THE CRIMEA MEDAL AWARDED TO PRIVATE J. SUNDERLAND, 49TH (PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION BERKSHIRE REGIMENT) WHO DIED IN THE CRIMEA. Crimea Medal 1954-55, 3 clasps, Alma, Inkerman, Sebastopol (officially named, impressed in plain block capitals: J. SUNDERLAND. 49th. REGt.). Almost Extremely Fine and with a length of original ribbon.
Medal accompanied by copied medal roll extract, confirming medal and clasps and that 2948 Private Joseph Sunderland died in the Crimea on 26/1/1855, along with extract from Lloyds London Weekly News of 11/2/1855 which records Sunderland as being among the officers and men who died at Scutari between 1st - 28th January 1855.
Scutari was the scene of terrible suffering during the winter of 1854-55. In addition, many officers and men died aboard the transports evacuating them from the Crimea to Scutari, as a result of the conditions aboard and the lack of attention from medical officers accompanying them. This latter situation was highlighted in the Berkshire County Paper of 10/2/1855, which recorded that a Dr Lawson "was severely censured in General Orders by the Commander in Chief for his 'apathy and indifference' towards the sick and wounded aboard the transport Avon", the report going on to record the numbers dying aboard transports en route to Scutari and while in harbour, waiting to disembark their wounded officers and men. The treatment of the wounded officers and men eventually led to Florence Nightingale making her way to Scutari with a view to improving medical arrangements. She arrived in November 1855. The deaths continued despite her best efforts, and during her first winter over 4,000 officers and men died there and it was some considerable time before she resolved the problems regarding the treatment of the sick and wounded at Scutari.
