A Scottish and New Zealand Interest Crimean War campaign medal pair: Private William Skirving 21st Royal North British Fusiliers

- Crimea: Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (2741 Pte William Skirving 21st R.N.B. Fusiliers)
- Turkish Crimea 1855. Sardinian die (2749 Pte William Skirving 21st R.N.B. Fusiliers)

The medals with 'Depot' impressed naming in identical styles. Both medals equally age toned. Rivets on Crimea a/f. The Turkish medal only with neat contemporary replacement hinge and ring suspension

Medals & Clasps Verification: Medal rolls were not compiled for the Turkish issue Crimea Medal - the medal was however an automatic award for any British soldier who had qualified for a British issue Crimea Medal. The British issue Crimea Medal and all 4 x clasps is confirmed as entitled per the respective medal roll cited below:

- Crimea Medal 1854-56. With 4 clasps 'Alma', 'Balaklava', 'Inkermann', 'Sebastopol': WO 100/27
- Turkish Crimea 1855: An automatic entitlement for any British soldier who had landed in the Crimea and was entitled to a British Crimea Medal

William Skirving, was born in Scotland circa 1829. William enlisted in the British Army in January 1850 (No. 2752 Private William Hepburn - with regimental number just a few 3 digits later than William Skirving's - had enlisted in the 21st at Glasgow on 31 January 1850), when he was posted to the 21st Regiment of Foot (Royal North British Fusiliers). The British Army Worldwide Index for period January through March 1851 (ref WO 12/3819), records No. 2741 William Skirving holding the rank of Private and serving with the 21st Regiment of Foot (Royal North British Fusiliers) at Glasgow, Scotland.

After taking his discharge from the British Army William Skirving, migrated to New Zealand, where a Land Records Register for 1882, show him described as a Labourer, living at an address in Mount Cargill, and owning 18 acres of land in Waikouaiti County, of value 175 Pounds. In 1883, William married Jean 'Jeannie' Watson, the couple being blessed with a son, Matthew Robert Skirving, who was born on 2 June 1884. Sadly William did not live long after his son was born, as he is recorded to have died on13 July1884. After his death, Wiliam Skirving's body was laid to rest at Hawksbury Cemetery, Waikouaiti, Otago, New Zealand

William's son Matthew Robert Skirving, who prior to the Great War had been employed as an 'Engine Driver' was later 'Killed-in-Action' on 1 October 1918 in  France, while serving as No. 65191 Private Mathew Robert Skirving, 16th Waikaito Company, 1st Battalion Auckland Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Matthew's body was recovered form the field of battle, and his life and supreme sacrifice, is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Anneux British Cemetery located in the Department of the Nord, France, where his bodily remains lie buried under a memorial headstone

The service papers for Matthew Robert Skirving are extant and accessible on-line
 
For his services in the Great War Matthew Robert Skirving, the family of the fallen receive his posthumous British War Medal & Interallied Victory Medal pair. As recent as 2020, the family medals of father (William Skirving) and son (Matthew Robert Skirving) had been together, when recorded offered for sale together in New Zealand

Sold together with some collector notes

Condition: Toned VF

Code: 25642