Lost Skeleton
Well-known member
The following will most likely close the book on my Crimea collecting. I just acquired this regimentally impressed pair consisting of the Crimea Medal and Turkish Crimea Medal (British Issue) named to Private John Topley of the Coldstream Guards.
The clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, and Sebastopol arranged in the correct order and properly assembled:
The cypher of the Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid 1 adorns the Turkish medal's reverse:
A brief biography of Topley was compiled by a former owner of the medals:
John Topley was born at Walton-on-the-Wolds, Leicester, 3rd June 1814 to Edward and Mary Topley. He joined the army of William IV on the 3rd of October, 1835 at Leicester. He was 21 years old, a farm labourer, and most probably drunk. He entered into the Coldstream Guards with the Regimental #1829. In 1837 rebellion broke out in Canada, the 2nd Battalions of the Grenadier Guards and the Coldstream Guards arrived in 1838 and stayed for four and a half years. The Coldstreams were stationed mainly in Montreal doing guard and escort duties etc. It was here the regiment acquired ‘Jacob’ the Goose who became their mascot, he returned to England with them in 1842, but was later killed in a road accident; his stuffed head is now to be found in the Guards Museum in London. On 23rd of November 1844 he married Eliza Shuttlewood at Loughborough, Leicestershire. In 1854 he proceeded with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards to the war in the East (now known as the Crimean War) and remained there for the duration of the war, returning to England with the regiment in 1856. In the Crimea he took part in the battle of Alma, where the Guards formed the second line, the Coldstream’s having to cross the river three times. Coldstream casualties being extremely light with only 28 wounded. On the 25th of October he was present at the battle of Balaklava either with elements of the 1st Division who came in from the North-West on the Woronzov road, or as part of the famous ‘Thin Red Line’ that had attached a fatigue party of 40 Coldstream Guards rushed up from Balaklava. On the 26th of October at what was to be later known as the battle of Little Inkerman, Captain Goodlake and 60 Coldstream Guards sharpshooters (snipers) held up a Russian force of 600 to 800 men. On the 5th of November, the battle of Inkerman, the Guards were very heavily engaged. The Coldstream’s losing, 73 killed, 116 wounded and 1 missing, among these was John Topley who was severely wounded by musket shot in the upper part of the left thigh. He was discharged in London on the 14th of February 1857 having completed 21 years and 135 days service, he had one good conduct stripe and was still a Private. He received 9 pence per day pension that was increased to 1 shilling a day the following month. He was 5’11” tall, had light brown hair and hazel eyes. Mr. John Topley returned to Walton-on-the-Wolds.
Topley's discharge confirms his medal and four clasps:
his character is good, and that he is in possession of one good conduct stripe and was present at the actions of Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, and the Seige of Sevastopol for which he has received a medal and four clasps.
It should be noted the Army Good Conduct stripe (or medal) was awarded for a soldier's exemplary conduct for twenty-one years service in the infantry or twenty-four years in the cavalry.
Finally, a photograph of Topley, the pensioner, taken in the Jubilee Year of 1887 when he was 73 years of age and working as a blacksmith.
John Topley died in 1899.
It's amazing what can be learned from a pair of medals.
Chas.
The clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, and Sebastopol arranged in the correct order and properly assembled:
The cypher of the Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid 1 adorns the Turkish medal's reverse:
A brief biography of Topley was compiled by a former owner of the medals:
John Topley was born at Walton-on-the-Wolds, Leicester, 3rd June 1814 to Edward and Mary Topley. He joined the army of William IV on the 3rd of October, 1835 at Leicester. He was 21 years old, a farm labourer, and most probably drunk. He entered into the Coldstream Guards with the Regimental #1829. In 1837 rebellion broke out in Canada, the 2nd Battalions of the Grenadier Guards and the Coldstream Guards arrived in 1838 and stayed for four and a half years. The Coldstreams were stationed mainly in Montreal doing guard and escort duties etc. It was here the regiment acquired ‘Jacob’ the Goose who became their mascot, he returned to England with them in 1842, but was later killed in a road accident; his stuffed head is now to be found in the Guards Museum in London. On 23rd of November 1844 he married Eliza Shuttlewood at Loughborough, Leicestershire. In 1854 he proceeded with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards to the war in the East (now known as the Crimean War) and remained there for the duration of the war, returning to England with the regiment in 1856. In the Crimea he took part in the battle of Alma, where the Guards formed the second line, the Coldstream’s having to cross the river three times. Coldstream casualties being extremely light with only 28 wounded. On the 25th of October he was present at the battle of Balaklava either with elements of the 1st Division who came in from the North-West on the Woronzov road, or as part of the famous ‘Thin Red Line’ that had attached a fatigue party of 40 Coldstream Guards rushed up from Balaklava. On the 26th of October at what was to be later known as the battle of Little Inkerman, Captain Goodlake and 60 Coldstream Guards sharpshooters (snipers) held up a Russian force of 600 to 800 men. On the 5th of November, the battle of Inkerman, the Guards were very heavily engaged. The Coldstream’s losing, 73 killed, 116 wounded and 1 missing, among these was John Topley who was severely wounded by musket shot in the upper part of the left thigh. He was discharged in London on the 14th of February 1857 having completed 21 years and 135 days service, he had one good conduct stripe and was still a Private. He received 9 pence per day pension that was increased to 1 shilling a day the following month. He was 5’11” tall, had light brown hair and hazel eyes. Mr. John Topley returned to Walton-on-the-Wolds.
Topley's discharge confirms his medal and four clasps:
his character is good, and that he is in possession of one good conduct stripe and was present at the actions of Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, and the Seige of Sevastopol for which he has received a medal and four clasps.
It should be noted the Army Good Conduct stripe (or medal) was awarded for a soldier's exemplary conduct for twenty-one years service in the infantry or twenty-four years in the cavalry.
Finally, a photograph of Topley, the pensioner, taken in the Jubilee Year of 1887 when he was 73 years of age and working as a blacksmith.
John Topley died in 1899.
It's amazing what can be learned from a pair of medals.
Chas.
