Crimean War Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award from British Queen Victoria on November 21, 1857 at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England for his actions as a sergeant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army on October 18, 1854 at Inkerman, Crimea during the Crimean War. He was born in South Hill, Cornwall, England and following his enlistment into the British Army, he was sent to Crimea. After winning the Victoria Cross, he was commissioned into the Military Train (the Royal Army Service Corps) and transferred back to the Royal Artillery in 1862 and advanced to the rank of captain. He died in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, England at the age of 45. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry on the 18th October, 1854, in having volunteered to unmask the embrasures of a five-gun battery in the advanced Right Attack, and when so employed, under a terrific fire, which the enemy commenced immediately on the opening of the first embrasure, and increased on the unmasking of each additional one ; in having overcome the great difficulty of uncovering the last, by boldly mounting the parapet, and throwing down the sand-bags, when a shell from the enemy burst, and wounded him severely." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the French Legion of Honor, and the Sardinian Medal of Military Valor. His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the Royal Logistic Corps Officers Mess in Deepcut, Surrey, England.
Crimean War Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award from British Queen Victoria on November 21, 1857 at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England for his actions as a sergeant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army on October 18, 1854 at Inkerman, Crimea during the Crimean War. He was born in South Hill, Cornwall, England and following his enlistment into the British Army, he was sent to Crimea. After winning the Victoria Cross, he was commissioned into the Military Train (the Royal Army Service Corps) and transferred back to the Royal Artillery in 1862 and advanced to the rank of captain. He died in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, England at the age of 45. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry on the 18th October, 1854, in having volunteered to unmask the embrasures of a five-gun battery in the advanced Right Attack, and when so employed, under a terrific fire, which the enemy commenced immediately on the opening of the first embrasure, and increased on the unmasking of each additional one ; in having overcome the great difficulty of uncovering the last, by boldly mounting the parapet, and throwing down the sand-bags, when a shell from the enemy burst, and wounded him severely." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the French Legion of Honor, and the Sardinian Medal of Military Valor. His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the Royal Logistic Corps Officers Mess in Deepcut, Surrey, England.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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