Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘Thin Red Line’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant D. Laing, 93rd Highlanders

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Corpl. David Laing. 93rd Highlanders.); Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (Sergt David Laing 9..) contemporarily and lightly engraved, right-hand side of 1st clasp facing sprung, unofficial rivets, top-left lug missing; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Cr. Sergt. Davd. Laing, 93rd Highlanders); Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue (No. 1976 Color Sergt. David Laing 93rd Highlanders), contemporarily engraved, plugged with foliate suspension, generally nearly very fine, unless otherwise stated (4) £3000-4000

Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, October 1995.

D.C.M. recommendation dated 8 January 1855.

David Laing was born in St. Andrews, Fife, and attested for the 93rd Highlanders at Montrose, in February 1846. He advanced to Corporal in November 1853, and to Sergeant in February 1855.

He served with the Regiment in the Crimea, and was present at Balaklava on 25 October 1854, when the 93rd routed the Russian cavalry and won themselves the title of “The Thin Red Line”. The Times correspondent, William Howard Russell, who, standing on the hills above, could clearly see that nothing stood between the Russian cavalry and the defenceless British base but the ‘thin red streak tipped with a line of steel’ wrote of the 93rd:

‘With breathless suspense everyone awaits the bursting of the wave [of Russian Cavalry] upon the line of Gaelic rock, but ere they came within 200 yards another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifle, and carries terror into the Russians. They wheel about, open files right and left, and fly back faster than they came. Brave Highlanders! Well done! shout the spectators.’

Laing was promoted Colour Sergeant in March 1857, and served with the Regiment during the Indian Mutiny. He was reduced to the rank of Sergeant in 1863, and was discharged 27 August 1867, having served 21 years and 122 days with the Colours. He was recorded as still being alive in 1907, but the date of his death is unknown.