Turkish Order of the Mejidie, 4th Class, 1856 (c), General Sir William Montagu Scott McMurdo (1819-1894)

The Order of the Mejidie was created in 1851 by Sultan Abdul Mejid I of Turkey. The order was bestowed on British and French soldiers for distinguished service during the Crimean War (1854-1856).

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.

From a medal group including, Crimea War Medal 1854-56, with clasp, 'Sebastopol'; Scinde Campaign Medal 1843; India General Service Medal 1854-95, with clasp, 'North West Frontier'; Legion of Honour, France; Turkish Crimean War Medal; Volunteer Officers Decoration; National Rifle Association Medal.