Baldwin & Sons
Auction 75 26 September 2012
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MILITARY MEDALS. Campaign Singles. CRIMEA MEDAL, 1854-1856, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (1277. Robert. Cairns. 93. Sutherland. Highlanders); regimentally impressed in upright capitals. Toned, one or two light marks, nearly extremely fine, and rare.
Robert Cairns was serving with the 93rd (Argyll & Sutherland) Highlanders on the day of the Battle of Balaklava 25 October 1854, where the 93rd Highlanders famously formed a line two men deep to face an oncoming Russian cavalry charge, numbering some 2500 men. Sir Colin Campbell, their Officer in Command, is reputed to have said: "There is no retreat from here, men. You must die where you stand." His aide, John Scott, replied: "Aye Sir Colin. If needs be, we'll do that." The bold tactic was a great success, routing the Russian cavalry with three volleys at close range, with minimal British casualties. This moment was immortalised by the Times correspondent William H Russell, who witnessed the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel", later condensed into the familiar term 'the thin red line'. Sold with copy roll mentions confirming the award of a Crimea Medal to one 1277 Private Robert Cairns, who served with the 93rd Foot during the Crimean campaign. The roll mentions (which are notoriously difficult to decipher) appear to confirm the above clasps and place him as concretely as presently possible in the 'line'.
Estimate: £800-1200
Robert Cairns was serving with the 93rd (Argyll & Sutherland) Highlanders on the day of the Battle of Balaklava 25 October 1854, where the 93rd Highlanders famously formed a line two men deep to face an oncoming Russian cavalry charge, numbering some 2500 men. Sir Colin Campbell, their Officer in Command, is reputed to have said: "There is no retreat from here, men. You must die where you stand." His aide, John Scott, replied: "Aye Sir Colin. If needs be, we'll do that." The bold tactic was a great success, routing the Russian cavalry with three volleys at close range, with minimal British casualties. This moment was immortalised by the Times correspondent William H Russell, who witnessed the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel", later condensed into the familiar term 'the thin red line'. Sold with copy roll mentions confirming the award of a Crimea Medal to one 1277 Private Robert Cairns, who served with the 93rd Foot during the Crimean campaign. The roll mentions (which are notoriously difficult to decipher) appear to confirm the above clasps and place him as concretely as presently possible in the 'line'.
Estimate: £800-1200