A Crimean And China Campaign Group To 4Th Brigade, Royal Artillery

A Crimean and China Campaign Group to 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery - Crimea Medal 1854-1856, 4 clasps - SEBASTOPOL, INKERMANN, BALAKLAVA, ALMA; Second China War Medal 1857-1860, 1 Clasp - TAKU FORTS 1858 (GUNNr PATk HUGHES ROYAL ARTy); and Turkish Crimea Medal 1855-56, British Issue. Naming on the Second China War Medal is officially impressed, the other two medals are un-named, the clasps on the Crimea Medal mounted in that order and using unofficial rivets, the Turkish Crimea Medal pierced with a ring suspension. Un-mounted, contact marks, some edge bruising, better very fine. Accompanied by four pages containing copies of his Service Records, the clasps for his two campaign medals confirmed in the records.

Footnote: Patrick Hughes was born in Armagh, Ireland in 1830. A Labourer by trade, he attested with the 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery at Dartrie (Dartry) Lodge, Armagh, on September 16, 1847, at the age of 17 years, 9 months. Hughes served overseas as a Gunner in the Crimea for two years and one month, in China for three years and three months, followed by a term in India entailing two years and three months, where he re-engaged at Bombay, India for a further term of nine years on March 27, 1860. He concluded his overseas service in Canada, which entailed two years and eleven months, the years not stated. Although the 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery is documented as having been in Canada during the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870, with members of the Brigade entitled to the Canada General Service Medal, Hughes is not on the roll of recipients as listed in the "Canada General Service Medal Roll, 1866-70" by John Thyen.

On January 3, 1870, upon his impending discharge on the termination of his second period of engagement, the assessment of his character was said to have been "Bad: In consequence of his exceedingly Intemperate Habits". It was noted that he had been "tried and convicted by nine Court Martials" and failed to be awarded any Good Conduct Badges, having been mentioned in the Regimental Defaulter’s Book forty-six times. Hughes was discharged from service on January 25, 1870 at Athlone, Ireland, his service totalling 20 months and 358 days, having served abroad for 10 years and 6 months of that period.