Redan, Crimea - Royal Marines man the Siege Train

Attack on Redan - In May 1856 a Division of the French Army, having taken up a position on the Tehernaya River, the Royal Marine Brigade was advanced in support of the French to cover their extreme right.

This enabled a detachment of the RMA from the Balaclava Lines to be transferred to the Siege Train, to reinforce the Royal Artillery.

This detachment, under Brevet Major Alexander, joined the right attack on June 17th, in time to take part in the bombardment preceding the unsuccessful attack on the Redan on 18th June; they continued with this attack until 11th July when they were transferred to the left attack, rendering valuable aid in both positions.

But in the meantime the detachment with the Naval Brigade had added yet another leaf to the laurels of the Corps.

For on 5th June, Bombardier Thomas Wilkinson of the RMA had gained the Victoria Cross; a terrific fire from the Russian guns had knocked to pieces the advanced works of the British. Wilkinson, jumping on to the parapet, replaced the sandbags as they were brought to him, rebuilding the parapet under intense fire and so saving many lives.

On 6th June the Mamelon was taken by the French.

The Grand Crimean Central Railway was a military railway built in 1855 during the Crimean War by the United Kingdom. Its purpose was to supply ammunition and provisions to Allied soldiers engaged in the Siege of Sevastopol who were stationed on a plateau between Balaklava and Sevastopol. It also carried the world's first hospital train.

The Grand Crimean Central Railway can be seen in red running North and North West from Balaklava

The railway was built at cost and without any contract by Peto, Brassey and Betts, a partnership of English railway contractors led by Samuel Morton Peto. Within three weeks of the arrival of the fleet carrying materials and men the railway had started to run and in seven weeks 7 miles (11 km) of track had been completed. The railway was a major factor leading to the success of the siege. After the end of the war the track was sold and removed.

Related Royal Marines ‘Dits’

• Bombardier Thomas Wilkinson RMA VC

• Corporal John Prettyjohns (Pethyjohns) - First Royal Marine Victoria Cross - 2nd Nov 1854 – Battle of Inkerman

• Balaclava - Marine Heights and the Charge of the Heavy and Light Brigade

• Search Royal Marines in the Crimea War Here

  
  

References/ Further Reading:

Wikipedia - The Great Radan

Wikipedia - Grand Crimean Central Railway