Ten days after action near Balaklava, Russian
Prince Alexander Menshikov made another attempt
to cut off the Allied siege of Sevastopol and attacked at Inkerman. Following a desperate struggle in fog by outnumbered British infantry under General Fitzroy Somerset Lord Raglan, French General Pierre Bosquet arrived to seal victory and Menshikov withdrew (5 November 1854).
The Brave few where many earned the first Victoria Crosses in fact 15 were awarded at Inkerman, and over 111 during the entire campaign. We shall see more action from gentlemen such as Gerald Goodlake whose unit was a key part of the battle and an example of technological advantage against the enemy:
On 28 October 1854 at Inkerman, Crimea, Major Goodlake was in command of a party of sharpshooters which held Windmill Ravine against a much larger force of the enemy, killing 38 (including an officer) and taking three prisoners. He also showed conspicuous gallantry on a later occasion when his sharpshooters surprised a picquet and seized the knapsacks and rifles of the enemy.
He later achieved the rank of lieutenant general.
The overwhelming Russian force met disaster in the fog and the Brits held off until the French could relieve them. A close run thing.
More to come.