Only
a maximum of four clasps could be awarded to any
one person.
The
clasp Azoff was awarded to the Royal Navy
only. The clasp Sebastopol was
automatically awarded to those qualifying for
either the Balaklava or Inkerman
clasps. As with the suspender, the design of
clasp is unique to this medal with oak leaves and
acorns.
Ribbon:
Watered 1"
wide light blue with narrow yellow edges. The
colours are the reverse to that of the Baltic Medal.
Naming:
Because
of Queen Victoria's wish to have these medals issued to
her soldiers as quickly as possible they were awarded
unnamed but could be returned for official naming
later. Those that are officially named are impressed
in the same style as the Military General Service Medal,
however most where either regimentally impressed or
privately engraved as few soldiers wanted to send back
their highly prized medals for naming. Many
different styles are therefore encountered and care should
be taken to determine if these are contemporary.
Collectors frequently encounter many unnamed examples.
Notes:
Those
officially named normally command higher prices but
privately (even sometimes crudely) named medals should not
necessarily be refused by collectors. However
extreme caution should be exercised when encountering
medals named to officers and men who took part in the
charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava and should be
verified before purchase. In 1970's some unnamed
examples were falsely (but convincingly) named to such
recipients.
