Crimea War Medal, 1854-56, with clasps, 'Alma', 'Balaklava', and 'Sebastopol', awarded to Captain Thomas Everard Hutton, 4th (The Queen's Own) Light Dragoons

Circular silver campaign medal with, on the obverse, a portrait of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem, with the inscription, 'Victoria Regina' and date, '1854'. On the reverse, Winged Victory places a wreath on the head of a soldier in classical armour, with the inscription, 'Crimea' to the left. The medal is suspended on a pale blue ribbon with yellow edges with clasps, 'Alma', 'Balaklava', and 'Sebastopol'.

Captain Thomas Everard Hutton (1821-1896) exchanged into the 4th Light Dragoons in 1847 from the 15th (Yorkshire, East Riding) Regiment of Foot, and was promoted captain in 1852. Hutton took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade, Battle of Balaklava, Crimean War (1854-1856). He was shot through the right thigh during the advance of the Light Cavalry Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava, and on returning from the guns he was again severely wounded through the left thigh.

After treatment at Scutari and Malta Hutton returned to England in March 1855 and received his Crimea War Medal from Queen Victoria at the presentation ceremony on Horse Guards Parade, 18 May 1855. He retired from the Army as brevet-major by sale of his commission in 1857.

The Crimean War Medal was sanctioned by Queen Victoria on 15 December 1854 . Two clasps were also authorised at this time, for the battles of Alma (20 September 1854) and Inkerman (5 November 1854). The clasp for the battle of Balaklava (which took place before that of Inkermann, on 25 October 1854) was not authorised until 23 February 1855. The clasp for the fall of Sevastopol (9 September 1855) was granted on 13 October 1855.