The Sea Forts of the Crimea

Yenikale - The light draught vessels under Captain Lyons then pushed on to Yenikale to engage the Forts at the entrance to the Sea of Azoff till the Army could come up.

On 25th there was a loud explosion and the Russians evacuated Yenikale, where nearly 100 guns were captured, with large quantities of ammunition and grain, which were destroyed.

Yenikale was put into a state of defence, with a Turkish garrison. In “The Life of Admiral

Mends”, who was Flag Captain, he notes that the French and Turkish troops were very lawless, plundering and massacring, and notes "to the honour of the Royal Marines and 93rd Regiment, the only British troops landed, they preserved perfect discipline and the 93rd extinguished a fire that had broken out."

Ruins of the Turkish fortress Yeni-Kale [Russia Beyond]

With the flag of Sir E Lyons in the Miranda, the squadron of light vessels entered the Sea of Azoff; among them were several mortar boats with RMA crews, the senior RMA Officer being Captain McNamara.

The Admiral then made over the commnnd to his son, Captain Lynne, and returned. The squadron went first to Berdiansk on 26th May, where they destroyed a number of Russian vessels with grain and stores.

On 28th they bombarded Arabat Fort, which blew up, but the garrison was too strong for the small Naval force to land.

They then went on to Genitchi, which they fired and destroyed Passing on then to Taganrog, the principal place at the head of the Sea, on 3rd June the small flotilla anchored 1400 yards from the Mole.

As their terms were refused. fire was opened on the Government stores and buildings which were set alight. The garrison of 3000 men were kept in check by the boats' crews. By 3 pm large stores of grain, etc, with the vessels building on the stocks, were set on fire.

On 5th June at Marianpoul, a small force was landed from the squadron33 and the stores were destroyed. On 6th June, the stores at Gheisk were burnt and thus having swept the Sea of Azoff, they returned to Balaclava.

Another raid was made in July under Captain Sherard Osborne with successful results.

The siege continued; the Fleet and mortar boats participating in the bombardments. The RMA in the mortar Boats were under Captain Digby RMA, and the following officers were borne on the books of HMS Royal Albert for mortar boats; Lieutenants E H Starr, H Hewett, W Festing. When the weather was too rough for the boats

There is a picture of this landing, which shows the Marines in the boats they had to lie in Streletska Bay. They had been fitted on a plan devised by Captain Julius Roberts, RMA, which

answered admirably.

Captain Julius Robert's Mortar Boats Creator: Brierly, Oswald Walters, Sir, 1817-1894; Dutton, T. G. (Thomas Goldsworth), 1819-1891 (lithographer). Date: March 29, 1856

The RM Brigade still consisted of two Battalions, the 1st commanded by Lieutenant Colonel F A Campbell, and the 2nd by Lieutenant Colonel T Holloway.

On 28th June Lord Raglan, the C-in-C, died, much regretted. At the funeral the RMLI furnished a Guard of Honour at the pier in the Bay of Kazatch, and also lined the road from the pier inland.

Related 'Dits'

• 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:

• Plans of Mortar Vessels as proposed by Captain Julius Roberts Royal Marine Artillery (1855) -Royal Museum Greenwhich