The Great Redan at Sebastopol: The Most Victoria Crosses Awarded for a Single Action

On June 18, 1855, British assault troops attacked the Great Redan in the Crimea, marking the first use of trench warfare. Despite facing fierce Russian fire, the attack faltered, resulting in over 1,000 British comrades dead. The Siege of Sebastopol explores the men's experiences during the assault and the historical myths surrounding the battle. The book includes biographical tributes to the fallen soldiers and reveals that twenty Victoria Crosses were awarded for actions at the Great Redan, making it the most decorated single action in British military history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

On June 18, 1855, the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, British assault troops launched an attack on the formidable Russian bastion known as the Great Redan in the Crimea. The attack faltered under intense Russian fire, resulting in over 1,000 British comrades being left dead and dying in the open, exposed to enemy snipers. This event marked the development of trench warfare. The author, renowned for their extensive research, presents the story through eyewitness accounts and unpublished letters, shedding light on the men's experiences during the assault and its aftermath. Among the anecdotes is the story of an officer who devised the ingenious idea of warming cannon balls in campfires and carrying them into tents at night to keep warm. The author also challenges commonly believed historical facts about the Great Redan, including the notion that the eleven Victoria Crosses awarded for a single action during the Defense of Rorke's Drift during the Zulu War in 1879 were the most ever presented. In fact, twenty of the lions who fought at the Great Redan received Britain's highest gallantry award for their actions on June 18, 1855. The book also includes biographical tributes to many of the fallen soldiers, honoring their bravery and sacrifice.

Weight: 478g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399060523