What has been described as one of the most important collections of military memorabilia and artefacts from the Crimean War is going under the hammer in London this Thursday (22nd May). Christie's will offer The Raglan Collection: Wellington, Waterloo and The Crimea after a legal battle failed to stop the historical collection being sold at auction. The dispute began after the 5th Lord Raglan – who lived alone at Cefntilla Court, near Usk and was well-known locally through his patronage of Usk Show – changed his will months before he died and left his estate to a nephew in America. Prior to that, the house and contents were to be passed to his other nephew, Arthur Somerset, the son of his brother, Geoffrey, who inherited the title of Lord Raglan following his brother's death in 2010. The will was changed in favour of his sister's son, Henry Van Moyland, a recruitment consultant living in Los Angeles, who then announced he was going to sell the collection. An injunction in 2012 stopping the sale from going ahead failed following the death of Arthur Somerset at the age of 52. His widow Tanya continued the fight, but was forced to back down because she could not afford to carry on the legal challenge. The National Army Museum tried to persuade Mr Van Moyland to give the collection to the nation in lieu of death duties. The Raglan Rescue Campaign was set up to help rescue the collection and raise awareness of the fight to save it. Campaigner Bettina Harden told the Beacon: "I think the whole situation is a tragedy – for the rest of the Somerset family, for Welsh heritage, for anyone who cares about the legacy of a great and very brave man. "Opportunities have been lost, chances missed, and ultimately I found I was largely a one-woman band living far away in North Wales. "I would have loved to battle on but the heir was determined that it all go to the salerooms and without thousands of pounds to command, it proved impossible to intervene in a meaningful way. "Maybe some heroes will charge to the rescue at the auction. "Both my husband and I have 'Crimean' family connections – my great-great-grandfather fought with the Turkish troops as a commander; my husband's great-great-great grandfather lost his eldest son at Sebastopol." The Raglan Collection includes the ring retrieved by 1st Lord Raglan after he lost his right arm at the Battle of Waterloo, a letter from Clive of India, another from Horatio Nelson on board HMS Victory and the telescope used by Lord Raglan during the Peninsular War. The collection is being sold by the Executors of Fitzroy John Somerset, 5th Baron Raglan, the great-great-grandson of the 1st Baron Raglan, who fought at the Battle of Waterloo alongside the Duke of Wellington in 1815, and became commander of the British troops sent to the Crimea in 1854. The 300 items are expected to raise over £750,000. Notable artefacts from the Crimean war included the bridle reputedly worn by Captain Nolan's horse when its owner was killed by a Russian shell, a Russian bugle seized mid-sound by a British drummer boy and two bronze Russian cannons, dated 1821 and 1829 that were captured when the allies finally took Sebastopol in September 1855. Campaign Medals from the Peninsular War alone are expected to raise over a quarter of a million pounds.
Subscribe newsletter
Subscribe to our email and get updates right in your inbox.
Comments
To leave a comment you need to create an account. |