Description
Turkish Crimea Medal, Sardinian variety, La Crimea, Corporal W. Powell, 1st Royal Dragoons.
Contemporarily hand engraved: “CORl W. POWELL. 1st Rl Dgs”
Fitted with an unusual and attractive claw and swivelling silver suspension. An elaborate scroll style suspension.
No man by this name served in the 1st Royal Dragoons during the Crimean War, however he does appear to have served in Crimea, earning the medal with 4 clasps and the Turkish Medal for service in the 3rd Grenadier Guards, seeing an unusual switch from the Guards to the Cavalry, joining the 1st Royal Dragoons shortly after the war in 1858, rising to Sergeant in the 1st Dragoons, the naming would represent his present rank when the naming was professionally engraved after the war.
No 218 Sergeant William Powell, 1st Royal Dragoons.
William Powell was born in Grafton Flyford, Worcester.
He initially joined the 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards aka the “Inkermann Company” after their prowess in Crimea, with service number 5586 about 1850, serving with them through the Crimean War, earning a maximum entitlement 4 clasp medal, for Alma, Inkermann, Balaklava and Sebastopol and this Turkish Crimean War Medal, including their famous action at Inkermann where they won 3 Victoria Crosses, adding 1 more for Sebastopol.
Being just a hair short of 6 foot tall at 5 foot 11 1/2 inches, he was likely sought after by both the Guards and the Cavalry.
After the end of the war, he signed on for service with the 1st Royal Dragoons on 13th April 1858, “his former service in the Gren Guards restored per authority dated WO 30th June 1858”.
He was promoted to Corporal on 1st June 1859, followed by Sergeant on 24th June 1863.
He finished out a full 21 year career, including his previous service in the Gren Guards on 18th March 1871, by which point he had served 21 years 25 days, of which 2 years 5 months were spent overseas in “Turkey & The Crimea”.
“His conduct has been very good, he was when promoted in possession of 3 good conduct badges and would had he not been promoted have been now in possession of 4 good conduct badges.
He is also in possession of the Crimean War Medal (4 clasps), Turkish Medal and Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct.
His name has never been entered in the Regimental Defaulters Book and He has never been tried by Court Martial.”
