20 April 2008

Victoria Cross: Reeves, Gorman and Scholefield

THOMAS REEVES

Seaman, Royal Navy; Naval Brigade

Born: 1828, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Died: 4 August 1862, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire


JAMES GORMAN

Seaman, Royal Navy; Naval Brigade

Born: 21 August 1834, Islington, London
Died: 18 October 1882, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia


MARK SCHOLEFIELD

Seaman, Royal Navy; Naval Brigade

Born: 16 April 1828, London
Died: 15 February 1858, at sea aboard HMS Acorn

Joint Citation: At the Battle of Inkerman, 5th November, 1854, when the Right Lancaster Battery was attacked, these three seamen mounted the banquette, and, under a heavy fire, made use of the disabled soldiers' muskets, which were loaded for them by others under the parapet. They are the survivors of five who performed the above action.
(Letter from Sir S. Lushington, 7th June, 1856.)

(London Gazette Issue 21971 dated 24 Feb 1857, published 24 Feb 1857.)



Seaman Gorman's medals



Note: Under the rules at the time, the Victoria Cross could not be awarded posthumously, so the other two men - whose names were not recorded - did not receive the medal.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The photograph of Gorman's medals was taken by Harry Willey in 1994.
Harry is married to Marjorie (nee Watts) who is the great-grandaughter of James Gorman VC. He has spent thirty years researching James Gormans life.
Full details of the story of this action including information on Gorman's four companions contact Harry at victoriacross@virginbroadband.com.au or read his book 150 years of the Victoria Cross 1857-2007 Crimea to Afganistan.