British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Light Brigade D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant-Major John Allen, 13th Light Dragoons, who had his horse killed in the charge at Balaklava

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Corpl. John Allen, 13th Light Dragoons) officially impressed naming, weak in places from contact wear; Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Serjeant John Allen 13th Light Dragoons) regimentally impressed naming; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1199 Serjt. John Allen, 13th Hussars) officially impressed naming, suspension claw tightened; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue (Serjeant John Allen 13th Light Dragoons) regimentally impressed naming, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine (4)
£12000-15000

Sold with an original cabinet photograph of Allen as Squadron-Sergeant-Major wearing his medals, with a news cutting pasted to the bottom margin which reads: ‘Sergt.-Maj. John Allen, who rode in the third line on the famous charge while corporal in the 13th Light Dragoons, died on Monday at the Swan Hotel, Leek, of which he has been landlord for about seven years. He escaped the battle unhurt, but his horse was killed under him. He was 68 years of age, and became a soldier at 16.’

John Allen was born on 14 February 1826 at Englefield, near Reading. He joined the 13th Light Dragoons in 1842 and was present with the regiment throughout the Crimean war, taking part in the affair at Bulganek on 19 September 1854, and the battle of the Alma on the following day. He was promoted Corporal on 1 October 1854. At Balaklava on 25 October, the 13th Light Dragoons were in the Light Brigade on the right of the line. Allen rode in the famous charge in the third line and though he had his horse killed under him, he survived unscathed. He afterwards took part in the battle of Inkermann and in the siege of Sebastopol. He was promoted to Sergeant on 7 August 1855, received his L.S. & G.C. medal after 18 years service in 1862, and retired in the rank of Squadron-Sergeant-Major.

Allen was present at the Balaklava Banquets held in 1875 and 1892, and was one of the survivors of the charge who signed the Loyal Address on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. In that same year he took over as landlord of the Swan Hotel in Leek, Staffordshire, and died there at the age of 68 on 30 July 1894. He is buried in Leek Cemetery where his tombstone carries the following inscription:

“To the memory of a brave soldier, Sergt-Major John Allen, who rode in the ranks of the 13th Light Dragoons at the Charge of Balaklava, Oct. 25th 1854. He died at Leek, July 30th 1894 aged 68. To his memory by a few of his fellow townsmen and past and present officers and men of the Leek Troop of the Staffs Q.O.R.Y. of which for many years he was Sergeant Major.”

In a letter to Canon W. M. Lummis, M.C., dated 12 January 1962, the Librarian of the Leek Urban District Council Public Library claimed to have a “Turkish fez and Crimean medal presented to him” [presumably the Turkish Crimea medal]. However, a letter from the District Council to the late Jim Boys in January 1992 states that “the only item which we hold which relates to Sergeant Major Allen is a funeral card dated 2 August 1894. We are unaware of any medals belonging to him.” Sold with correspondence from Canon Lummis and Jim Boys.