Sardinian Medal for Valour awarded to John Sheppard, VC.

Sheppard was serving on the battleship HMS ‘St Jean d’Acre’ during the Crimean War. He devised a plan to paddle into Sebastopol harbour by night, fix an explosive with a time fuse to the hull of a Russian warship and then escape by means of a canvas duck punt he had invented for the purpose. Two attempts were made without success – nevertheless Sheppard was Mentioned in Despatches and presented with both the Victoria Cross and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

John Sheppard was born 22 September 1817, in Kingston upon Hull. He is first recorded in the Navy in 1840 as an Ordinary Seaman. He retired with the rank of Boatswain First Class in 1870 and died 17 December 1884. He is buried in Padstow Cemetery. The Museum also holds the following medals awarded to him: Victoria Cross (MED2357), Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (MED2358), Baltic Medal 1854-55 (MED2359), Crimean Medal (MED2360), Badge of the Legion d’Honneur, 5th Chevalier (MED 2362), Turkish Crimean Medal (MED2364) and China Medal, bar Canton 1857 (MED2361).

The medal is silver. On the obverse are the arms of Savoy within a wreath of palm and laurel tied with a bow, the crown of Sardinia above, surrounded by the legend ‘AL VALORE MILITARE’ (for military valour). On the reverse of the medal is a laurel wreath and the inscription ‘Mr John Sheppard Boatswain N’Bde.’ surrounded by the legend ‘SPEDIZIONE D’ORIENTE 1855 1856’. The medal is fitted with a loop and blue ribbon.