Description
Crimea Medal, 4 bars, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, Turkish Crimea, sardinian variety with loop suspension, both named in correct Regimental style, 4421 Pte William Harding 3rd Gren Guards, Gate Porter of Syon Park, London, the Mansion home of the Duke of Northumberland, in Brentford.
Both medals impressed in the correct regimental style, good matching pair.
Crimea: “4421 W. Harding 3rd Battn Gre** *uards”
Turkish: “4421 W. Harding 3. Bn. G. Gds.”
Both medals confirmed on service papers. Fitted with very long original silk ribbons.
Roll confirms that the medals were not officially impressed when issued, medals match other known examples to the unit.
Contact marks and general wear consistent with his long service and life with further job as the Gate Porter of Syon Park wearing the medal together.
The famous Lion Gate entrance to Syon Park, the two little buildings on the left and right are the Gate Porter Lodges.
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17527822#/media/File:Grand_Entrance_to_Syon_House_-_panoramio.jpg
William Harding served a full 22 years 51 days career in the Army, spending 2 years and 4 month “With the Army in the East” during the Crimean War.
Character: “They are very Good. He has 4 good conduct badges with pay for the same.”
Medals: “He has the Crimea Medal and 4 Clasps for Alma, Balaklava, Sebastpool and Inkermann. And the Turkish Medal.”
Conduct: “His name has been 3 times in the Regt Defaulters Book. He has been 3 times tried and convicted by Court martial for theft.”
He was however a mile off earning anything such as the LSGC medal as he was quite the rogue during his army service, in fact at one point he was within moments of being “discharged with Ignominy” for his “Disgraceful Conduct”.
William was born in the village of Sherington, near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, now part of Milton Keynes during 1824
He first enlisted with the Grenadier Guards on 24th August 1842. At the time he was a “Servant”.
He actually started of well and was promoted to Corporal on 2nd May 1845.
He was however soon after taken into confinement on 27th January 1847 when he was “2nd Feb 1847, Sentenced to be reduced to the ranks and 3 months of imprisonment.”
He was in Prison from 13th Feb to 25th April 1846.
Returning to the fold he was later arrested again on 16th May 1853 this time for a severe offence:
“16th May 1853, For Disgraceful Conduct, sentenced to 4 months of imprisonment and forfeit all his claim to additional pay and recommended to be discharged with Ignominy.”
For his he lost all 10 years 167 days of credit towards his pension.
He spent 24th May 1853 until 2nd September 1853 in Prison.
Being released once again he set of to fight in the Crimean War with the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards.
However he again arrested, this time only 2 weeks following his service at the Battle of Balaklava.
His papers note “Tried, 23rd November 1854 & Sentenced to Corporal Punishment of 50 lashes” lucky for him they were busy fighting the Russians as it was luckily added “Punishment remitted”.
Following that he never slipped up again and served out the rest of his career to discharge on 17th May 1865.
Fortunately he had his “Former service restored by War Office Letter dated 2nd April 1861”, which brought back his 10 years 167 days forfeited for his arrest back in 1853.”
By the time of his discharge he had served 22 years 78 days.
After his discharge his intended residence was “Syon House, W. Brentford”, the home of the Duke of Northumberland.
William was taken on by the Duke as his Gate Porter, who protected the entrance to the grand 20 Acre Estate in the middle of London, for his he had the “Upper Lodge” for him and his family to live in, inside the Syon Park estate.
William occupied this role for many years well into his old age for over 25 years, being Gate Porter from 1865 until at least the 1891 census, shown living there in 1871, 1881 and 1891.
He looks to have died sometime in the 1890s.
CRIMEAN WAR SERVICE, 3 VICTORIA CROSSES AT INKERMANN CHARGING THE SANDBAG BATTERY
You can see a photograph of one of his comrades here:
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1964-12-154-6-5
During the Crimean War, William was part of the Guards Brigade, which was formed from the 3rd Battalion Grenadiers Guards, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, 1st Battalion Scots Fusiliers Guards.
They left Crimea with 4 Victoria Crosses. He was at all their famous moments in the war.
The book “The Origin and History of the First or Grenadier Guards” by Lieut Gen Sir F.W. Hamilton KCB, Volume III recalls in detail their services in the Crimean War.
You can go and read the book online for free at the link below to learn more about his service.
https://archive.org/details/originhistoryfi02hamigoog/page/162/mode/2up
