HISTORY
British Army Crimean War and long service medals to Sergeant James Jones, who served with the 12th Lancers in the Cape and Crimea. He served 21 of his 24 years abroad, further serving with the 2nd Bengal European Cavalry and 20th Hussars. Crimea Medal, with clasp, SEBASTOPOL, named PTE JAS JONES 12TH LAN.: Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1874), named 108 CORPL J JONES 20TH HUSSARS.; Turkish Crimea Medal (Sardinia) named J. JONES 12TH R LANCERS. Mounted for display they come with copies of service records and medal rolls. Sergeant James Jones was born in Staines, Middlesex, England in 1831. A labourer by trade he enlisted into the 12th Lancers on 28/8/1849, he served for the next 24 years with nearly 21 of them overseas, seeing service in South Africa 2½ years, India 17 years, and the Crimea. He qualified for the South Africa Medal (missing). The 12th then deployed to India in 1854 and in 1855 where he qualified for the India Medal (missing) they were sent to the Crimea to reinforce the Light Cavalry Brigade which had been decimated by the charge at Balaclava and the severity of the winter of 1854. He was transferred to the 2nd Bengal Light Cavalry (2nd Bengal European Cavalry) in February 1860, which was part of the East India Company having been raised in 1858. The regiment was transferred to the British Army on 18/2/1861 and renamed the 20th Hussars. He discharged on 12/9/1873. He died in January 1875 in Staines, England. His is an interesting story, well worthy of further research, especially given as a serving British Soldier, he transferred to the E.I.C. Company and then volunteered to re-join the British Army.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
As this is a broken group, the three named medals on sale are all named to Sgt Jones for his service in the Crimean War in the 12th Lancers and his Long Service Good Conduct medal. Unfortunately the medals relating to his service in South Africa and India are missing however it is still an important Crimean War group for the 12th Lancers. The price of this group reflects the missing medals.