Full medal write up
1) WATERLOO 1815 ‘CORP. ALEXANDER GARDNER, 2ND OR R.N. BRIT. REG. DRAG.’, fitted with original steel clip and straight bar suspension, contact marks and couple of EK’s, attractive patina, original ribbon, NVF
2) CRIMEA 1854-55, 2 CLASPS, BALAKLAVA, SEBASTOPOL ‘PTE. A. D. GARDINER, 2D DRGNS.’ officially engraved naming by Hunt & Roskell as per roll; TURKISH CRIMEA, BRITISH ISSUE, UNNAMED AS ISSUED, fitted with small rings for suspension, unofficial rivets between clasps (Sebastopol clasp issued separately), small EK to first, attractive patina, original ribbon, GVF
3) QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 2 CLASPS, CAPE COLONY, SOUTH AFRICA 1902 ‘38905 PTE. W. E. GARDINER, 32ND BN: IMP: YEO:’, attractive patina, original ribbon, GVF
Alexander Gardiner was born at New Kilpatrick, Dunbarton, Scotland, circa 1794, and enlisted for the 2nd Dragoons at Glasgow on 25 January 1809, aged 15 years. Promoted to Corporal in April 1815, he served at Waterloo in Captain Poole’s Troop and was severely wounded during the battle in which the regiment covered itself in glory. Musters show Gardiner remained in hospital in Brussels until at least late September 1815. Of the 2 officers and 70 men in Poole’s troop, 37 became casualties; both officers were wounded, 18 men were killed, and 17 wounded, 2 of these dying of their wounds.
Recovering from his wounds, Gardiner was promoted to Sergeant in August 1818, and to Troop Sergeant-Major in January 1826. He was, however, reduced to Private from November 1829 until February 1830, when he was restored to the rank of Sergeant. He was discharged at Dalkeith on 5 May 1835, aged 41, intending to reside at Oswestry, Salop. Having moved to Oswestry, Gardiner enlisted into the staff of the North Salopian (later Shropshire) Yeomanry Cavalry, serving with them for many years. He died at Llwynymen, Oswestry on June 1848. The local newspaper, Eddowes’s Journal and General Advertiser for Shropshire, and the Principality of Wales, carried a lengthy report on Wednesday 28 June covering the ‘Funeral of the late Sergeant-Major Gardiner, late of the Scots Greys.’ He was buried with full military honours, with an escort being provided by the North Shropshire Yeomanry. ‘The late Sergeant-Major,’ the report concluded, ‘served in the Greys twenty five years, was with that fine regiment at Waterloo, and has now three sons in its ranks, the eldest of whom is a corporal, and all respected by their commanding officers.’ No less than 4,000 people lined the route of his hearse to pay their respects, with three rounds being fired over the grave by the soldiers present.
Alexander Douglas Gardiner was born at Norwich, circa 1826, second son of Troop Sergeant-Major Alexander Gardiner, who was then stationed in that town. He enlisted into the 2nd Dragoons at Athlone on 14 April 1848, being recruited by his brother, Private James Gardiner, of the same regiment. He was, in fact, one of three brothers to follow into their father’s regiment, the now famous Scots Greys. Aged 22, he enlisted for a period of 12 years, but army life cannot have been to his immediate liking, if ever it was, as he had committed some misdemeanour before the year’s end that landed him in prison for a week. He was in trouble again in August 1851, this time serving a sentence of three months. Taking part in the Crimean War, he was present with his regiment at the battle of Balaclava where he charged with the Heavy Brigade, during which, like his father before, was severely wounded. Indeed Gardiner was so severely wounded at Balaklava that he was discharged from the army at Chatham on 23 October 1855, in consequence of being ‘disabled by amputation of left thigh at its centre after cannon shot wound received at Balaklava.’
Gardiner’s wound, which was reported in the London Gazette on 12 November 1854, and the circumstances of the occasion are of great interest in that his life was saved by Sergeant Henry Ramage, who won the Victoria Cross on that day. Sergeant Ramage’s Victoria Cross citation was published in the London Gazette of 4 June 1858:
“For having, at the Battle of Balaklava, galloped out to the assistance of Private McPherson, of the same Regiment, on perceiving him surrounded by seven Russians, when by his gallantry he dispersed the enemy, and saved his comrade’s life. For having, on the same day, when the Heavy Brigade was rallying, and the enemy retiring, finding his horse would not leave the ranks, dismounted and brought in a prisoner from the Russian lines. Also for having dismounted on the same day, when the Heavy Brigade was covering the retreat of the Light Cavalry, and lifted from his horse Private Gardiner, who was disabled from a severe fracture of the leg by around shot. Serjeant Ramage then carried him to the rear from under a very heavy cross fire, thereby saving his life, the spot where he must inevitably have fallen having been immediately afterwards covered by the Russian cavalry”.
Alexander D. Gardiner died at Warrington on 14 May 1879, aged 52 years. An article in the Northwich Guardian, 24 May 1879, tells of his funeral, the large number of attendees, with family and friends, along with local dignitaries forming the funeral procession. It describes how after spending 18 months in hospital after his return from the Crimea, he was employed as chief clerk of the Dallam Forge Company, where he remained employed until his death. It also tells how not only his father had served in the Scots Greys, but his three brothers and his grandfather had also.
Wilfred Ernest Gardiner was born at St Paul’s, near Warrington, Lancashire, on 10 May 1872, the fifth child and second son of Alexander Douglas Gardiner. He volunteered for service with the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa at Worsley on 6 January 1902. He served in South Africa with the 144th Company, 32nd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, from 7 May until 18 October 1902, just in time to witness the closing stages of the Boer War. He was discharged at Aldershot on 26 October 1902, at his own request after serving for only 294 days. He subsequently pursued a career as a Foreman Engineer, and died at Manchester on 29 April 1946, aged 73 years.
An outstanding Scots Greys family group, not only did the father and son take part in and were severely wounded during two of the most famous charges in British military history but the Victoria Cross was awarded as a direct result of the son’s life being saved at Balaclava.