The Book of the V.C.: A record of the deeds of heroism for which the Victoria Cross has been bestowed, from its institution in 1857 to the present timeHaydon, A. L. (Arthur Lincoln)
History
The Book of the V.C.: A record of the deeds of heroism for which the Victoria Cross has been bestowed, from its institution in 1857 to the present time
Haydon, A. L. (Arthur Lincoln)
Great Britain -- History, Military; Victoria Cross
I have given the account of the brave deed of Berryman and his companions
at some length, because it is, to my mind, one of the most signal acts
of devotion in the chronicles of the V.C. A very large proportion of
those who have won the Cross distinguished themselves in the attempt,
successful or otherwise, to save life, and there is no act that is more
deserving of our fullest admiration. “Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
There were other lives saved in that death-stricken valley that day
besides Webb’s. Captain Morris, who led a troop of the 17th Lancers, was
taken prisoner by the Russians after a desperate encounter, but managed
to escape in the confusion. Grievously wounded and on foot, for his
second horse had been shot under him, he struggled towards the British
lines, until from sheer exhaustion he fell beside the dead body of his
brother-officer, Captain Nolan.
It is stated that the two officers, knowing the peril that faced them,
had each left in his friend’s charge a letter to be sent home if he fell
and the other survived. These letters were found in the breasts of the
two as they lay side by side.
Captain Morris, however, was luckily still alive. To his assistance
promptly came Sergeant-Major Charles Wooden of his own regiment, who
pluckily stood by his body until he saw a surgeon. The latter, who
proved to be Surgeon Mouat of the 6th Dragoon Guards (now Sir James
Mouat, K.C.B.), promptly went over to the wounded man, and despite the
heavy fire that was being kept up, dressed his wounds as coolly as if
he had been in the operating-room. His skill stopped the hemorrhage,
which undoubtedly saved the captain’s life, and for this, as well as for
getting the wounded man back to safety, the brave surgeon in due course
got his V.C. Sergeant-Major Wooden was decorated at the same time.
One other man of the 17th Lancers who distinguished himself in this
historic charge was the regimental butcher, John Veigh. Hearing that
the dash for the Russian guns was to be made, he left his work in his
bloodstained smock without seeking permission, borrowed a sabre, and rode
through the valley with his comrades. “Butcher Jack” cut down six gunners
and returned unhurt, still smoking the short black pipe which was in his
mouth when he joined in the ride.
The two remaining Balaclava Crosses were awarded to Private Samuel
Parkes, a Light Dragoon, and Lieutenant Alexander Robert Dunn, of the
11th Hussars.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account