95th (The Derbyshire) Regiment. 1844 pattern epaulette of Ma...

Hammer

£140

95th (The Derbyshire) Regiment. 1844 pattern epaulette of Major Henry Hume, shot-holed at the same time as Hume was wounded

Henry Hume was born on 23 January 1816 and became an Ensign, 95th (The Derbyshire) Regt on 9 May 1835, being advanced Lieutenant, 1 December 1837, Captain, 19 January 1844, Major, 24 December 1852 and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 12 December 1854. Recommended for the Victoria Cross after The Alma, Hume later transferred to the Grenadier Guards.

The Derbyshire Campaign Series (Vol I, The Crimea, H C Wylly) records:
“The 23rd and 95th were now joined by the 7th Fusiliers, and all three corps directed their fire upon a Russian battalion in their front. The slaughter on both sides was terrific, the 95th being taken in flank by the Russian 32nd Regiment. At this moment some of our regiments on the right began to retire. No supports were immediately at hand, and the moment was critical. Major Hume, who was on foot, his horse having been shot, seized the regimental Colour from the shattered hand of Ensign Bazalgette (who had by now been twice wounded) and fronted, while the remaining men rallied round the Colour. Captain Raines with Sergeants Sexton and Ormond and a handful of men came up bearing aloft the Queen's Colour, which Raines had taken from LangfordBrooke, who had by now been sent limping to hospital. The Queen's Colour was then handed to Morgan and the Regimental Colour to Carmichael.

Major Hume was shot when he had taken the Regimental Colour from Bazalgette, when it was received by Captain Davis, and finally carried until the close of the action by Lieutenant Carmichael.

"The Lieutenant-General has the satisfaction to publish in orders the following names of officers and men of the 95th Regiment, reported by their Commanding Officer, whose gallant conduct came under his especial notice at the battle of the Alma : Major H. Hume, after crossing the river, had a horse shot under him, headed the attack on the Russian main outwork and carried the Regimental Colour for some time during the hardest part of the struggle.”

Hume was invalided home in December 1854 and his Crimea Medal was presented to him from the hand of Queen Victoria on 18 May 1855. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel 9 March 1855, became joined the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms in 1862. Hume died on 19 August 1892.