Baldwin & Sons
Auction 106 15 Sep 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
The Unique, "Thin Red Line", Group of 3 to Armourer Serjeant Edward Webb That Was Found in a Secret Compartment of his Writing Slope, the only Armourer Serjeant to serve at Balaklava with the 93rd, comprising Crimea Medal, 1854‑55, 3 clasp Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol, (Armr Serjt. E. Webb, 93rd Regt), impressed naming, Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, QVR, (1279 Armr Sergt. Ed Webb 91st‑Foot), Turkish Crimea, British Issue, (Armr Serjt E. Webb 93rd Regt), slight edge bumps, lightly toned very fine (3).
After owning the mid‑19th century Writing Slope since he was 14 years old, a present from his grandmother, the present owner, after keeping the Writing Slope in the loft for many years brought it down to polish ‑ during the renovation the secret compartment was discovered containing the three medals, two wedding rings, a miniature portrait of, presumably, Edward with a lock of hair to the reverse and a watch fob engraved (To Armor Sergt E. Webb From The Sergts XCI PLH June 9th 1874).
"The Russian cavalry force of 2,500 was on the road to Balaklava. About 400 of them were involved in the incident. It was early morning, and the sole force that lay between the oncoming cavalry and the disorganised and vulnerable British camp was the 93rd Regiment.
Campbell is said to have told his men, "There is no retreat from here, men. You must die where you stand." Sir Colin's aide John Scott is said to have replied, "Aye, Sir Colin. If needs be, we'll do that." (Campbell's relationship with his men was almost family‑like.) Campbell formed the 93rd into a line two deep - the "thin red line". Convention dictated that the line should be four deep. However, Campbell, a veteran of 41 years military service, had such a low opinion of the Russian cavalry that he did not bother to form four lines, let alone a square, but met the charge head on with the 2‑deep firing line. As the Russian cavalry approached, the 93rd discharged three volleys: at 600, 350 and 150 yards respectively, however they did not get a chance to discharge one at point‑blank range as in popular belief. This is due to the fact that the Russian commander, seeing such a thin line of infantry, concluded that this was a diversion and that there was a much stronger force behind the 93rd, and ordered the cavalry to withdraw. At that, some of the Highlanders started forward for a counter‑charge, but Sir Colin stopped them with a cry of "93rd, damn all that eagerness!".
The Times correspondent, William H. Russell, wrote that he could see nothing between the charging Russians and the British regiment's base of operations at Balaclava but the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel" of the 93rd. Popularly condensed into "the thin red line", the phrase became a symbol of British sangfroid in battle.".
Extract From British Battles Exhibition at the National Archives.
Sold with the mid‑Victorian writing slope, wood with inlay, initials (EW) to lid, wedding rings, locket, watch fob and copy Medal Rolls.
NB – The secret of how to open the hidden compartment will be revealed to the purchaser!
After owning the mid‑19th century Writing Slope since he was 14 years old, a present from his grandmother, the present owner, after keeping the Writing Slope in the loft for many years brought it down to polish ‑ during the renovation the secret compartment was discovered containing the three medals, two wedding rings, a miniature portrait of, presumably, Edward with a lock of hair to the reverse and a watch fob engraved (To Armor Sergt E. Webb From The Sergts XCI PLH June 9th 1874).
"The Russian cavalry force of 2,500 was on the road to Balaklava. About 400 of them were involved in the incident. It was early morning, and the sole force that lay between the oncoming cavalry and the disorganised and vulnerable British camp was the 93rd Regiment.
Campbell is said to have told his men, "There is no retreat from here, men. You must die where you stand." Sir Colin's aide John Scott is said to have replied, "Aye, Sir Colin. If needs be, we'll do that." (Campbell's relationship with his men was almost family‑like.) Campbell formed the 93rd into a line two deep - the "thin red line". Convention dictated that the line should be four deep. However, Campbell, a veteran of 41 years military service, had such a low opinion of the Russian cavalry that he did not bother to form four lines, let alone a square, but met the charge head on with the 2‑deep firing line. As the Russian cavalry approached, the 93rd discharged three volleys: at 600, 350 and 150 yards respectively, however they did not get a chance to discharge one at point‑blank range as in popular belief. This is due to the fact that the Russian commander, seeing such a thin line of infantry, concluded that this was a diversion and that there was a much stronger force behind the 93rd, and ordered the cavalry to withdraw. At that, some of the Highlanders started forward for a counter‑charge, but Sir Colin stopped them with a cry of "93rd, damn all that eagerness!".
The Times correspondent, William H. Russell, wrote that he could see nothing between the charging Russians and the British regiment's base of operations at Balaclava but the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel" of the 93rd. Popularly condensed into "the thin red line", the phrase became a symbol of British sangfroid in battle.".
Extract From British Battles Exhibition at the National Archives.
Sold with the mid‑Victorian writing slope, wood with inlay, initials (EW) to lid, wedding rings, locket, watch fob and copy Medal Rolls.
NB – The secret of how to open the hidden compartment will be revealed to the purchaser!