A rare gallantry medal awarded to a Cumbrian sailor who just missed out on getting the Victoria Cross is likely to sell for up to £15,000 next week.

The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for service in the Crimean War, along with a Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, was awarded to Workington-born Royal Navy boatswain's mate James Doran who served on HMS Agamemnon.

His pair of silver medals are included in the London sale by Dix Noonan Webb on Wednesday and Thursday, September 27 to 28, and carry a pre-sale estimate of £12,000 to £15,000.

Doran showed great bravery during the bombardment of Sebastopol and Fort Constantine on October 17 in 1854.

This was the first incident to be rewarded with this new Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, despite being originally recommended for the Victoria Cross

Lord Lyons’ flagship, HMS Agamemnon, was in the forefront of the action and at 4pm a shell from Fort Constantine started a fire on board.

Doran was one of four men who risked their lives to put it out.

Lord Lyons noted that the four sailors: "Immediately ran aloft and remained in the main yard under a very heavy fire until they had succeeded in extinguishing the fire - during that time the mainmast head and main yard were struck several times."

The recommendation for the Victoria Cross came too late to be accepted and was replaced with the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and £15."

He was born in Workington on April 19 in 1818 and on November 24 in 1836 he joined the Royal Navy as a boy first class on HMS Carysfort, being promoted to ordinary seaman the following year.

After serving on various ships, he joined the Agamemnon on March 5 in 1853 as a boatswain’s mate and remained with the ship for the duration of the Crimean War.

He was pensioned off in July 1869 as a ship’s cook on HMS Oberon after 30 years and 262 days’ service.

Although not being offered for sale, he was also entitled to the Naval General Service medal with clasp for Syria, the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, two Turkish medals and the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society for saving life whilst serving aboard HMS Vanguard.