THE ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM PEEL, ROYAL NAVY, HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE LORD ASHCROFT VC COLLECTION.
7 October 2023


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Captain Sir William Peel,
Royal Navy ( Naval Brigade )

  • Victoria Cross ( Replica )
  • Knight Commander, Order of the Bath ( KCB )
  • Naval General Service Medal ( 1793-1840 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Syria"
  • Crimea Medal ( 1854-1856 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Inkermann" - "Sebastopol"
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-1858 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Relief of Lucknow" - "Lucknow"
  • Officer, Legion of Honour ( France )
  • Order of the Medjidieh ( Turkey )
  • St Jean D'Acre Medal ( 1840 )
  • Medal of Military Vallour ( Sardinia )
  • Turkish Crimea Medal ( 1855 )


The Orders, decorations and campaign medals awarded to Captain William Peel, Royal Navy ( Naval Brigade ), have been gifted to the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection. The medals are accompanied by an old replica Victoria Cross.

The original William Peel Victoria Cross is held by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 24 February 1857 ], Inkermann & Sebastopol, Crimean War, 18 October 1854, 5 November 1854, 18 June 1855, Captain William Peel, Royal Navy ( Naval Brigade ).

Sir Stephen Lushington recommends this Officer:

1st. For having on the 18th October 1854, at the greatest possible risk, taken up a live shell, the fuze still burning, from among several powder cases, outside the magazine, and thrown it over the parapet ( the shell bursting as it left his hands ) thereby saving the magazines, and the lives of those immediately around.

( Despatch from Sir S Lushington inclosed in letter from Admiral Lord Lyons, 10th May 1856 )

2nd. On the 5th November 1854, at the Battle of Inkerman, for joining the Officers of the Grenadier Guards, and assisting in defending the colours of that Regiment, when hard pressed at the Sandbag Battery.

( Sir S Lushington is authorised to make this statement by the Lieutenant-General Commanding the Division, His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who is ready to bear testimony to the fact )

3rd. On the 18th June 1855, for volunteering to lead the Ladder Party at the assault on the Redan, and carrying the first ladder until wounded.


Sir William Peel died of smallpox on the 21st April 1858 and was buried in the Old British Cemetery, Cawnpore, India. The grave is unmarked.

Acquisitions

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Iain Stewart, 7 October 2023