Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Crimea War C.B. group of five awarded to Major-General J. N. A. Freese, Royal Artillery

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, gold and enamel, hallmarks for London 1816, complete with wide gold swivel-ring and straight-bar suspension and riband buckle; China 1842 (Lieutenant, Royal Artillery); Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Lieut. Coln., R.A.), contemporary engraved naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian die, unnamed, fitted with period swivel-bar suspension; Turkish Order of the Medjidie, 5th class breast badge, silver and enamel, with gold central surround and suspension device, the last four with silver riband buckles, the first and last slightly chipped in places, otherwise good very fine, the remainder with contact wear and edge bruising, generally good fine (5) £2500-3000

C.B. London Gazette 2 January 1857.

John Noble Arbuthnot Freese was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in June 1832 and was advanced to Lieutenant in September 1834, while employed in the West Indies. During the First China War he was present at the taking of Ching-Keang-Foo on 21 July 1842, when he was slightly wounded in the right hand when attempting to burst open the city’s gate. He remained employed in China until January 1845 and was advanced to Captain in August 1843.

Having been promoted to Major in June 1854, Freese was again in action in the Crimea, being present at Inkermann and in the operations before Sebastopol, the latter while employed ‘in the trenches with the Siege Train’ and including ‘the bombardment of October’ (Hart’s refers). Jocelyn’s History of the Royal Artillery in the Crimea Period states that Freese ‘commanded the Left Attack [on Sebastopol] from January to February 1855. Then to England for promotion.’ He was indeed advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1855, in addition to being created a C.B. and awarded the Turkish Order of Medjidie, 5th class.

Freese, who eventually resigned his commission as a Major-General in August 1864, died at Southsea in January 1881. Sold with his original commission warrants for 2nd Captain, R.A., dated 22 August 1843, and Colonel, R.A., dated 25 February 1863.