Medal commemorating the Fall of Sebastopol and the Treaty of Paris, 1856

This commemorative medal, made of white metal, bears on the obverse the inscription: 'The Allies give peace to Europe March 30th 1856', within a circular laurel wreath bearing the names of the allied countries, England, Sardinia, Turkey and France. The reverse depicts a view of Sevastopol, superimposed upon a trophy of flags, above which is a pair of scales. Below is depicted a snake cut in two, with the words: 'Sinope' and 'Hango', which allude to naval engagements during the Crimean War (1854-1856).

Sinope was a sea port in northern Turkey and on 30 November 1853 a fleet of Russian battleships annihilated a force of Ottoman Empire frigates there. It is often considered to be the last great battle of the epoch of sailing and the first battle of the Crimean War. At Hango on 5 June 1855, a boat conveying ashore the crews of captured Finnish ships was fired on by the Russians with nearly every man being killed.

Donated by Major F G B Wetherall.