Description
Turkish Crimea, British Issue, engraved naming, 3864 Private W. McCracken, 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot, wounded in action at Sebastopol.
Hand engraved: “-> 3864 Pvte W. McCracken. 18th R.I. Regt <-”
On the medal roll of the “18th Royal Irish Regiment” for the Crimea Medal, clasp Sebastopol.
William McCracken was born in Downpatrick, Down, Ireland circa 1834.
He attested for service aged 20, having worked as a Shoemaker claiming a tempting enlistment bounty of “Six Pounds Sterling” on 22nd December 1854.
He saw service from 22nd December 1854 until 18th July 1862 all with the 1st Bn 18th R.I. Regiment.
The medal roll notes that he was amongst the batch of 18th Regiment men who “Landed at Balaklava on 11th July 1855”.
He is recorded as having been “Slightly Wounded” on 19th August 1855 (about 2 days after the 5th Bombardment of Sebastopol) whilst engaged in the Siege of Sevastopol, announced in the London Gazette on 31st August 1855.
