*A Crimean War ‘Heavy Brigade’ Pair awarded to Private John Bell, 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, who most likely took part in their charge at Balaklava on 25 October 1854, comprising: Crimea, 1854-56, 3 clasps, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, with claw-type ribbon buckle and pin (John Bell. 4th Dn. Gds.), privately engraved; Turkish Crimea, 1855-56, French Issue, unnamed; Pair loose, in contemporary wooden case with two buttons, apparently agates, with a contemporary newspaper page, folded, concerning the campaign in the Crimea, the first toned, extremely fine, the second good very fine (6) Private John Bell is included in the book ‘Forgotten Heroes: The Charge of the Heavy Brigade’ by Roy Dutton, which states that the recipient ‘Probably Rode’ in this cavalry charge. It also states that Private Bell was ‘effective from the 1st October to the 31st December’. ex Sotheby’s, 1 July 1981, lot 144
Estimate: £500-£700