Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

an original Crimea War letter from Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. Ainslie, C.B., C.O. of the 93rd Highlanders at the famous Thin Red Line action, ink, four sides on a single piece of folded paper, dated at ‘Varna, 24th June 1854’, with related envelope addressed to ‘Mifs. Walker, Drumsheugh, Edinburgh’, this latter with additional in inscription, ‘Via Marseilles’ and three 1d. red stamps with cancellation marks, and the reverse with one British Army Post Office red coloured stamp mark for ‘Jul. 1854’.

The letter, written over two days, describes conditions at Varna, as arrangements were being made to go to the relief of the Turkish garrison at Silistria, but a report arrives suggesting further action may not be required:

‘The report of yesterday it seems is quite true, as when talking with Sir Colin Campbell, the Duke of Cambridge came up and asked Sir Colin if he had heard the glorious news. It seems that the Russians have raised the siege of Silistria and have gone off - Omar Pasha seems to think that they have re-crossed the Danube, but Captain Simmons of the Engineers, who is at Siistra, seems to think the contrary. I fancy all this however you will learn in England long ere this reaches you ... ’

And a glimpse of humour in subsequent text for Sunday the 25th:

‘This being Sunday I continue this sheet. Our parade for church service is always about 7 o’clock. The clergyman appointed to officiate to the Highland Brigade is a young man from Perthshire, a Mr. Campbell, and like all Presbyterian clergymen vexatiously long winded, and when the parade have to stand under a hot sun for an hour or more, I an positive the men instead of listening to him are inwardly praying that he would stop. I have given him one or two hints but he seems (slow?) at the uptake ... ’

in good overall condition £200-250