The very fine Crimean War Siege of Sebastopol and Battle of Tchernaya, and Indian Mutiny siege an assault on Delhi and subsequent charge at Kerkrowlie 30th April 1858 officer casualty group awarded to Lieutenant later Lieutenant Colonel G.S. Davies, 6th Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers), formerly 10th (The Prince of Wales’s Own) Royal Hussars and 11th Light Dragoons. With the 10th Hussars out in the Crimea, he was present from late June 1855, and was involved in the Battle of Tchernaya on 16th August 1855 when possibly with the squadron under Captain Walrond Clarke that supported a battery of French horse artillery. He was also present in the operations through to the fall of Sebastopol. Having transferred to The Carabiniers, he was then most actively engaged throughout the Indian Mutiny, being at Meerut when the Mutiny broke out there on 16th May 1857. He was then involved in the early operations, including the action of the Hindiin on 30th and 31st May, the Battle of Budleekeserai, followed by the siege and storming of Delhi between 30th May to 14th September 1857. After this he went on to form part of Brigadier General Showers’s movable column, and was also at the affair at Kerkrowlie on 30th April 1858, during which, when in company with Captain Beatley, he led a successful charge against a mutineer gun position, although severely wounded in the ensuing hand to hand struggle. He however recovered to be present for the taking of Bareilly, the affairs of Majidia, Churdall and Banker, and the pursuit to the River Raptee. He was latterly, according to research, present on the Committee for the 1907 Meeting of Crimea and Indian Mutiny Veterans.
Group of 3: Crimea Medal 1854-1856, 1 Clasp: Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1859, 1 Clasp: Delhi; (LIEUT. GEO. S. DAVIES, 6TH. DRAGN. GDS:); Turkish Crimea Medal 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued. All three mounted swing style as worn on old ribbons, all medals of matching patina, and suspended from a three piece ‘Hunt & Roskell’ marking medal brooch bar.
Condition: equally toned, light contact wear, Good Very Fine or better.
George Silvester Davies was commissioned into the British Army as a Cornet with the 11th Light Dragoons on 18th October 1853, and then exchanged into the 10th (The Prince of Wales’s Own) Royal Hussars on 2nd December 1853, and was then posted out to India to join his regiment.
Posted from India to the Crimea owing to the outbreak of the war with Russia, despite being on service there, his regiment missed participation in the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava on 25th October 1854, and did not participate in any of the other major battles, but did participate in the operations around Sebastopol when they were heavily engaged. For his part, Davies who had been promoted to Lieutenant on 26th June, only arrived in the Crimea on 30th June 1855, but he is then recorded as having been present in the Battle of Tchernaya on 16th August 1855.
This action occurred when the allied line established on the banks of the Tchernaya came under attack from the Russians on 16th August in their attempt to raise the siege of Sebastopol. The Russians numbered 58,000, pitted against 18,000 French, 9,000 Sardinians and 10,000 Turks. The British units were held in reserve although some of the Royal Horse Artillery were actively employed. General Scarlett who had returned to command the cavalry at the end of July was keen to attack when the opportunity presented itself. The British and French cavalry was 6,000 strong at this point, two heavy cavalry regiments having recently arrived from England. Both the French and the British officers were eager to use them, and there is little doubt, in retrospect, that they would have smashed the enemy if ordered to attack. But General Pelissier would not allow it and a great chance was missed. The most activity carried out by the cavalry was when a squadron of the Tenth under Captain J Walrond Clarke supported a battery of French horse artillery. It seems possible that Davies was present with the squadron under Captain Walrond Clarke. Davies was subsequently present for the fall of Sebastopol on 9th September 1855.
Davies then transferred to the 6th Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers), and was with this regiment out in India when he saw active service during the Indian Mutiny, being present at the outbreak when at Meerut on 16th May 1857. He was then involved in the early operations, including the action of the Hindiin on 30th and 31st May, the Battle of Budleekeserai, followed by the siege and storming of Delhi between 30th May to 14th September 1857. After this he went on to form part of Brigadier General Showers’s movable column, and was also at the affair at Kerkrowlie on 30th April 1858, during which, when in company with Captain Beatley, he led a successful charge against a mutineer gun position, although severely wounded in the ensuing hand to hand struggle. He however recovered to be present for the taking of Bareilly, the affairs of Majidia, Churdall and Banker, and the pursuit to the River Raptee.
Davies was promoted to Captain on 3rd July 1860, and to Major on 1st April 1870, on which date he was place on Half-Pay. He was ultimately promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 1st October 1877 whilst still on Half-Pay but employed with the Cavalry Depot. Davies retired in 1881, but was subsequently, according to research, present on the Committee for the 1907 Meeting of Crimea and Indian Mutiny Veterans. Confirmed as his full medal entitlement.
