A Battle of Inkermann casualty and later Chelsea In-Pensioner Crimea Medal 1854-1855, 4 Clasps: Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol with officially impressed naming awarded to Private J. Powell, Coldstream Guards who would be present at the Battle of Alma on 20th September 1854, the Battle of Balaklava on 25th October 1854, the Battle of Inkermann on 5th November 1854 and during the early stages of the siege of Sebastopol which began on 11th September 1854. He would be severely wounded at Inkermann on 5th November 1854 being shot in the left thigh. He would be discharged in London on 13th March 1855. In later life, Powell was present as an in-pensioner at Chelsea for almost six years but having reverted to being an out-pensioner died in Banbury in 1890.
Crimea Medal 1854-1855, 4 Clasps: Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, officially impressed naming; (J. POWELL., COLDSTREAM GUARDS.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
Joseph Powell was born in 1830 at Netherthorp, near Banbury, Oxfordshire. In the 1841 census he is recorded as living at Box Hedge, Netherthorp, Banbury. A labourer by occupation, he would enlist into the Coldstream Guards at Oxford on 2nd November 1847, aged 18 years.
He would see service as a Private with the Coldstream Guards in the Crimea during the Crimean War where he would be present at the battle of Alma on 20th September 1854, the battle of Balaklava on 25th October 1854, the battle of Inkermann on 5th November 1854, and during the early stages of the siege of Sebastopol which began on 11th September 1854.
At Inkermann on 5th November 1854 he would serve in Lieutenant-Colonel Somerset’s Company, where he was severely wounded being shot in the left thigh. Subsequently invalided to England, he would be discharged in London on 13th March 1855 as being unfit for further service. It is possible that Powell may have been at Buckingham Palace as part of the Coldstream Guards detachment seen by Queen Victoria in 1855.
After his discharge he received a pension of 9d per day, his intended place of residence was Netherthorp, Banbury. On 1st December 1883 Powell was admitted as an in pensioner at Chelsea and he received financial help from the Lloyds Patriotic Fund in January 1885. He reverted to an out pensioner on 1st November 1889, returning to Banbury, latterly living at 4 Mill Street, Banbury. He died of bronchitis on 13th January 1890 aged 63 years.
