The Collection of Medals to the Leicester Regiment and Yeomanry formed by the late Trevor Harris

A rare Crimea Legion of Honour group of five awarded to Sergeant J. Plant, 17th Regiment, who was decorated for his bravery and leadership at the assault on the Great Redan in June 1855: he was later appointed to the Yeoman of the Guard

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (1699 Serjt. J. Plant, 17th Regt.), contemporary engraved naming in large capitals; Jubilee 1887, bronze, unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue (1699 Cr.-Sjt., 1st Btn. 17th Regt.); French Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, gold centre, damaged and worn overall, with signs of re-enamelling; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue (1699 Colr. -Serjt., 1st Battn. 17th Regt.), depot impressed naming, contact marks and edge bruising, generally good fine and better unless otherwise stated (5) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Leicester Regiment and Yeomanry formed by the late Trevor Harris.

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A little over 90 British N.C.Os and other ranks were awarded the French Legion of Honour for the Crimea, Plant’s example being unique to the 17th Regiment.

John Plant was born in the parish of St. Margaret’s, Leicester and enlisted in the 17th Regiment in February 1841, aged 18 years. Posted to India, where he served for upwards of ten years and attained the rank of Corporal, he was present at the capture of Forts Monohur and Munsuntosh in southern Mahratta country in early 1845. But it was in the Crimea, where he served variously in the ranks of Sergeant and Colour-Sergeant, that Plant won the approbation of his seniors, not least in the first assault on the Great Redan, for which action he was awarded his French Legion of Honour for the following deeds (copy service record refers):

‘Distinguished himself by leading out a party of men on the 18th of June 1855, under very heavy fire in front of the Great Redan and bringing in the body of Captain J. L. Croker who was killed in the assault.’

Plant was also present at the second assault on the Great Redan on 8 September 1855 and at the bombardment and surrender of Fort Kinburn in the following month. He ended his regular military career as a Drill Instructor in the 3rd Cambridge University Rifle Volunteers, was discharged in February 1862 and was appointed to the Yeoman of the Guard in 1866. Consequently awarded the Jubilee Medal 1887, he died in August of the following year.