Three: Sergeant J. Smith, 93rd Highlanders, one of the 'Thin Red Line' at...

Three: Sergeant J. Smith, 93rd Highlanders, one of the ‘Thin Red Line’ at Balaklava Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (2918. Serjt. John Smith. 93. Sutherland. Highlanders.) Regimentally impressed naming; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 2 clasps, Relief of Lucknow, Lucknow (John Smith, 93rd. Highlanders.); Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, pierced as issued with ring suspension, contact marks, generally very fine (3) £1,800-£2,200 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- John Smith was born in Glen Urquhart, Inverness, Scotland, in 1833 and attested for the 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders at Nairn, Scotland, on 8 February 1853. He served with the Regiment in the Crimea, and was present at Balaklava on 25 October 1854, when the 93rd routed the Russian cavalry and won themselves the title of ‘The Thin Red Line’. The Times correspondent, William Howard Russell, who, standing on the hills above, could clearly see that nothing stood between the Russian cavalry and the defenceless British base but the ‘thin red streak tipped with a line of steel’ wrote of the 93rd: ‘With breathless suspense everyone awaits the bursting of the wave [of Russian Cavalry] upon the line of Gaelic rock, but ere they came within 200 yards another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifle, and carries terror into the Russians. They wheel about, open files right and left, and fly back faster than they came. “Brave Highlanders! Well done!” shout the spectators.’ Smith was promoted Corporal on 21 May 1855, and, after proceeding with the Regiment to India, was further promoted to Sergeant on 25 April 1857. Whilst in India he saw service during the Great Sepoy Mutiny, being present at the Second Relief of Lucknow and subsequent operations, but was reduced to Private for ‘disobedience of orders’ on 17 October 1857. His discharge papers state that he was also in possession of ‘Indian N.W. Frontier Medal and 1 clasp’- the clasp is most likely to be for Umbeyla, as the Regiment took part in the expedition under General Sir Neville Chamberlain between 20 October and 23 December 1863. Returning to Scotland, Smith was discharged on 28 April 1874, after 21 years and 37 days’ service. Sold with copied discharge papers medal roll extracts, which further confirm that he was the only ‘John Smith’ in the Regiment at the time of both the Crimea and the Indian Mutiny.