Turkish Crimea Medal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Turkish Crimea Medal |
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Turkish Crimean War Medal reverse (left) and obverse, Sardinian issue
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| Type | Campaign medal |
| Eligibility | British, French, and Sardinian personnel |
| Campaign(s) | Crimean War |
| Description | Silver disc, 36mm in diameter |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1856 |
 Ribbon bar of the medal |
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The Turkish Crimean War Medal (Turkish: Kırım Harbi Madalyası) is a special award given by Sultan Abdulmejid I of the Ottoman Empire. It was created for soldiers from Britain, France, and Sardinia who fought alongside the Ottomans in the Crimean War (1854–1856). This medal was only given to those who survived the war. It was not given to their families if they died. There were three different versions of the medal, one for each allied country: Britain, France, and Sardinia. The medal was designed by a photographer named James Robertson.
British soldiers who received this medal also usually received the British Crimea Medal.
Contents
What Does the Turkish Crimea Medal Look Like?
The medal is made of silver and is about 36 millimeters (1.4 inches) wide.
The Front (Obverse) of the Medal
The front of the medal shows the Ottoman Sultan’s tughra. This is a special signature or symbol of the Sultan. It also shows the Muslim calendar year 1271. This year is on all versions of the medal.
The Back (Reverse) of the Medal
The back of the medal has a picture of a cannon. The cannon is standing on the flag of Imperial Russia. There is also an anchor and a mortar (a type of cannon). Behind these are the four flags of the allied countries. The order of these flags helps identify which country the medal was made for.
The flag in the middle on the right side, above the anchor, shows the country.
- For Britain, it's the Union Flag.
- For France, it's the tricolour flag.
- For Sardinia, it's the flag of the Kingdom of Sardinia. This flag looks like the Italian tricolour but has the Savoy shield in the middle.
The Turkish flag is always on the left side of the medal. Below the main picture, there is an inscription. It says:
- "Crimea 1855" for the British version.
- "La Crimee 1855" for the French version.
- "La Crimea 1855" for the Sardinian version.
Why Some British Medals Look Different
About 22,000 medals meant for British soldiers were lost in a shipwreck. Because of this, many British soldiers received medals that were actually made for Sardinian or French troops. The Sardinian version was the most common one given to British soldiers.
How People Wore the Medal
Many people mistakenly thought the side with the flags and cannon was the front of the medal. They often wore it that way. However, the side with the Sultan's symbol (tughra) is the correct front. Even today, many collectors still display the medal with the flags and cannon facing forward.
Quality of the Medals
The medals were not always made very well. Some British officers had better quality copies made from real silver. These copies were often thicker and heavier. They also had clearer details. The British versions of the medal are thought to have a bit more silver than the French or Sardinian ones.
The Ribbon for the Medal
The ribbon for the medal is dark red with green edges. It has a wavy pattern. The original ribbon was quite narrow, only about 12 millimeters (0.5 inches) wide. Often, two of these narrow ribbons were used together. However, British soldiers usually replaced it with a wider ribbon, about 32 millimeters (1.25 inches) wide.
The medal was originally hung from two small steel rings. These rings often rusted. So, soldiers usually changed them to fit the wider British-style ribbons. Many medals today have different ways of hanging, like a scroll or other types of hangers.
Naming on the Medal
The Turkish Crimea Medal was not given out with names engraved on it. However, some soldiers had their names privately engraved on their medals. These engravings can look different depending on who did the work.
Who Received the Medal and How Many Were Given?
The Sultan offered the medal to his three allies. But each country decided how many medals they would accept and who would receive them.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom gave out 74,000 medals to all ranks of the Army. These were soldiers who also qualified for the British Crimea Medal and survived the war. Another 25,000 medals went to the Royal Navy. Queen Victoria gave special permission for British soldiers to wear this medal on their uniforms.
France
France only ordered 1,500 medals for their soldiers who had served in Turkey. The French commander in the Crimea, Marshal Pélissier, said the medals were poorly made. He also said they were "of little attraction." Unlike the British, France did not issue a special order allowing their soldiers to wear this medal on their uniforms.
Sardinia
Sardinia accepted 5,000 Turkish medals. They gave these medals to officers and soldiers who had shown great bravery or skill during the campaign.
Because many British soldiers received medals meant for Sardinia or France, the number of medals received by each country does not tell us how many of each design were actually given out.
See also
- British Crimean War Medal
- Turkish Order of the Medjidie
- Sardinian Crimea Medal
- Baltic Medal
- Légion d'honneur
- Médaille militaire
