Posts Tagged ‘Victoria Cross’

Bearskin Cap worn by Sir Charles Russell, VC, Grenadier Guards, in the Crimea

The Grenadier Guards landed at Kalamita Bay in the Crimea in September 1854, as part of the Guards Brigade, 1^st Division, English Army of the East.  These were Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s elite personal guards.  In the Crimea the Guards Brigade consisted of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, and Scots Fusilier Guards.  The Guards’ battle honours include Alma, Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol.

Sir Charles Russell was awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest decoration for bravery, for his actions at the Battle of Inkerman, 5 November 1854, at age twenty-eight.  The then Brevet Major Russell offered to dislodge a significant group of Russians from the Sandbag Battery, asking if anyone would follow him.  A sergeant and two privates volunteered.  His assault party met much resistance, and seemed on several occasions to be close to annihilation.  Their skill, particularly with the bayonet, prevailed, and the enemy was sent on their way.  Russell fought with great distinction, at one point wrenching the rifle from the hands of a large, powerful Russian.  Sir Charles achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring from the Guards.

The 1846 Uniform Regulations describe the cap in the photograph as a “bear-skin, twelve inches deep, fastened under the chin by a plain gilt taper chain.”  Just prior to embarking for the Crimea, the Guards modified their bearskin caps by cutting them down a few inches.  Perhaps in keeping with this modification, the actual measurement for the cap in this photograph was ten inches deep.  It is also interesting that this bearskin is a soft leather collapsible cap, rather than the stiff Guards caps routinely seen, which have a bamboo-like cage beneath the skin itself.  The white goat’s hair plume on the left side indicates the bearskin is Grenadier Guards, who were on the right flank of the Guards Brigade.  A Coldstream Guards’ scarlet cut-feather plume was on the right side, as they were on the left flank.  The Scots Fusilier Guards had no plume and were in the center of the line.

This artifact was photographed courtesy of the Guards Museum, London, UK.

Goodlake's Pepperbox Pistol and Bullet Pouch

Lieutenant and Captain (The dual rank system exclusive to Her Majesty’s Guards regiments) Gerald Goodlake, Coldstream Guards, took part in the Battle of Alma, Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol. The Coldstream Guards landed at Kalamita Bay in the Crimea in September 1854, as part of the Guards Brigade, 1^st Division, English Army of the East.  These were Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s elite personal guards.  In the Crimea the Guards Brigade consisted of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, and Scots Fusilier Guards.  The Guards’ battle honours include Alma, Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol.

During a Russian probing action up Windmill Ravine on 28 October 1854, a week prior to the Battle of Inkerman, he led approximately 40 Guards sharpshooters against ten times their number in delaying a Russian flanking movement.  This allowed British reinforcements to arrive and drive the enemy back into Sevastopol.  For his gallantry in this action he was presented the Victoria Cross at Hyde Park by Queen Victoria, personally, on 26 June 1857.  He retired in 1881 as a Major General, and was awarded the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant General.

The photograph is of Goodlake’s  six-shot ‘Pepperbox’ revolving pistol and his leather bullet pouch.  He used these items throughout the Crimean War.  This type pistol, sometimes referred to as a “Pepperpot or Pepperbox”, was manufactured in .36 through .40 calibre, beginning in around 1830.  It was primarily for self-defense.  The six barrels were about 3.5 inches long.  The pistol, itself, was about 9 inches long, and weighed about 2 pounds.

The barrels revolved around a spindle, firing in turn as they came under the hammer.  As the trigger was pulled, the hammer cocked, the barrel rotated, and the hammer dropped on a percussion cap (thus igniting the powder and firing the bullet).  The bullets were round lead balls, loaded from the front of each barrel. Fairmans of London manufactured this particular pistol.

This artifact was photographed courtesy of the Guards Museum, London, UK.

Lieutenant Knox's Officer Sash, worn in the Crimea

The crimson silk patent net sash with tassels in this photograph was the symbol of an officer in the nineteenth century. The officer who wore this sash in the Crimea was Lieutenant (Later Major) John Simpson Knox, VC, Rifle Brigade. Although the formal sash of an officer of Rifles was more ornate, with cords and tassels, many Rifle Brigade officers wore the same sash as the rest of the Army while on campaign for convenience and durability.

According to 1846 Uniform Regulations, the type of sash shown in this photograph, worn by most officers in the Crimea, should wind around the waist twice, tie in front of the left hip, with the tips of the pendent hanging uniformly 16 inches in length from the tie point.

The story of John Simpson Knox is a tale of courage and dedication to duty. He arrived in the Crimea a Sergeant in the Scots Fusilier Guards. At the Battle of Alma on 20 September 1854, he behaved with conspicuous courage at a decisive moment in the engagement by rallying and reforming the Guards ranks under scathing enemy fire. Because of his gallantry, he was plucked from the enlisted ranks to become a Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade. On 18 June 1855, Lieutenant Knox volunteered for a ladder party in the assault on the Redan, and again demonstrated conspicuous courage in leading his party and remaining on the field until wounded twice. For his actions in the Crimean War he was awarded the Victoria Cross, England’s highest medal.

Courtesy of the Royal Green Jackets Museum

Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War - released by Schiffer Publishing 2009

The journey to publication of Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War wasn’t merely about the technical or logistical side of the photography or the history of the artefacts.  It was, in fact, a people experience Mike Vice and I will never forget.

Six months before our first one-week “recce” visit to see if the project was even feasible we started sending letters to museums and collectors asking what their Crimean collection consisted of, and permission to photograph.  The response was much better than expected, and our subsequent first visit was a rousing success.  The project was, indeed, reasonable and achievable, but the budget was going to be tight.

We planned and coordinated our second 4-6 week visit with detailed appointments for shooting and a grueling itinerary.  Our major bases of operation were London (south of England), Halifax (middle and north of England), Edinburgh (Scotland), and a town whose name I can’t even pronounce in Wales.  We planned to take day trips from these places like the spokes in a wheel, and it worked, far above expectations.  To accomplish this, however, we had to find lodging, and that expense alone might have crippled us.  It did not.  Because we had so many kind friends who supported us, and the worthiness of the project.

In London, Sergeant Kevin Gorman, Archivist, Scots Guards, and the son I never had, found us more than reasonable accommodations. He was, as well, an invaluable help with various aspects of the project.

In Halifax, we stayed at the home of a dear friend, LtCol Wade Russell, Royal Tank Regiment (Ret), for weeks on end.  Whether we arose at 2 or 3 am, and in spite of our protests, Wade was always there, making us breakfast for the road.  Whatever time we returned, exhausted and bedraggled, he was waiting with a quiet smile and a fresh gin and tonic.

We felt one of the larger collections was at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, and that it would take more than a day to shoot.  Roger Chapman, the then curator, insisted we remain overnight with him and his lovely wife.

In Scotland, Wade made arrangements for us to stay at a military officer’s mess in Edinburgh – delightful, and within budget.  We ate at the enlisted mess, and spent the evenings in good company at the officer’s mess.

In Wales, our hosts were Bill Curtis and his wife, while we photographed his definitive weapons collection.  We then went on from there to shoot artefacts at the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum.

The kindness and unending hospitality of these folks and so many others made the project not only possible, but so very enjoyable.  The new friends we made and the old friendships we nourished will be with us always.

What I want to talk about in Part II, tomorrow, is the reception of the museum staffs and private collectors to two ‘Yanks’ on a mission to photograph surviving artefacts from a very British war.

The Team - A/Sgt Kev Gorman, Scots Guards, Will, and Michael, surrounded by our equipment

Will and Roger Chapman, of the Green Howards. Photograph taken at the Crimean War Research Society Annual Meeting

Bill Curtis smiling among his collection - a happy man, indeed

Will, Mike, and Wade Russell at the Maypole Pub near Wade's house, not far from Halifax

Mike & a friend, Peter Lockwood, who was a wonderful host and great help in the project's early stages.

British officer's roundabout jacket showing campaign use (Details in book)

British officer's forage cap worn by a Victoria Cross recipient (Details in book)

Officer's breast plate (All the details and history are in the book)