it had a crude tailor’s copy Lucknow clasp. This has now been replaced with a genuine Lucknow clasp.