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Wargames Foundry-The Crimean War

 
 

 


 The figures are from Foundry's Crimean War range and are based on 50mm x 50mm x 2mm wooden bases, the flags are from GMB Designs new Crimean War range.



23rd Royal Welsh Fusilier Regiment

The Regiment served during the Crimean War (1854-56) fighting at the Battles of Alma, Inkerman and Sevastopol and the Regiment received its first four Victoria Crosses during this Campaign. Sergeant Luke O'Connor of the Royal Welch Fusiliers winning the Victoria Cross at the Alma leading the charge of his regiment with the Queen's Colour which he seized from the hands of Lieutenant Harry Anstruther, shot dead as he entered the Great Russian Battery. Sergeant O'Connor subsequently rose to the rank of Field Marshal, the only soldier to serve in every rank in the British Army.
Luke O'Connor was born in February 1831 and enlisted in the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers at the aged of 17. With his regiment he landed in the Crimea early in 1854, and they came under fire immediately afterwards on the heights of the Alma. Scarcely had the action began when Lieutenant Anstruther carrying the Regimental Colour, fell mortally wounded. O’Connor, marching by his side as one of the Colour party, was struck in the breast, and had also fallen. Finding that the officer’s condition was hopeless, the young sergeant picked himself up, took the Colour and rushed forward with a desperate effort in the face of a murderous fire, and planted the emblem of victory on the redoubt. The effect was instantaneous. Seeing what had been done by the valour of one man, all ranks of the gallant 23rd pressed onward to his support, and with a few seconds the position had been carried at the point of the bayonet.

O’Connor was urged to place himself under medical care, but he pleaded so earnestly to be allowed to do his duty to the end that his wish was acceded to.

The Victoria Cross was conferred upon him when the decoration was created. The Cross was pinned on his breast by Queen Victoria at a great military parade in Hyde Park in June 1857.


 

 
 





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

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