THE CRIMEAN WAR WAS FOUGHT BETWEEN 1853 – 56.
IT WAS FOUGHT ON THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA ON THE SOUTH EDGE OF RUSSIA AND WAS BETWEEN THE RUSSIANS AND A COMBINED FORCE OF BRITISH FRENCH AND TURKS. THE ALLIED FORCE HAD TO CROSS FIVE RIVERS ON THE WAY SOUTH. IT WAS ON THE SECOND ONE THAT THE RUSSIANS DECIDED TO STAND. THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER ALMA WAS FOUGHT ON THE 20TH OF SEPTEMBER 1854. THE RUSSIANS HAD BUILT TWO REDOUBTS TO PROTECT KOURGANE HILL, AND IT WAS ON THE GREATER REDOUBT TO THE WEST THAT THE GUARDS FOUGHT.
THE GUARDS BATTALIONS THERE WERE THE COLDSTREAMS THE SCOTS FUSILIER GUARDS AND THE GRENADIERS, FIGHTING IN THAT ORDER. AGAIN THE LADDIES WERE IN THE MIDDLE.
THE FOLLOWING EXTRACT IS TAKEN FROM A COLDSTREAM GUARDS OFFICER’S REPORT:
“THE SCOTS FUSILIER GUARDS WERE HURRIED ON TO SUPPORT THE LIGHT DIVISION WHO HAD TAKEN THE HILL WITH THEIR COLOURS BUT WITH AMMUNITION LOW WERE FORCED BACK AND RETIRING IN SOME CONFUSION THROUGH THE SCOTS AND THE SCOTS FUSILIERS WERE THROWN INTO UTTER DISORDER. THE RUSSIANS PERCEIVING THIS DASHED OUT OF THE FORT UPON THEM, AND A FRIGHTFUL STRUGGLE TOOK PLACE WHICH ENDED IN THEIR TOTAL DISCOMFITURE. FOR A MINUTE OR TWO THE SCOTS FUSILIER COLOURS STOOD ALONE IN THE FRONT, WHILE GENERAL BENTINCK RALLIED THE MEN TO THEM, THEIR OFFICERS AND MEN LEADING THEM ON GALLANTLY.”
APPARENTLY THERE WAS AN ORDER GIVEN BY SOMEONE, PROBABLY FROM A DIFFERENT REGIMENT, TO RETREAT. IF YOU THINK WHAT JUST BEING WOUNDED MEANT. NOW IF YOU ARE WOUNDED YOU PROBABLY STAND A BETTER THAN 80 PERCENT CHANCE OF SURVIVING, THEN YOU PROBABLY HAD ABOUT A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SURVIVING.
PRIVATE REYNOLDS’ CITATION STATES
“WHEN THE FORMATION OF THE LINE WAS DISORDERED AT ALMA, FOR HAVING BEHAVED IN CONSPICUOUS MANNER RALLYING THE MEN AROUND THE COLOURS”.
THE BATTALION LEFT A LOT OF DEAD ON THAT HILL. THE BATTALION WON 4 VICTORIA CROSSES AT THE ALMA ON THAT DAY.
HE WAS JUST A PRIVATE OR A GUARDSMAN. HE WAS THE FIRST PRIVATE TO BE AWARDED THE VC. AFTER THE CRIMEAN WAR QUEEN VICTORIA GAVE US BACK THE TITLE OF GUARDSMAN FOR OUR PRIVATES. SOME SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN SERGEANT BEFORE BUT HAD BEEN DEMOTED – I AM NOT SURE THAT THAT IS TRUE. WHAT HE DID WAS VERY BRAVE.
WE SALUTE HIS COURAGE.
