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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 452

The named pair of mounted miniature dress medals worn by Major C. B. Wilkinson, Essex Rifles, late 68th Regiment of Foot (Durham Light Infantry), who was present at every major engagement of the Crimean War

Crimea 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, 'C. Brice Wilkinson. Capt. 68th Lt. Infy.', contemporarily engraved around rim; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, 'C. Brice Wilkinson. Capt. 68th Lt. Infy. 1854-5', contemporarily engraved around rim, '-5' a later addition, mounted together as worn on riband buckle with gold retaining pin by Hunt & Roskell, light contact wear, very fine

Christopher Brice Wilkinson was born on 9 September 1835 in Bisham, Yorkshire and purchased a commission as Ensign in the 68th Regiment of Foot (Durham Light Infantry) on 11 October 1853. He was embarked to Crimea with his Regiment in 1854 and was promoted Lieutenant just one month prior to the Battle of the Alma. The 68th Foot fought with distinction during the Crimean War, with the Regiment winning its first Victoria Cross at the Battle of Inkermann in November 1854. As a point of interest, Wilkinson reportedly collected a Russian bugle from the battlefield at Inkermann, among other relics, which he later sold.

After the close of the Crimean Campaign, he was advanced Captain in January 1857 and at some stage transferred to the Essex Rifles with whom Wilkinson was made Major on 6 September 1858. It is unlikely that he followed his Regiment to India in 1857, as he does not appear on the roll with entitlement to an Indian Mutiny Medal. Upon his retirement from the service, Wilkinson moved to Bath where he worked as a police constable, becoming Chief Constable of the Bath Police by 1882.

He was at some point married, and in 1891 the retired Army Major and his wife Margaret were raising their three daughters at their home on 296 Creswick Road in Acton, London. Wilkinson lived into a ripe old age, dying on 8 October 1922 aged 87 and was interred at St. Smithin's Church, Walcot in Bath; sold together with copied London Gazette entries and copied photograph of Wilkinson circa 1880.


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Estimate
£200 to £300

Starting price
£160