Personal info
- Name: Henry MacDONALD
- D.O.B: 26th May, 1823
- D.O.A: 19th Apr, 1855
- D.O.D: 15th Feb, 1893
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Colour Sergeant, 10th Company, Royal Sappers and Miners
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 1
The Rifle Pits before the Right Attack outside Sevastopol, Russia 19 April 1855
19 April 1855
The Crimean War
On the night of 19 April 1855 Colonel Egerton of the 77th Regiment attacked and captured Russian rifle pits about 250 yards in front of the Third Parallel of the British Right Attack on the Woronzov Ridge. Egerton himself was killed in the fighting. Sergeant J Park VC and Private A Wright VC also served in this action. Accompanying Egerton had been 150 men under Captain Owen and Lieutenant Baynes, RE, who were to incorporate the pits into the Right Attack’s trench system. When Owen was killed and Baynes wounded, command was assumed by Colour Sergeant H MacDonald. Early the next morning (20 April), Corporal W J Lendrim VC helped to capture a further rifle pit 40 yards further forward.
Citation
For gallant conduct, when engaged in effecting a lodgment in the enemy’s Rifle Pits, in front of the Left advance of the Right Attack on Sevastopol; and for subsequent valour, when, by the Engineer Officers being disabled from wounds, the command devolved upon him, and he determinedly persisted in carrying on the sap, notwithstanding the repeated attacks of the enemy.