Three: Private J. Darling, 90th Light Infantry

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Defence of Lucknow, Lucknow (J. Darling, 90th. Lt. Infy.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, pierced with ring suspension, light contact marks and minor edge bruising, very fine (3) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers.

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John Darling was born in the village of Hardley Row near Everton, Hampshire in 1830 and enlisted in the Surrey Militia in 1852, from which he transferred to the 90th Light Infantry in June 1854 at 24 years of age. He served in the Crimea from 5 November 1855, where his regiment engaged the Russians before Sebastopol and was heavily engaged in the final attack on the Redan on 8 September 1855. Two men of the regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross for the Crimea.

Arriving back in England in July 1856, the regiment was ordered to proceed to China the following March. While en-route however, the news of the mutiny in India saw them diverted to Calcutta where they disembarked on 21 July 1857. Ordered to Benares, they stopped at Berhampore en-route, disarming the 63rd Native Infantry and 11th Irregular Cavalry on 1 August 1857.

On 25 August 1857, General Outram received General Campbell’s order and despatched the 90th by steamer to Allahabad and thence to Cawnpore to join General Havelock’s force. The 90th proceeded on the evening of 5 September for Cawnpore arriving on 15 September, their slow march affected by nearly 5 months at sea. The 90th, along with the 78th Highlanders, formed the 2nd Brigade under Brigadier Hamilton and played a leading part in the operations which led to Havelock’s 1st Relief of Lucknow and in the second stage of the defence of the extended Residency positions. After the final relief, the 90th saw equally arduous service in the operations to recapture the city in March 1858. Four men of the regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross for operations at Lucknow.

Darling was declared unfit for further service following the regiment’s return to England and was discharged at Chatham in May 1862. His papers confirm the Crimea Medal with Sebastopol clasp and Turkish War Medal and that he ‘claims the medal and clasps for India and any prize money which may be granted’; he was awarded one year’s extra service for his participation in the ‘first relief’ of Lucknow.

Sold with copied service papers, medal roll extracts, and other research.