GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
816
A fine Light Brigade D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant-Major John Allen, 13th Light Dragoons, who had his
horse killed in the charge at Balaklava
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, V.R. (Corpl. John Allen, 13th Light Dragoons) officially impressed naming, weak in places
from contact wear; CRIMEA 1854-56, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Serjeant John Allen 13th Light
Dragoons) regimentally impressed naming; ARMY L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1199 Serjt. John Allen, 13th
Hussars) officially impressed naming, suspension claw tightened; TURKISH CRIMEA, Sardinian issue (Serjeant John Allen
13th Light Dragoons) regimentally impressed naming, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine (4)
£12000-15000
Sold with an original cabinet photograph of Allen as Squadron-Sergeant-Major wearing his medals, with a news cutting pasted to the
bottom margin which reads: ‘Sergt.-Maj. John Allen, who rode in the third line on the famous charge while corporal in the 13th Light
Dragoons, died on Monday at the Swan Hotel, Leek, of which he has been landlord for about seven years. He escaped the battle
unhurt, but his horse was killed under him. He was 68 years of age, and became a soldier at 16.’
John Allen was born on 14 February 1826 at Englefield, near Reading. He joined the 13th Light Dragoons in 1842 and was present with
the regiment throughout the Crimean war, taking part in the affair at Bulganek on 19 September 1854, and the battle of the Alma on the
following day. He was promoted Corporal on 1 October 1854. At Balaklava on 25 October, the 13th Light Dragoons were in the Light
Brigade on the right of the line. Allen rode in the famous charge in the third line and though he had his horse killed under him, he
survived unscathed. He afterwards took part in the battle of Inkermann and in the siege of Sebastopol. He was promoted to Sergeant on
7 August 1855, received his L.S. & G.C. medal after 18 years service in 1862, and retired in the rank of Squadron-Sergeant-Major.
Allen was present at the Balaklava Banquets held in 1875 and 1892, and was one of the survivors of the charge who signed the Loyal
Address on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. In that same year he took over as landlord of the Swan Hotel in
Leek, Staffordshire, and died there at the age of 68 on 30 July 1894. He is buried in Leek Cemetery where his tombstone carries the
following inscription:
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