AN IMPERIAL RUSSIAN BUGLE TAKEN DURING THE SIEGE OF SEVASTOPOL BY DRUMMER BOY McGILL OF THE 77TH (EAST MIDDLESEX) REGIMENT

The entry from the museum catalogue notes the following concerning the present lot:
"Russian Bugle taken during the Siege of Sevastopol by Drummer Boy McGill, 77th Regiment. On the night of the attack on 19th April, 1855, a Russian Bugler was in the act of sounding, when McGill, a boy of 15, who was acting as Orderly Bugler to Colonel Egerton, commanding the Regiment, rushed forward into the enemy's Rifle pits, seized his antagonist and after a severe struggle, threw him, kept him down until he surrendered, when the lad took his bugle as a trophy, and returned to his C.O.'s side until the Colonel fell. The Boy had on previous occasions distinguished himself, and on this occasion severely wounded a Russian soldier who tried to prevent the capture. He presented the Bugle to Lieut.-General Sir George Brown, who gave it to The Honourable Charlotte Somerset. The Boy was mentioned in despatches and received English and Turkish Medals, and the French Medal for Valour."