A Crimea and Indian Mutiny Pair of Medals to a Light Brigade recipient prevented from charging at...

A Crimea and Indian Mutiny Pair of Medals to a Light Brigade recipient prevented from charging at Balaclava by a boil on his leg, later killed in the Indian Mutiny and sold with additional archival paperwork and photograph:- Crimea, 4 clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Cort. & Adjt. Robt. Harding 8th Husrs.), unofficial engraved naming in caps; Indian Mutiny, clasp Central India (Lt & Adjt. R. Harding 8th Hussars.), good very fine and extremely fine; sold with:- 1) framed photographic print, half-length portrait in full uniform, wearing Crimea medal, bubbled surface; 2) Commission Warrant, 5/12/[18]54, "To be Cornet in Our Eighth Regiment of Light Dragoons … from 26th October 1854", with Queen Victoria's signature and date-stamped in London 27.5.56; 3) Commission Warrant, 5/12/[18]54, "To be Adjutant in Our Eighth Regiment of Light Dragoons … from 26th October 1854", with Queen Victoria's signature and date-stamped in London 27.5.56; "Statement of Services", with family and service details (see below); 4) Modern research photocopies, etc.. Robert Harding, born St George's London, Middx, October 1819. Enlisted aged 18; Private 31/10/37; Corporal 6/2/41; Sergeant 8/8/44; Troop Sergeant Major 26/6/49; Regimental Sergeant Major 17/3/54; Cornet 26/10/54; Adjutant 26/10/54; Lieutenant 1/8/56. Married, 30 May, 1844, Fulford, York, to Elizabeth Shear. He embarked for the Crimea on 19th April, 1855 on the H. T. Mary Anne, but there is little on record of his service there, other than the medal and its clasps. Of the 'Charge of the Light Brigade, Robert H Murray, The History of the VIII King's Royal Irish Hussars, Cambridge, 1928, quotes a letter, "R.S.M Harding, I am glad to say, was not out with us that day, although much to his annoyance… He was laid up with a boil on his leg". During the Indian Mutiny his "Statement of Services" shows him at the Siege and Capture of Notak, 30 March 1858, Major General Roberts; Capture of Chundaree 29 May 1858; Capture of Gwalior 17th, 18th, 19th June 1858, Major General Sir Hugh Rose; Battle of Sindwaha 19th October 1858, Major General Michel. It was in this last action that he was mortally wounded, "Lt. and Adjutant Harding was dangerously wounded at the Battle of Sindwaha 19th October 1858 and died of the wound on the 23rd Novr. Signed B. Desahs, Colonel Comg. 8th Hussars". The Regiment was awarded 4 Victoria Crosses and 98 sabres for the charge and action at Gwalior, where the 'warrior Queen', the Rani of Jhansi was killed, dressed as a cavalry officer. Harding and six others were "specially mentioned in the despatches for their gallant conduct before Gwalior". Of his final action at Sindwaha the History records "Adjutant Harding, who was advancing singlehanded, attacked a group of desperate fanatics who were steadily retreating, halting occasionally and firing, refusing all quarter. He fell mortally wounded… [He had been] carried along in a dhooly ever since [and] died on the 23rd Nove