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