On the 5th November 1854, during the Crimean War (1854-56), the 95th Derbyshire Regiment defended the heights of Inkerman against sustained and repeated Russian attacks. The bandsmen of the 95th were used as stretcher bearers carrying the wounded off the field, although many of them were only children they showed great bravery helping their wounded comrades receive medical help. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the British and allied forces successfully prevented Russians from breaking their siege lines but suffered heavy losses during prolonged and bloody fighting.
Major Alexander James John MacDonald and Sergeant Patrick Murphy of the 95th Derbyshire Regiment were amongst those who fought bravery at the Battle of Inkerman, and both received gallantry awards for their actions.
Major Alexander James John MacDonald
Major Alexander James John MacDonald became an Ensign to the 95th Regiment of Foot on the 23rd of April 1847. He steadily rose through the ranks being made a Lieutenant on the 11th of November 1852, an Adjutant on the 21st of September 1854, Captain on the 29th of December 1854, and made Brevet Major on the 26th of December 1856.
Alexander served with the 95th during the Crimean War (1854-55). He was wounded at Alma whilst serving with the Light Company and was also hit by a musket ball that lodged in the Lion ornament of his cross belt. He was also present at the repulse of the sortie on the 26th of October 1854.
Alexander became Fort Adjutant in Edinburgh on the 31st of August 1861 until 5th of February 1865. He would go on to become Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on the 9th of April 1868. Alexander retired on the 1st of July 1881 as an Honorary Colonel. Alexander died on the 7th of December 1889 at Teddington, Middlesex.
For his service, he was awarded the British Crimea medal with Sebastopol, Inkerman and Alma clasps, the Sardinian Silver Medal and the Turkish Crimea Medal.
Sergeant Patrick Murphy (2465)
Sergeant Patrick Murphy was born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. He was attested for the 95th in Dublin on 15th October 1849 at the age of 18 years. He served with No. 6 Company in the Crimean War (1854-65) and was wounded at the Battle of Alma on the 20th September 1854.
For the action taken at Inkerman, Patrick was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on the 5th January 1855.
On the 23rd August 1870, he was awarded the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct as Sergeant at the Depot. He was also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Crimean Medal with Sebastopol, Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman Clasps, Indian Mutiny Medal with Central India clasp, and the Turkish Crimea Medal. In total, he served for over 21 years.
MacDonald and Murphy fought alongside each other at Inkerman. Their paths crossed at the Sandbag Battery, which later became known as ‘The Slaughter House’ due to the heavy losses sustained during close fighting.
When all hope seemed lost, Murphy valiantly defended MacDonald against the enemy and they both lived to tell the tale. Let’s take a look at how the events unfolded . . .
Inkerman Heights
In October 1854, the 2nd Division of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire 95th Regiment of Foot took up the position known as Inkerman Heights, a plateau area in Crimea. Although the camp was partially protected by the steepness and roughness of the ascent from the Tchernaya Valley, which sat at 500 ft below, two ravines ran down into the valley giving the enemy fairly easy access to the ridge.
On the 4th November 1854, heavy rain had fallen uninterruptedly since the morning, and mist had become very thick. The fog grew thicker throughout the evening and at 5:30am on the 5th November, a large body of Russian forces were seen approaching under the cover of the fog.
The Russians, 30,000 strong, managed to avoid detection under the cover of heavy fog and gained the valley below the Inkerman Crests without being discovered. The British outposts were suddenly attacked by dense columns, but failing to realise the nature of the attack, they stubbornly held on, mere handfuls of men striving to hold back thousands. The fog wrapped the whole area of the battle in confusion, and the greater part of the British Army was split up into detachments without orders or direction.
Despite heavy fire, Russian forces pressed on and occupied Shell Hill which was located 1,300 yards from Inkerman Heights. From this strategic position, Russian Artillery heavy bombarded the allied occupied Home Hill with 22 heavy guns.
Fighting at the Sandbag Battery
Whilst Home Ridge itself was mostly unentrenched, with earthwork nowhere more than 3 feet heigh, two small defences played a crucial role during the battle at Inkerman.
The Barrier – a 4-foot wall of earth and stones that had been built across the road at Quarry Ravine. This marked the position of one of the picquets and the field officer in charge. Another stone wall, this one approximately two feet high, ran along most of the northern face of the Home Ridge.
The Sandbag Battery – a 2-gun battery built of sandbags. This defence had been hurriedly put up a few days before in order to engage and silence a work which the Russians had been seen to be erecting on the further side of the river. After their purpose was accomplished the two guns had been withdrawn and the empty battery remained.
After fighting broke out, the 95th alongside the Grenadier Guards, furiously attacked the Sandbag Battery and drove out Russian forces. The Colours of the 95th were placed alongside those of the Guards at the Battery and fierce fighting took place. Over the course of the day, the Sandbag Battery was taken and retaken around 7 times, with the 95th present at each attack. Fire was very heavy and close up chaotic fighting took place around the entire battery.
Complications arose when many of the rifles could not be fired due to the wet weather conditions. The men had to break up cartridges and shake the loose powder onto the end of barrel of the rifle to get them to fire. In some cases, the Sergeants had to unscrew the barrel using a wrench, shake in the loose powder and then re-cap the barrel before the rifles could be made use of.
After receiving reinforcements from the Lancashire Fusiliers, the men charged over the battery down into the Quarry Ravine and drove back Russian forces. However, a Russian Column quickly closed in on the men and intense fighting took place.
It was at this time, that MacDonald and Murphy crossed paths.
MacDonald and Murphy
Shortly after calling for reinforcements, Major MacDonald was shot in the right knee whilst upon his horse. Sergeant Patrick Murphy was quickly at MacDonald’s side and helped his officer off his horse.
Regardless of the approaching enemy, Murphy tied up MacDonald’s wound and brought his revolver from his holsters. Despite being weak from dysentery, Murphy tried to carry MacDonald upon his back in order to return to the Sandbag Battery for shelter. Several times both men were obliged to fight off the enemy who were closing in on them. After several failed attempts to reach safety, MacDonald refused to be moved and sat on the ground with his back to a bush. Again, Murphy tried to lift his officer off the ground in spite of MacDonald’s protests and refused to leave him behind. It was only after expending his last cartridge and receiving a distinct order did Murphy reluctantly leave MacDonald.
Whilst laying wounded under a bush, MacDonald was attacked and received 20 wounds inflicted by sabres, bayonets and rifles. Despite being left unconscious, MacDonald survived the ordeal and later had a walking stick made from a branch of the bush which sheltered him during the attack. The branch was sent to a jeweller to be mounted in silver, but was returned mounted in gold free of charge.
For his bravery, MacDonald was awarded the Sardinian Medal, a gallantry medal awarded by King Victor Emanuel II (of Sardinia) for services in the Crimean War. Like MacDonald, Murphy also survived the attack despite being badly wounded. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery shown whilst defending MacDonald and he went on to serve for a further 21 years.
After six hours of terrible fighting at close quarters, the Russians fell back. In total, over 12,000 Russians, along with 2,500 British and 1,700 Frenchmen were killed or wounded at the Battle of Inkerman.
Despite suffering heavy losses, the 95th fought with unsurpassed bravery and maintained their position on the hill when attacked by the most overwhelming numbers. They received the hard earned battle honour “INKERMAN” which for many years since, has adorned the Colours of the Regiment.
The following year, the 95th served in the trenches before Sevastopol and suffered greatly during the harsh winter of 1954-5. Due to disruptions in supply lines, food, medical supplies, fuel, and clothing were scarce and many succumbed to disease. It was not until the 8th September 1855, that the Russian Garrison finally surrendered, by which time only 100 out of the total 1,000 men of the 95th, who had left England the previous year had survived.
Want to learn more about the Crimean War?
Follow these links:
https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/crimean-war
https://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/mary-seacole-and-crimean-war
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/crimea_01.shtml
https://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/the-crimean-war/
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References:
Museum of the Mercian Regiment (WFR Collection), Medals of Major Alexander James John MacDonald. Nottingham: Catalogue number: 1997-1044.
Museum of the Mercian Regiment (WFR Collection), Medals of Sergeant Patrick Murphy. Nottingham: Catalogue number: 1997-1010.
Museum of the Mercian Regiment (WFR Collection), Photograph of Major Alexander James John MacDonald. Nottingham.
Museum of the Mercian Regiment (WFR Collection), Photograph of Sergeant Patrick Murphy. Nottingham.
Museum of the Mercian Regiment (WFR Collection), Wylly, Colonel H. C. ‘History Of The 1st & 2nd Battalions The Sherwood Foresters Nottinghamshire And Derbyshire Regiment’, Vol. 2, 1929.