West Somerset Yeomanry, a named medal for Swordsmanship, 1859.

The silver medal, 35mm in diameter, has a contemporary steel slip [of the type used on many British campaign medals up to the 1840] but has a later small gilt ring attached. The obverse shows a cavalry officer with a sabre on a prancing charger with the words WEST SOMERSET YEOMANRY above and W. B. PORTMAN, COL L in the exergue below. The reverse is neatly engraved CORPL CHARLES COLLARD. Bridgwater Troop. BEST SWORDSMAN. 25^th May 1859. There are some small scratches and marks and wear to the medal commensurate with its age and there are traces o some indistinct scratch engraving beneath at the bottom of the reverse. The high relief on the figure on the obverse is somewhat rubbed but this remains an attractive piece of local history.

Colonel William Henry Berkeley Portman, M.P. for Dorset was the son and heir of Baron Portman and was born in 1822.