The miniature medal shown at the right is a reproduction of the Crimean War medal with the Wyon-designed profile of Queen Victoria on the obverse and a Roman soldier, armed with circular shield and short sword, being crowned by a flying Victory on the reverse. Note that the clasp bears the name 'Balaklava'.The coloured painting shown on the card is of the ill fated 'Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaklava and immortalized by the poem composed by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It is interesting to note that the Balaklava clasp is the only one in which a British defeat is honoured. Of course, this outcome was through no fault of the brave men of the 93rd 'Thin Red Line' and other regiments who saved the day but rather of faulty command and control measures.
The medal was awarded by United Kingdom to all participants (even the correspondent for The Times). The medal is notable for its extremely ornate clasps, being in the form of an oak leaf with an acorn at each extremity, a style never again used on a British medal. The suspension is an ornate floriated swivelling suspender, again unique to the Crimea Medal. Clasps were awarded for the participants of the following battles:
* Alma, 20 September 1854
* Balaklava, 25 October 1854
* Inkerman, 5 November 1854
* Azoff, May -- September 1855 (Royal Navy and Marines)
* Sebastopol, 17 October1854 -- 9 September 1855
Note that three of the battles occurred in the first two months of a twelve month campaign of fighting. However, three-quarters of the British casualties occurred in the last ten months and were primarily due to inadequate clothing, shelter and medical services. For further insight for the latter service see the material on Panel 47 that relates to Surgeon-General Duncan Macpherson.