The First VCs: The Stories Behind the First Victoria Crosses in the Crimean War and the Definition of Courage

by John Grehan

Overview

Officers led and men followed; all were expected to do their duty without thought of reward. Enlisted men rarely penetrated the officer ranks and promotion owed more to money than merit. Then came the Crimean War.The incompetence and ineffectiveness of the senior officers contrasted sharply with the bravery of the lower ranks. Fuelled by the reports from the first-ever war correspondents which were read by an increasingly literate public, the mumblings of discontent rapidly grew into a national outcry. Questions were asked in Parliament, answers were demanded by the press why were the heroes of the Alma, Inkerman and the Charge of the Light Brigade not being recognised? Something had be done.That something was the introduction of an award that would be of such prestige it would be sought by all men from the private to the Field Marshal. It would be the highest possible award for valour in the face of the enemy and it bore the name of the Queen for whom the men fought.This is the story of how the first Victoria Crosses were attained in the heat of the most deadly conflict of the nineteenth century. It is also an examination of how the definition of courage, as recognised by the awarding of VCs, evolved, from saving the regimental colours at the Alma to saving a comrade in the No Mans Land before Sevastopol.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473851726
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	01/31/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	558,302
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

JOHN GREHAN has written, edited or contributed to more than 300 books and magazine articles covering a wide span of military history from the Iron Age to the recent conflict in Afghanistan. John has also appeared on local and national radio and television to advise on military history topics. He was employed as the Assistant Editor of Britain at War Magazine from its inception until 2014. John now devotes his time to writing and editing books.

Table of Contents

List of Map vi

Introduction vii

Chapter 1 Drawing the Sword 1

Chapter 2 The Baltic, 1854 14

Chapter 3 The Battle of the Alma 23

Chapter 4 The Siege of Sevastopol: The Early Stages 40

Chapter 5 The Battle of Balaklava 56

Chapter 6 Little Inkerman 77

Chapter 7 The Battle of Inkerman 85

Chapter 8 Distinguished Conduct 105

Chapter 9 The Siege of Sevastopol: The First Winter 120

Chapter 10 Operations in the Sea of Azov 133

Chapter 11 The Second Baltic Campaign of 1855 143

Chapter 12 The Siege of Sevastopol: The Second Bombardment 148

Chapter 13 The Siege of Sevastopol: The First Assault Upon the Redan 163

Chapter 14 The Second Assault and the Fall of Sevastopol 178

Chapter 15 The Forgotten VC - The Siege of Kars 195

Chapter 16 Victoria's Cross 201

Chapter 17 The Men and their Medals: Life and Death after the Crimea 222

Chapter 18 The Battlefields of the Crimean War Today 253

Appendix I Thomas Morley's Statement to Lord Wolseley 259

References and Notes 265

Bibliography and Source Information 277

Index 281

Editorial Reviews

"The book provides an eloquently written, well-paced summary of the Crimean War and the often overlooked men and deeds that inspired one of the most prestigious military awards in the British Army."

Rachel Bates