Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Crimean War pair awarded to Private J. Ford, 4th Light Dragoons, who was trapped by his felled horse and rescued by a comrade during the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, 25 October 1854

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (J. Ford. 4th Lt. Dragns.) officially impressed naming, clasp carriage fractured; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, pierced with ring suspension, both with top silver riband buckles, contact marks, nearly very fine (2) £6,000-£8,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Warwick Cary.

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Provenance: Christie’s November 1988

John Ford was born in 1835 in Kensington, Middlesex and enlisted in the 4th (Queen’s Own) Light Dragoons in London on 30 December 1852 aged 17 years and 0 months, standing 5 feet 7 inches, stating his trade as ‘marble polisher’ and next of kin ‘Father, Robert Ford of St. Marylebone, London’. Arriving in Turkey with his regiment on 2 August 1854, he proceeded to the Crimea, landing on 17 September 1854 and three days later was present at the Battle of the Alma. He took part in the celebrated Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava on 25 October 1854 where, advancing towards the Russian guns with his regiment under Colonel Lord George Paget, his horse was shot and fell to the ground, pinning his leg beneath it. He was rescued by Private John Farrell, also of the 4th Light Dragoons. In 1863, Ford, by then a Private in G Troop, 4th Hussars, stationed at Newbridge, Ireland, provided the following sworn affidavit as testimony in the much publicised ‘Cardigan versus Calthorpe’ case:
‘I have been ten years and a half in the service. I was in the front rank near the centre of the right squadron of the 4th Light Dragoons, during the Light Cavalry charge at the battle of Balaklava. My horse was shot as we were advancing to the Russian guns, and fell with me, my leg being under him. This was about 300 yards from the battery. While lying on the ground looking for someone to assist in lifting the horse off me I saw Lord Cardigan to the left of where I was lying, cantering to the rear. He was quite alone. Just after Lord Cardigan past me, a Private named Farrell came up, and assisted in getting the horse off me.’

Following Balaklava, Ford was present with the remaining members of his regiment at Inkermann, gaining entitlement to the relevant clasp and served during the lengthy Siege of Sebastopol from the commencement to its fall on 8 September 1855, excepting a period at Scutari Hospital from 4 April 1855 until 11 May 1855. After a further stay at Scutari, Ford landed back in England on 26 May 1856, following which he was initially stationed with his regiment in Brighton. On 5 November 1860, he married Harriet in Dublin and after further service at a number of home stations he was discharged ‘time expired’ at Hamilton, Scotland, from the re-named 4th Hussars on 30 December 1865 aged 30 years, in possession of two Good Conduct Badges, with his conduct judged to be ‘Good’ and with the intention of returning to Lisson Grove, London. He attested for the Army Reserve, 1- South London District, on 4 August 1866, stating his occupation as ‘Railway Porter’ and was also enrolled in the First Class Army Reserve at Royal Park Barracks on 23 June 1871.

Aside from his sworn affidavit, Ford’s participation in the charge is recognised by all the authorities on the subject and well documented: he attended the first Balaklava Banquet in 1875; was a member of the Balaklava Commemoration Society in 1879; signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887; present at most of the Balaclava Light Brigade Charge Survivors Annual Dinners and identified on many of their respective group photographs; present at the Jubilee Dinner given by T. H. Roberts at his Fleet Street offices in June 1897 and signed the testimonial given to Mr Roberts on that occasion; pensioner of the T. H. Roberts Fund; claimed from the Light Brigade Relief Fund aged 58 while giving his address as The Grange, Wraysbury, Nr Staines; present at the Coronation celebrations in June 1911 standing with other veterans in a place of honour in front of the troops lining the route.
When he died on 2 August 1911 in Wandsworth, the Roberts Fund paid for his funeral. The records of Paddington Cemetery, Willesden Lane, London, show him as buried there, in a common grave with no headstone, on 8 August 1911, having lived at 115 Portnall Road, Paddington.

Two years before his death, the following extract had appeared in The United Services Gazette 1909:
‘Cheered to the echo by a powerful house, which included the Mayor and Mayoress and the Commanding Officer of the troops in garrison here, John Ford, aged 74, who rode with his comrades into the Valley of Death at Balaclava, recited Tennyson’s ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ at the Colchester Hippodrome a few night ago. The aged ex-trooper wore his old uniform of the 4th Hussars.’

Sold with the following items:
i. Ford’s original 4th Light Dragoons Account Book covering the entirety of his service, 1853-65, including personal details, services abroad and monthly settlements - entries include time at ‘Camp Balaklava’ and ‘Scutari’. This aged but contents well preserved.
ii. Original parchment certificate of discharge, dated 1865.
iii. Original First Class Army Reserve enrolment certificate, dated 1871.
iv. A gilt metal chain and locket containing portrait photographs of Private Ford in uniform in later life and a lady, thought to be his daughter.
v. Two copied photographs 16cm x 21cm of Ford. The first in uniform wearing Crimea Medal, circa 1857; the second in theatrical pose wearing full dress uniform, taken in later life.
vi. A Hussar style white hair plume, with crimson feather base and ornate white metal ball socket in lacquered metal tubular case, 37cm.
vii. A cavalry trooper’s heavy sabre with hilt marked ‘Bleckmann’ in its steel scabbard, probably German late 19th Century.