Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private D. Batson, Royal Marines

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Balaklava, Sebastopol, Inkermann, clasps mounted in this order (David Batson. R.M.) officially impressed naming; China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Canton 1857 (D. Batson. R.M.L.I.) Depot impressed naming; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (Dd. Batson. Pte. R.M. 42nd. Coy. 22 Yrs.) suspension claw loose, with traces of brooch mounting to obverse; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue (D Batson Po D RMLI) Depot impressed naming, plugged and fitted with a China-style suspension, contact marks, generally very fine and a rare, possibly unique, combination of awards (4) £1,000-£1,400

Dix Noonan Webb, June 1999.

Confirmed on the Crimea Medal roll of H.M.S. London for Balaklava and Sebastopol only. The Balaklava clasp is rare on an officially impressed medal to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. No verification has been found to support his entitlement to the Inkermann clasp.

David Batson was born at Compton, nearly Sherborne, Dorset, and enlisted in the Royal Marines at Portsmouth in June 1845, aged 31. Joining H.M.S. London in August 1853, he served with the Naval Brigade in the Crimea, and took part in the actions at Balaklava and before Sebastopol, and was subsequently actively employed in the Second China War, when serving in H.M.S. Calcutta, including the attack on Canton in 1857. He was discharged back to Portsmouth in February 1868, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, together with a gratuity of £5, the same month.

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