THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO MAJOR GENERAL SIR CHRISTOPHER TEESDALE, ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY, HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY SPINK OF LONDON AND WAS PURCHASED ON BEHALF OF THE LORD ASHCROFT VC COLLECTION.
21 April 2011


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Major General Sir Christopher Teesdale,
Royal Artillery

  • Victoria Cross
  • Knight Commander, Order of St Michael & St George ( KCMG )
  • Companion, Order of the Bath ( CB )
  • Knight, Royal Guelphic Order ( KH )
  • Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal ( 1887 )
  • Knight Grand Cross, Order of Dannebrog ( Denmark )
  • Officer, Legion of Honour ( France )
  • Grand Cross, Order of the Redeemer ( Greece )
  • Grand Officer, Order of Kalakaua ( Hawaii )
  • Knight, Order of St Anne ( Russia )
  • Commander, Order of Vladimir ( Russia )
  • Order of the Medjidieh ( Turkey )
  • Grand Officer, Order of Osmanieh ( Turkey )
  • Commander, Order of Osmanieh ( Turkey )
  • Imtiyaz Medal ( Silver ) - with Kars ribbon & clasp ( Turkey )
  • Defence of Kars Medal ( 1854 ) ( Turkey )

The Victoria Cross, Orders, decorations and campaign medals awarded to Major General Sir Christopher Teesdale, Royal Artillery, have been sold at auction by Spink of London on 21st April 2011.
The sale hammer price realised
£260,000. The Christopher Teesdale VC group was purchased by the Michael Ashcroft Trust, the holding institution for the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection. The group will go on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 25 September 1857 ], Kars, Turkey, 29 September 1855, Lieutenant Christopher Charles Teesdale, C.B., Royal Artillery.

For gallant conduct, in having, while acting as Aide-de-Camp to Major General Sir William Fenwick Williams, Bart, K.C.B., at Kars, volunteered to take command of the force engaged in the defence of the most advanced part of the works, - the key of the position - against the attack of the Russian Army when, by throwing himself into the midst of the enemy, who had penetrated into the above redoubt, he encouraged the garrison to make an attack, so vigorous, as to drive out the Russians therefrom, and prevent its capture; also for having, during the hottest part of the action, when the enemy's fire had driven the Turkish Artillerymen from their guns, rallied the latter, and by his intrepid example induced them to return to their posts; and further, after having led the final charge which completed the victory of the day, for having, at the greatest personal risk, saved from the fury of the Turks, a considerable number of the disabled among the enemy, who were lying wounded outside the works, - an action witnessed, and acknowledged gratefully before the Russian Staff, by General Mouravieff.

Christopher Teesdale was invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on the 21st November 1857.


Major General Christopher Teesdale died, aged 60, on the 1st November 1893, at his home "The Ark" in South Bersted, West Sussex, and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene Church.

Acquisitions

Go to VC UK flag Home Page

Iain Stewart, 2 March 2012