Edward St John Daniels VC (1837 -1860)

Edward St John Daniels VC (1837 -1860) during the Crimean War was a 17 years old and Midshipman in the Naval Brigade of the Royal Navy. On the 18th of October 1854 at Sevastopol, Crimea, Daniels was in a battery when the horses drawing a wagon became the target of heavy fire from enemy guns which disabled the horses. Daniels secured the ammunition from the wagons as the fire continued. On the fifth of November at the Battle of Inkerman during the assault of the Redan Daniels acted as aide-de-camp to Captain Peel. When Peel fell badly injured on the glacis of the Redan Daniels saved Peel's life by binding in tourniquet on his wounded arm. This was achieved under heavy fire and having curbed the bleeding he removed his captain to a place of safety.
Edward St John Daniels VC

John Sullivan VC (1830-1884)

John Sullivan VC (1830 to 1884) was born in County Cork and was the first Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. Sullivan was a boat Swain's Boatswain Mate in the Naval Brigade of the Royal Navy during the Crimean War. On the 10th of April 1855 at Sebastopol in the Crimea at the age of 25, as captain of one of the Downs of Greenhill battery, volunteered to place the flag on one of the concealed enemy batteries in order that the gunners of his battery would be able to identify the position of the enemy guns. His bravery in the face of the enemy was mentioned in dispatches which stated that his gallantry had always been conspicuous.
John Sullivan VC (1830 to 1884)

William Peel VC (1824-1858)

William Peel VC (1824-1858) was Captain in the Naval Brigade of the Royal Navy during the Crimean War. On the 18th of October 1854 was in a battery near Inkerman at the Siege of Sevastopol, at tremendous risk to himself Peel picked up a burning shell and hurled it over the parapet having seized it from a heap of powder cases. It burst as it left his hands and had it burst among the powder cases, the battery must have been destroyed and every soul would have perished. On the fifth of November At the Battle of Inkermann Peel joined the officers of the Grenadier Guards and rendered valuable assistance in the defence of the Colours of that regiment which were all but captured at the sandbag battery. On the 18th of June 1855 Peel volunteered to lead the Ladder Party at the Assault of the Redan. He led the first scaling party and bore the first ladder being head of the company when he fell severely wounded. He was accompanied by a young midshipman Edmunds St. John Daniel as Aide-de-camp where Daniels saved his captain's life by binding his wounds and under heavy fire carrying him back to safety.
William Peel VC

Cecil William Buckley VC

Cecil William Buckley was 24 years old and a junior lieutenant in The Royal Navy during The Crimean War.On the 29th of May 1855 in The Sea of Azov,Buckley ,during hostilities landed in the town of Genitchi with Lieutenant Hugh Burgoyne and John Roberts gunner,volunteered to land alone at a beech where the Enemy army was in strength.With stealth and caution and out of reach of the protection of their own ships they crept to the enemies ammunition dumps and corn stores which they set alight.While returning they were besett by Cossacks who cut of their retreat,but after substantial perils they gained their boat and this enabled them to return to their boat. Cecil William Buckley also rendered similar services at Taganrog,which town was occupied by three thousand enemy troops.Buckley was accompanied in this desperate mission by Henry Cooper,Boatswain and also volunteers who manned the boat.Buckley and Cooper repeatedly landed and fired different stores and goverment buildings,despite being under enemy fire and allaying attempts to capture them they managed to return to their ship,the Miranda,havingrendered eminent service to the fleet. Hugh Talbot Burgoyne,senior Lieutenant of the Swallows,John Roberts and Henry Cooper,Boatswain,were also all decorated with the Victoria Cross for their parts in the affair.
Cecil William Buckley

Joseph Trewavas VC CGM

Joseph Trewavas VC CGM (14th December 1835 -20th July 1905)was an able seaman crewing on the Beagle as it anchored in the Straits of Genitchi,where a floating bridge was interefing with the operations and movements the vessel.Trewavas was 19 years old during this engagement of the Crimean War. On the 3rd of July Trewavas with bold endeavour determined to destroy the bridge in order to cut the main supply route of the enemy line.This was the third attempt of such sabotage. Trewavas instigated two vessels to be lowred from the Beagle which were manned by volunteers.The boats were subjected to tremendous musket fire and the shore line was lined with troops and riflemen.The 4-oared gig ground against the bridge and Trewavas leapt out with an axe and cut the main hawser of the bridge until the two severed ends of the pontoon began to go adrift.He was seriuosly wounded as he returned to his ship but he was mentioned in dispatches and lived to receive the Victoria Cross.
Joseph Trewavas VC CGM

Admiral Blackler

My grandfather Admiral Blackler OBE wrote letters to his wife from 1889 until 1925,during their courtship which had its genesis in Victoria,British Columbia,where they met at an Officer's Ball,during the docking of his British ship in Canada,throughout his naval service,during which at one stage he was in charge of the ships censorship(hence some letters are uncensered war time records),until the closure of the collection .The letters are assiduously and beautifully handwritten,mostly on emboshed letter paper and show a man of extroadinary humble charism and humanity with great insight towards the problems of his age.I have 1,400 of his letters which extend throughout the War,talk of meetings with the then young Winston Churchill,contain the appenditures of court marshells in which he was bounden to participate as part of his naval duties and most exciting, squabbles and skullduggery among the Admirals.Most extraordinary to me are the descriptions of that other dark side of London and the the insight of the poor which he felt almost helpless against.I also have about 100 of my grandmothers responses during her traverse from Canada,during her exploration of London as a young excited bride to be, animated with extraordinary perceptions of a metroplolis at the heart of the know Empire and with the eyes of a new commer from one of its fringes.As she dashes and jaywalkes in front of the hansom cabs with her shocked Victorian Aunt Helen on the side walks it is easy to see her as the genesis of sparks of rebellion to appear in later generations.