Sardinian Crimea Medal | |
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![]() Obverse of the medal | |
Type | Campaign medal |
Presented by | the ![]() |
Eligibility | British, French and Sardinian personnel |
Campaign(s) | Crimean War |
Established | 6 June 1856 |
Total recipients | 450 (British recipients) |
![]() Ribbon bar |
The Sardinian Crimean War Medal or, more formally, the silver medal for Military Valour for the Eastern Expedition 1855–1856 ( Italian: Medaglia d’Argento al Valor Militare per la spedizione d’Oriente 1855–1856) was a gallantry medal awarded by King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia for bravery during the Crimean War (1855–1856) against the Russian Empire. It is a variant of the Sardinian Medal of Military Valor.
A silver medal with a blue watered ribbon. The obverse shows a crown with laurel and palm branch surrounding the arms of Savoy, with the inscription "Al Valore Militare". The reverse is inscribed "Spedizione d'Oriente 1854–1856" outside a laurel wreath, [1] with the name, rank and unit of the recipient usually engraved within the wreath. [2]
In addition to awards to the Sardinian Expeditionary Corps and other allied soldiers, the medal was awarded to 450 specially selected officers and men of the Royal Navy and British Army. [3] Queen Victoria gave permission for the medal to be worn by British servicemen in uniform. [4]