Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (T. Nightingale, 7th Regt.) officially impressed naming, extremely fine £800-1000

Private Thomas Nightingale, 7th Regiment, was slightly wounded during the first attack on the Redan, 18 June 1855. Recovering from this injury, he was then dangerously wounded whilst serving in the trenches before Sebastopol on 27 June 1855 (London Gazette 10 July 1855) and died of his wounds on the following day. Sold with three original and emotive letters (these with stains, fold marks, torn and repaired

In a letter to his mother, written just before the attack on the Redan, and headed, ‘Camp before Sebastopol, 17 June 1855

Dear Mother, I take the present opportunity of sending you these few lines and they might be the last for we are going to take Sebastopol in the morning and I expect that we will loose (sic) a great number of our men and I might be one of the number; but I trust in the Lord he will spare me

In a letter written by Corporal W. H. McMullen to Nightingale’s mother, headed ‘Camp before Sebastopol, 1st July 1855

Madam, It is with deep regret that I take my pen in hand to inform you of the death of your son T. Nightingale but I hope he is better done for than what he was in this wicked world. Dear Mrs Nightingale I have no doubt but you will feel very sorrowful for the loose (sic) of your poor unfortioned (sic) son but recollect the Lords will be done, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord

Mrs Nightingale your son went on duty in the trenches on the night of the 27th of June. He was not long there till he was struck by a pice (sic) of a shell on the right shoulder which took his arm clean out of the socket. He was carried home to the hospital where his wound was dressed thinking that he might get the better of it but the poor fellow died on the 28th about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. He was buried on the 29th [a]longside of many a brave fellow who has fall (sic) on the Crimea and I fear there will be many more fall before we leave the Crimea. I am very sorry for [the] death of your son for him and me was very good friends. I am the man who wrote all his letters and read them for him and I done it all with pleasure but I have no pleasure in writing this one. No pleasure but pain. I am happy to inform you that your son was well though[t] of by all that knew him

The third letter is addressed to ‘The Right Hon. Secretary of War’, headed ‘Eaton Socon’ [Cambridgeshire] 5th October 62’ (?), in which a brother or sister of Thomas Nightingale applies for his Crimea Medal and clasp.