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Cavalryman's Medals From Charge Painting to Fetch Thousands
4 Jun
Summary
- Medals of a key figure in a famous war painting are up for auction.
- Sgt. James Wightman was wounded 13 times and captured during the charge.
- The collection is expected to sell for £6,000 to £8,000 at auction.
Medals awarded to Sgt. James William Wightman, immortalized in a renowned British war painting, are scheduled for auction on June 17, 2026. Wightman, a sergeant in the 17th Lancers, was the principal subject of Richard Caton Woodville's depiction of the Charge of the Light Brigade.
The collection, expected to reach £6,000 to £8,000, includes Wightman's medals from the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. This set has been held by the same collector for the past four decades.
Wightman enlisted in 1852 and participated in the ill-fated charge on October 25, 1854, during the Crimean War. He sustained 13 wounds and was captured by Russian forces before rejoining his regiment.
Later becoming secretary of the Balaclava Commemoration Society, Wightman provided a detailed firsthand account of the battle. He was also a key figure in Caton Woodville's famous painting, now housed with his diaries at the National Army Museum.
