A Crimean War 'Thin Red Line' D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private A. Fletcher, 93rd...

A Crimean War ‘Thin Red Line’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private A. Fletcher, 93rd Highlanders Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Alexr. Fletcher. 93rd Highlanders); Crimea 1854-56, 3 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol (No. 914 Alexr. Fletcher. 93rd Highlanders.) Regimentally impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, pierced as issued with small ring suspension, light contact marks, generally very fine and better (3) £4,000-£5,000 --- Provenance: Christie’s, March 1988. D.C.M. Recommended 8 January 1855. Fifteen Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded to the 93rd Highlanders for the Crimea, and they were all Recommended on the same date, 8 January 1855. Interestingly, the Distinguished Conduct Medals awarded to men of the Heavy Brigade for the Battle of Balaklava were Recommended over the period 3-21 January 1855; and those to men of the Light Brigade for the Battle of Balaklava were Recommended over the period 10 January to 13 February 1855. Alexander Fletcher was born Forres, Moray, Scotland, in 1816 and attested for the 93rd Highlanders at Elgin on 29 September 1834. He served with the Regiment for 10 years in North America, and subsequently during the Crimean War, and was present at the Battle of the Alma on 20 September 1854, and the Battle of Balaklava on 25 October 1854. ‘That Thin Red Streak Topped with a Line of Steel’
At 7:00 am on 25 October 1854, a force of 25,000 Russians, with 78 guns, under the command of General Liprandi, advanced from the far end of the North Valley. Their task was to capture Kadikoi and cut off the British supply port of Balaklava. Following the capture of the four Redoubts of the front line, the Russian cavalry made a two-pronged attack on Kadikoi. The first prong of 400 sabres crossed the Causeway Heights between the 2nd and 3rd Redoubts and headed straight for Sir Colin Campbell's position on the high ground to the left front of the village of Kadikoi. As well as his 500 kilted and bearded Highlanders of the 93rd, Campbell had 150 assorted soldiers, including some 30 to 40 Guardsmen, who had been hurried up from Balaklava, and the remnants of the Turkish Battalion in support. As the Russian cavalry, six Squadrons of the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar Hussar Regiment and three Squadrons of Don Cossaks, approached at the gallop, Campbell ordered his men into two lines, with his beloved Highlanders in the centre. Riding along the line, his orders were simple and effective: ‘There is no retreat from here, men! You must die where you stand!’ Spotting their quarry, the Russians in one grand line charged: ‘Gathering speed at every stride, they dashed on towards that thin red streak topped with a line of steel. The Turks fired a volley at eight hundred yards and ran. As the Russians came within six hundred yards, down went that line of steel in front, and out rang a rolling volley of Minié musketry. The distance was too great, the Russians were not checked but swept onwards, here and there knocked over by the shot of our batteries, but ere they came within two hundred and fifty yards another volley flashed from the rifles. The Russians wheeled about and fled faster than they came. “Bravo, Highlanders! Well Done!” shouted the excited spectators. The 93rd never altered their formation to receive the tide of horsemen. “I did not think it worth while to form them even four deep” said Sir Colin Campbell. The ordinary British line, two deep, was quite sufficient to repel the attack of those Muscovite cavaliers.’ (Letters from The Crimea, by W. H. Russell, The Times correspondent, refers). Thus the scene was set for the Heavy Brigade to rout the Russian cavalry, and the Light Brigade to Charge to immortality. Alone amongst infantry Regiments, the 93rd were commanded to bear, in commemoration of their gallant conduct, the honour ‘Balaklava’ on their Regimental Colour. Fletcher was discharged on 18 November 1856, after 22 years and 51 days’ service, in consequence of ‘the campaign in the Crimea the constant exposure to climate, and the numerous and heavy fatigues’. He died at Forres on 23 December 1874, aged 58.