Queen Victoria’s intention to issue a Crimea Medal was announced by the Duke of Newcastle (Secretary for War) to Lord Raglan (Commander-in-Chief) on 2 December 1854. It was to be conferred on all officers and men who served in the war. Each medal bore the clasps of those actions in which the recipient had been involved. This medal is a specimen that shows all five clasps: Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, Sebastopol and Azoff.