Personal info

  • Name: William STANLAKE
  • D.O.B: 1st Oct, 1830
  • D.O.A: 26th Oct, 1854
  • D.O.D: 24th Apr, 1904
  • Award: Victoria Cross
  • Occupation at time of action: Private, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, Guards Brigade, 1st Division
  • Book: The Complete History - Volume 1
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The Battle of Little Inkerman, Russia 26 October 1854

26 October 1854

More details about:
The Crimean War 

On 26 October 1854, the day after the Battle of Balaklava, a Russian force commanded by Colonel Federov advanced out of the Karabel Faubourg, the eastern suburb of Sevastopol, crossed the ravine running north to Careenage Bay and marched east along the foot of Mount Inkerman, before turning south at right angles to attack Sir George de Lacy Evans’ 2nd Division which was camped on the high ground above. On the slopes of Shell Hill they encountered a picket of the 49th Regiment and fierce fighting began. The Russians, then being pounded by the British artillery on Home Ridge behind Shell Hill, were eventually forced to retreat. Meanwhile, a smaller Russian force had advanced up the Careenage Ravine to attack the 2nd Division from the flank. Here they were halted by sixty volunteer sharpshooters, commanded by Captain G L Goodlake, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who drove them back. The Russians were also repulsed from the Lancaster Batteries which overlooked Careenage Ravine from Victoria Ridge to the west.

Citation

 For having volunteered, when employed as one of the sharpshooters in October 1854, for reconnoitring purposes, to crawl up within six yards of a Russian sentry, and so enabled the Officer in command to effect a surprise; Private Stanlock having been warned beforehand of the imminent risk which he would run in the adventure. 

Supplement to The London Gazette of 24 February 1857. 24 February 1857, Numb. 21971, p. 657

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