A CRIMEAN WAR D.C.M. AWARDED TO DRUMMER, 63RD REGIMENT OF FOOT LIKELY OR HIS ACTIONS AT THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN WHERE THE 63RD WERE VERY HEAVILY ENGAGED DEFENDING THE BARRIER

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, V.R. ‘DRUMMER JOHN ROE. 63RD. REGT.’

John Roe was born in Gibraltar on 2 March 1833. Probably the son of a soldier, he enlisted into the 63rd Foot at Chatham on 3 February 1848, aged 14. Appointed Drummer on 25 November 1848, he spent several years in Ireland before embarking for the Crimea on 21 July 1854. Landing in the Crimea on 14 September 1854, the 63rd as part of the 4th Division saw little action at the battle of Alma, having arrived on the field as the Russian were in retreat. Taking part in the siege of Sebastopol from early October 1854. The 63rd were very heavily engaged at the battle of Inkerman, 5 November 1854. From the Regimental history:

“The battle of Inkerman lasted without a moment's pause, from daylight on Sunday, the 5th of November, till about half-past two in the afternoon eight and a half hours' fighting, such as was seldom witnessed on any battlefield. The generals of the fourth division being all killed or wounded, Brigadier-General Pennefather, of the second division, rode up, called for Colonel Swyny, and said, " Let me see what metal the 63rd is made of ; the enemy will be soon upon you, be ready to give him a volley and charge." Colonel Swyny had formed his regiment in line and ordered the men to lie down, as they were exposed to a terrific fire from the enemy's artillery. The morning was foggy, and the enemy, rushing up the ravine in columns, were close upon us before they could be seen. The colonel gave the order to fire a volley and charge. A volley was fired, when the regiment, with its usual cheer, charged with the bayonet and drove the Russians down to the Barrier ; they however disputed every inch of the ground with incredible fury and determination. The conflicts were of the most deadly character. The battle of Inkerman admits of no description ; it was a series of hand to hand fights. Colonel Swyny charged at the head of his regiment, but one barrel of his revolver only had been discharged before he fell. At the Barrier, Colonel, now General, Sir F. Haines and Sergeant-Major Vousden, of the 21st Fusiliers, joined us; the latter and Sergeant Prouse, of the 63rd Regiment, were severely wounded on the road above the Barrier, also a number of men were killed and wounded there………………

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Condition. Overall contact wear from other medals with first letters of rank and end of ‘Regt’ weak. Sold with a quantity of research including copy service, medal rolls, excerpts from Regt history, article on 63rd in Crimea and Trent affair.