The Collection of Medals formed by the late John Darwent

Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (J. Garvey, 4th Lt. Dragns.), officially impressed naming, suspension claw tightened, edge bruising and polished, therefore fine £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late John Darwent.

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James Garvey was born at Westminster, London and enlisted in the 4th Light Dragoons in June 1838, aged 20 years. Embarked for India, he arrived there in December 1838, and did not return home until March 1842, but not with any medal entitlement, or certainly not according to his discharge papers. He did, however, notch up the first of a string of entries in the Regimental Defaulter’s Book, and, soon after his return to the U.K., answer to the first of three Court-Martials, all of which resulted in varying terms of imprisonment between 1842-47.

Next engaged overseas in the Crimea, where he landed in September 1854, Garvey is verified as being present at Alma and Balaklava, in addition to the Sebastopol operations. He remains, nonetheless, as one of those entitled to the ‘Balaklava’ clasp who has yet to be confirmed as a charger; and he was not present at Inkermann, having been posted to the sick horse depot on 5 November 1854.

Garvey was discharged at Newbridge, Ireland in March 1863, giving his intended place of residence as “The Hampshire Hog” in Charles Street, Westminster; and he died at King’s Norton in Worcestershire in March 1875, his death certificate describing him as a Chelsea Pensioner: had he survived a few more months, he might have increased his status as a potential charger by attendance at the First Balaklava Banquet.