Archive for March, 2010
Lieutenant Knox's Officer Sash, worn in the Crimea
The crimson silk patent net sash with tassels in this photograph was the symbol of an officer in the nineteenth century. The officer who wore this sash in the Crimea was Lieutenant (Later Major) John Simpson Knox, VC, Rifle Brigade. Although the formal sash of an officer of Rifles was more ornate, with cords and tassels, many Rifle Brigade officers wore the same sash as the rest of the Army while on campaign for convenience and durability.
According to 1846 Uniform Regulations, the type of sash shown in this photograph, worn by most officers in the Crimea, should wind around the waist twice, tie in front of the left hip, with the tips of the pendent hanging uniformly 16 inches in length from the tie point.
The story of John Simpson Knox is a tale of courage and dedication to duty. He arrived in the Crimea a Sergeant in the Scots Fusilier Guards. At the Battle of Alma on 20 September 1854, he behaved with conspicuous courage at a decisive moment in the engagement by rallying and reforming the Guards ranks under scathing enemy fire. Because of his gallantry, he was plucked from the enlisted ranks to become a Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade. On 18 June 1855, Lieutenant Knox volunteered for a ladder party in the assault on the Redan, and again demonstrated conspicuous courage in leading his party and remaining on the field until wounded twice. For his actions in the Crimean War he was awarded the Victoria Cross, England’s highest medal.
Courtesy of the Royal Green Jackets Museum
Captain Neville's Cigar Case
This is a cigar case, containing four cigars, the property of Captain the Honourable H. C. Neville, 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, the Grenadier Guards.
The Grenadier Guards landed at Kalamita Bay in the Crimea in September 1854, as part of the Guards Brigade, 1st Division, English Army of the East. These were Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s elite personal household guard. In the Crimea, the Guards Brigade consisted of Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Fusilier Guards. The Guards battle honours include Alma, Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol.
In 1854, cigarette smoking was definitely not in fashion. Many enlisted soldiers chewed tobacco, but this was not a thing done by the officer class. Most British officers preferred a pipe or a good cigar. This cigar case is sufficient to hold six cigars, three on each side behind the canvas. If you are a cigar smoker today, you can find very similar cases in any tobacconist.
The cigar case in this photograph is typical of those used to protect cigars from being crushed on campaign. It, and the four cigars within, were carried by Captain Neville, Grenadier Guards, during the Crimean War. As can be seen, one of the cigars is wrapped in paper. The paper reveals the sad truth. It contains the following hand-written note:
Capt. Hon. H. C. Neville
3 Bn Gr. Guards
Killed at Inkerman 5 Nov 54
This artifact was photographed courtesy of the Guards Museum, London, UK.
Judging from the responses, I guess many of you enjoyed the Ram’s Head Snuff Mull, so I thought I’d add a few more photographs from “Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War.”
Black Watch Bonnet
The Highland bonnet shown here was worn at the Battle of the Alma, Crimean War, by Captain Sir Peter Halkett, 42nd Highland Regiment of Foot. The 42nd is more commonly known as The Black Watch.
The officer’s bonnet is cocked and feathered with six black ostrich feathers, ten inches deep, according to regulations. The skull is blue cloth fastened at the back with black ribbons. It has a check band of the regimental pattern, and a silver regimental badge bearing the name ‘Egypt’, surmounted by a Sphinx on the left side. There is a scarlet vulture feather, eight inches long, above the badge on the left side. The black ribbons can be seen, but a black leather chin-strap is missing.
Thanks for enjoying the photographs.
This artifact was photographed courtesy of The Black Watch Museum, Perth, Scotland.
