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Heroes of the Crimean War

Wrexham & East Denbighshire Telegraph

Heroes of the Crimean War Souvenir Issue

ONE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

A WREXHAM SURVIVOR STILL HALE AND HEARTY AT 90

One of the two survivors of the Balaclava Charge was a Wrexhamite – Sergeant Major Edwin Hughes of the 13th Light Dragoons, now living at 64 Egerton-road, Blackpool, where he celebrated his ninetieth birthday a month ago.

Troop Sergeant Major Edwin Hughes. Wrexham Archives 788/2

Sgt. Major Hughes was the son of Mr William Hughes, of Mount Street, Wrexham. He was born on the 12th of December, 1830 and he began life as a shoemaker. He enlisted in the 13th Light Dragoons on October 29th 1852 and in the year 1854 he sailed for Russia. After knocking about in the Mediterranean for three weeks in a sailing vessel, he and his regiment were landed at Constantinople, proceeding thence to the Crimea. He went through the battles of Sevastapol, Inkerman and Alma, in addition to the charge at Balaclava.

He tells his story of the charge in the following words:
“I was on duty that day from four o’clock in the morning until after the charge in the afternoon. We rode out at the command, straight for the Russian lines. Before we reached our object my horse was shot, and in falling on its side, I got partly underneath, injuring my leg. I was assisted away, and was then placed in charge of some Russian prisoners for the remainder of the day and the night following. We just did our duty without any thought of glory, and, of course, as in all wars many of our lot paid the supreme price. I was glad that I was in it and I am glad that I am here to tell the tale.”

(January 15th 1921)

A DISTINGUISHED CAREER

Major-General Sir Luke OConnor, V.C.

Major-General Sir Luke OConnor, V.C. Wrexham Archives 1049/16

Sir Luke 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.

Balaclava Neds medals*. Courtesy of Susan Hughes.

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.

*Balaclava Ned’s medals include: Crimean War service medal, issued by the Crown. The bars show that Edwin Hughes served at the battles of Alma, Inkerman, Balaclava and at the siege of Sevastapol; Long Service and Good Conduct medal, issued by the Crown; Crimean War service medal, issued by the Kingdom of Piedmont & Sardinia.

(February 6th 1915)

Editorial

Britain, France and Turkey formed an alliance to halt Russian expansionism in the Balkans. The Crimean War started in 1853 and Russians agreed to peace in 1856. Luke O’Connor later became Honorary Colonel of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and he had a long association with Wrexham.

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