THE SUPERB AND POIGNANT CRIMEA MEDAL AWARDED TO CAPTAIN 34TH FOOT, WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING HIS REGIMENTS DISASTROUS FIRST ATTACK ON THE REDAN ON 18 JUNE WHERE THE 34TH, ACTING AS STORMERS, LOST 75% OF THEIR NUMBER KILLED AND WOUNDED. A SOLDIER FROM HIS COMPANY DESCRIBES HOW DURING THE ATTACK, SHIFFNER WAS ‘IN FRONT OF ALL, WAVING HIS SWORD AND SHOUTING FOR THE MEN TO COME ON FOR DEATH OR VICTORY’ AND WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE ‘ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN OPENING IN THE ABATTIS BY HACKING THE PALISADE WITH HIS SWORD’ HIS BODY WAS LATER FOUND HEAR THE ABATTIS, WITH A GRAPE SHOT WOUND THROUGH THE BODY AND A GUNSHOT WOUND IN THE LEG. HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES

CRIMEA 1854-6, NO CLASP ‘CAPT. J. SHIFFNER. 34TH REGT.’ Officially impressed naming, in named card box of issue.

M.I.D. London Gazette 25 June 1855. A posthumous mention in Lord Raglan's dispatch.

John Shiffner, son of The Reverend Sir George Shiffner, was commissioned Ensign in the 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment of Foot on 15 October 1841. Rising to Lieutenant on 31 March 1843, he was Commissioned Captain in the 34th (Cumberland) Regiment on 3 August 1849. The 34th joined the Crimean War later than most regiments, arriving at Balaklava on 9 December 1854, therefore missing the earlier great battles. However they played a prominent part in repelling the Russian sortie from Sebastopol on 22 March 1855 and again, whilst acting as stormers during the attack on the attack on the Quarries; 7 June 1855. However it was during the attack on the Redan, 11 days later that the regiment was sorely tested.

Captain Shiffner was killed in action during the First Attack on the Redan on 18 June 1855. This attack was a disaster for the 34th, who were acting as stormers during the assault. According to the Regimental history, of the 400 men of the 34th, who assaulted the Russian battery, 10 officers and 314 NCO’s/Men were killed or wounded. Captain Shiffner himself was noted for his gallantry; contemporary accounts (below), mention him leading his men from the front, waving his sword and encouraging all. He was last seen alive, hacking at the Russian defences with his sword, his body later found where he had last been seen, with a bullet wound in his leg and a grapeshot wound though his body. He was posthumously mentioned in Lord Raglan's dispatches.

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Medal roll shows Captain Shiffner’s medal was issued via the War Office and that he was entitled to Sebastopol clasp. This was clearly not attached to the medal itself and was very frequently the case, would have been issued loose for attachment to the medal but has subsequently been lost.

Condition near mint, officially impressed naming, in named card box of issue. A quite stunning medal. Sold with research on CD and a copy of a faded photograph from the Shiffner archives, showing Shiffner in the uniform of a Captain of the 34th, smoking a cigar in the camp before Sebastopol.