A Collection of Medals to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines formed by Commander Ron Champion, RN

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Lieut. W. M. Sanctuary, R.N.) contemporary engraved naming, edge bruising and minor contact wear, otherwise very fine £100-150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines formed by Commander Ron Champion, RN.

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William Melancthon Sanctuary, who entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in December 1847, fought with distinction in the Crimea operations, as outlined by Lean’s Navy List:

‘Served in the Black Sea during the Crimea War, present in the Queen at the bombardment of Odessa in 1854, commanded a Turkish pinnace at the landing of troops in the Crimea, landed with Naval Brigade in August, assisted in constructing the earthworks round Sebastopol, on 17 October received a wound in the head, destroying the sight of the right eye, invalided home; promoted; pension for wounds (Crimean and Turkish Medals, Sebastopol clasp; Knight of the Legion of Honour; 5th Class Medjidie).’

Sanctuary, who was placed on the Retired List in the rank of Commander, afterwards served as the Commissioner of Salvage for the Port of Deal, as Honorary Secretary to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution at Deal, and as a Magistrate of Cinque Port, Dover.