Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An emotive Crimea medal to Private Walter Brooks, 17th Lancers, who was killed in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (W. Brooks. 17th Lancers) officially impressed naming, together with named lid from card box of issue, medal good very fine £8,000-£10,000

Provenance: Bought from Mrs Vivian Mann circa 1975, offered to her by letter dated 4 June 1971, sold with medal.

Walter Brooks was born at Uttoxeter and was a servant prior to enlistment into the 17th Lancers (Regimental No. 747) on 14 November 1843. He was killed in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava on 25 October 1854, and is mentioned in a pamphlet written by 840 Sergeant William Butler, entitled A Descriptive Account of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava:

‘Presently we saw the Russian cavalry charging towards our heavy brigade, and the Turks running as fast as they could from our guns in Nos. 1, 2 and 3 redoubts, leaving the field open to the Russians, who came on in thousands. But Captain Maude’s troop of Horse Artillery did good work, and our Heavy Brigade did well also. I don’t think there was a man in the Light Brigade but wished to assist but could not until ordered. At last, Captain Nolan, riding at full speed, came towards our Brigadier, Lord Cardigan, Major Morris (17th) and Colonel Dougherty, 13th Light Dragoons, were talking together mounted, when the word to mount was given. The order was quickly obeyed. Walk, trot, gallop, was sounded by Lord Cardigan’s trumpeter, Wm. Britton, who on that day was killed. Captain Nolan had not gone 400 yards when he was shot, the first to fall in our charge. Just as we got to No. 1 redoubt, my right-hand man Walter Brooks, was also shot. He was my comrade for over three years, from the time I went to the 4th troop. We got a bit further, when my left-hand man fell. My blood was up, and I began to wish to get near the enemy.’