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Auction: 8016 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 376

The Poignant Crimea Medal to Major S.R. Chapman, 20th Foot, Who Was Mortally Wounded During the Final Assault on the Redan, 8.9.1855, Having Served Throughout the Entire 11 Month Siege Before Sebastopol Crimea 1854-56, four clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Bt. Maj. S.R. Chapman. 20th Foot.), officially impressed, minor edge bruising, therefore good very fine Estimate £ 1,600-1,800 Major Stephen Remnant Chapman, commissioned Ensign 59th Foot, 1847; Lieutenant 1849; exchanged to the 20th Foot, 10.2.1852; advanced Brevet Major 24.4.1855; acting as a Field Engineer he was present throughout the 11 month siege of Sebastopol, and was severely wounded on the last day of the siege, 8.9.1855, whilst taking part in the final assault on the Redan. Three days prior to the assault, the Allied guns begun the heaviest bombardment of the entire war. The plan was for the French to take the Malakoff, and at the sight of the Tricolour flying from that position the British were to begin their assault on the Redan. The latter was heavily defended by more than 50 artillery pieces split over two tiers. To be able to attempt to breach the position, the assault force would have to cross 200 yards of uphill ground, exposed to heavy battery fire from both sides and then would have to negotiate an abattis of felled trees 50 yards in front of the ditch. Chapman and the rest of the assault force were, ´´met by an inferno of shot and shell as they clambered out of their saps and parallels, the narrowness of which prevented them from doing so in any sort of ordered line. The ranks of the attackers were decimated, long before the skirmishers of the Rifle Brigade, with their newly issued Lee-Enfields, reached the abattis, and only about six of the Light Division´´s scaling ladders were carried as far as the ditch....... Of the officers commanding detachments, only four entered the Redan unhurt.´´ (Casualty Roll For the Crimea, published by Hayward, refers). With limited re-enforcements and no officer above the rank of Captain to lead them the assault party retreated in disorder, once again subject to a cruel withering fire. As a result of the two hours of fighting the British suffered, 385 killed, 1,914 wounded and 176 missing - the killed and wounded included 156 officers. Perhaps more importantly as far as the siege was concerned, was that the Russian losses from attempting to repel both the French attack on the Malakoff and the British attack on the Redan were estimated at 11,328. During the evening of the 8th the Russians commenced their retreat from Sebastopol, raising the city to the ground, scuttling their ships in the harbour and blowing up the arsenal and main magazines. By the morning of the 9th September, all Russian troops had evacuated the city. The Allied Generals congratulated their men on the successful siege, however this celebration was short lived for Chapman, who succumbed to his wounds and died 11 days later.

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£3,200