Crimea War Medal 1854-56, with clasp, 'Sebastopol', awarded to General Sir William Montagu Scott McMurdo, Land Transport Corps

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 clasp, 'Sebastapol'.

On 2 February 1855 McMurdo, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, was appointed Director General, Land Transport Corps in the Crimea. His record in command was mixed, largely because of the indifferent personnel with which he had to work, and the state of the Corps was criticised by his locum tenens, Colonel Edward Wetherall. Nevertheless, on his return home he was promoted colonel and appointed aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria. He later served in India and Ireland, and retired as a general in 1881.

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.

From a medal group including: Scinde Campaign Medal 1843; India General Service Medal 1854-95, clasp: North West Frontier; Legion of Honour, France; Order of the Mejidie, Turkey; Turkish Crimean War Medal; Volunteer Officers Decoration; National Rifle Association Medal.

Donated by Miss F G Doughty