Victoria Cross: 25 Oct 1854

JOHN GRIEVE

Serjeant-Major, 2nd Dragoons

Born: 3 May 1822, Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Died: 1 December 1863, Inveresk, Lothian, Scotland

Citation: Saved the life of an Officer, in the Heavy Cavalry Charge at Balaklava, who was surrounded by Russian Cavalry, by his gallant conduct in riding up to his rescue and cutting off the head of one Russian, disabling and dispersing the others.

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





SAMUEL PARKES

Private, 4th Light Dragoons

Born: 1813, Stafford, Staffordshire
Died: 15 November 1864, Hyde Park, London

Citation: In the Charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade at Balaklava, Trumpet-Major Crawford's horse fell, and dismounted him, and he lost his sword; he was attacked by two Cossacks, when Private Samuel Parkes (whose horse had been shot) saved his life, by placing himself between them and the Trumpet-Major, and drove them away by his sword. In attempting to follow the Light Cavalry Brigade in the retreat, they were attacked by six Russians, whom Parkes kept at bay, and retired slowly, fighting, and defending the Trumpet-Major for some time, until deprived of his sword by a shot.

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

ALEXANDER ROBERTS DUNN

Lieutenant, 11th Hussars

Born: 15 September 1833, Dunstable, York, Canada
Died: 25 January 1865, Senafe, Abyssinia

Citation: For having in the Light Cavalry charge on the 25th October, 1854, saved the life of Serjeant Bentley, 11th Hussars, by cutting down two or three Russian Lancers who were attacking him from the rear, and afterwards cutting down a Russian Hussar, who was attacking Private Levett, 11th Hussars.

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





JOHN BERRYMAN

Troop Serjeant-Major, 17th Lancers

Born: 18 July 1825, Dudley, Worcestershire
Died: 17 June 1896, Woldingham, Surrey

Citation: Served with his Regiment the whole of the war, was present at the Battle of the Alma, and also engaged in the pursuit at Mackenzie's Farm, where he succeeded in capturing thrtee Russian prisoners, when they were within reach of their own guns.
Was present and charged at the Battle of Balaklava, where, his horse being shot under him, he stopped on the field with a wounded Officer (Captain Webb) amidst a shower of shot and shell, although repeatedly told by that Officer to consult his own safety, and leave him, but he refused to do so, and on Serjeant John Farrall coming by, with his assistance, carried Captain Webb out of range of the guns.
He has also a clasp for Inkerman.

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


JOSEPH MALONE

Serjeant, 13th Light Dragoons

Born: 11 January 1833, Eccles, Manchester, Lancashire
Died: 28 June 1883, Pinetown, Natal

Citation: For having stopped under a very heavy fire to take charge of Captain Webb, 17th Lancers, until others arrived to assist him in removing that Officer, who was (as it afterwards proved) mortally wounded. Serjeant Malone performed this act of bravery while returning on foot from the charge at the Battle of Balaklava, in which his horse had been shot.

(London Gazette issue 22043 dated 25 Sep 1857, published 25 Sep 1857.)




JOHN FARRELL

Quartermaster Serjeant, 17th Lancers

Born: March 1826, Dublin, Ireland
Died: 31 August 1865, Secunderabad, India

Citation: For having remained, amidst a shower of shot and shell, with Captain Webb, who was severely wounded, and whom he and Serjeant-Major Berryman had carried as far as the pain of his wounds would allow, until a stretcher was procured, when he assisted the Serjeant-Major and a private of the 13th Dragoons (Malone), to carry that officer off the field. This took place on the 25th October, 1854, after the charge at the battle of Balaklava, in which Farrell's horse was killed under him.

(London Gazette issue 22065 dated 20 Nov 1857, published 20 Nov 1857.)


HENRY RAMAGE

Serjeant, 2nd Dragoons

Born: 1827, Morningside, Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: 29 December 1859, Newbridge, Co Kildare, Ireland

Citation: For having, at the battle of Balaklava, galloped out to the assistance of Private McPherson, of the same Regiment, on perceiving him surrounded by seven Russians, when by his gallantry he dispersed the enemy, and saved his comrade's life.
For having, on the same day, when the Heavy Brigade was rallying, and the enemy retiring, finding his horse would not leave the ranks, dismounted and brought in a prisoner from the Russian lines.
Also for having dismounted on the same day, when the Heavy Cavalry was covering the retreat of the Light Cavalry, and lifted from his horse Private Gardiner, who was disabled from a severe fracture of the leg by a round shot. Serjeant Ramage then carried him to the rear from under a very heavy cross fire, thereby saving his life, the spot where he must inevitably have fallen having been immediately afterwards covered by the Russian cavalry.

(London Gazette issue 22149 dated 4 Jun 1858, published 4 Jun 1858.)


JAMES MOUAT, CB

Surgeon, 6th Dragoons

Born: 14 April 1815, Chatham, Kent
Died: 4 January 1899, Kensington, West London

Citation: For having voluntarily proceeded to the assistance of Lieutenant-Colonel Morris, C.B., 17th Lancers, who was lying dangerously wounded in an exposed situation after the retreat of the Light Cavalry at the battle of Balaklava, and having dressed that officer's wounds in presence of, and under a heavy fire from the enemy. Thus, by stopping a serious hemorrhage, he assisted in saving that officer's life.

(London Gazette issue 22149 dated 4 Jun 1858, published 4 Jun 1858.)


CHARLES WOODEN

Serjeant-Major, 17th Lancers

Born: 24 March 1827, Germany
Died: 24 April 1876, Dover, Kent

Citation: For having, after the retreat of the Light Cavalry, at the Battle of Balaclava, been instrumental, together with Dr. James Mouat, C.B., in saving the life of Lieut.-Col. Morris, C.B., of the 17th Lancers, by proceeding, under a heavy fire, to his assistance, when he was lying very dangerously wounded, in an exposed situation.

(London Gazette issue 22194 dated 26 Oct 1858, published 26 Oct 1858.)




Notes: Serjeant-Major (later Lieutenant) Grieve was the great-uncle of Captain Robert C Grieve VC, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his service on the Western Front in 1917.
Lieutenant Dunn was the first Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 26 Jun 1857, Grieve, Parkes, Dunn and Berryman, in that order, became the first four members of the British Army to be presented the Victoria Cross.
The Gazette incorrectly gave the dates of Ramage's and Mouat's acts of bravery as 26 Oct 1854.