PolarBear
Major
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2007
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From The Royal Naval Museum
Henry Raby, Sebastopol 18th June 1855:
Lieutenant Raby’s VC was one of three awarded for the same act. He won his VC during the failed assault on the fortress of the Redan at Sebastopol on 18th June 1855. During the retreat from the walls of the fortress a wounded soldier was seen from the British trenches to be sitting up and shouting for help. Lieutenant Raby, Lieutenant D’Aeth, Captain of the Forecastle John Taylor and Boatswain’s Mate Henry Curtis left the shelter of their trench and ran seventy yards under heavy enemy fire to carry the wounded man to safety. Lieutenant D’Aeth died of cholera in August but Raby, Taylor and Curtis were all gazetted for the Victoria Cross in the first list of 24th February 1857. Commander Raby was the first man ever to wear the Victoria Cross, being the senior officer of the senior service at the first presentation ceremony. Queen Victoria presented the award in person and actually pinned the medal straight into Raby’s chest, although he did not utter a sound!
(Britains Figure Set #43071)
Henry Raby, Sebastopol 18th June 1855:
Lieutenant Raby’s VC was one of three awarded for the same act. He won his VC during the failed assault on the fortress of the Redan at Sebastopol on 18th June 1855. During the retreat from the walls of the fortress a wounded soldier was seen from the British trenches to be sitting up and shouting for help. Lieutenant Raby, Lieutenant D’Aeth, Captain of the Forecastle John Taylor and Boatswain’s Mate Henry Curtis left the shelter of their trench and ran seventy yards under heavy enemy fire to carry the wounded man to safety. Lieutenant D’Aeth died of cholera in August but Raby, Taylor and Curtis were all gazetted for the Victoria Cross in the first list of 24th February 1857. Commander Raby was the first man ever to wear the Victoria Cross, being the senior officer of the senior service at the first presentation ceremony. Queen Victoria presented the award in person and actually pinned the medal straight into Raby’s chest, although he did not utter a sound!
(Britains Figure Set #43071)
