The Crimean War 1853 – 1856

33^rd Regiment

Late in 1853 war broke out between Russia and Turkey. Britain and France allied themselves with the Turks and both countries sent expeditionary forces to the east. The British troops initially gathered in Malta.

On 10^th April 1854 the 33^rd and 41^st Regiments left Malta for Constantinople where, on landing they found themselves to be the first British troops to be seen in the Turkish capital since the Crusades.

On 14^th September the allies landed in the Crimea and were soon to take part in the battle of the Alma.

“When we got over the parapet and showed ourselves properly the Russians let us have it. However, we gave as much as we took, and drove them out of the trenches…..When we got past the second trench we found a line of Russians four thick. We halted and kept blazing away at each other; we could see the Russians dropping in every direction…..being four deep, each of our bullets went through two men…..Colonel Blake now ordered the Colours to be uncased….We charged, the 7^th and 23^rd followed us up: we charged and cheered and cheered, and the Russians turned and retired. The 33^rd were determined to get to the top, and we kept advancing through it was getting hotter every yard we went up. When we came within forty yards of the guns and entrenchments….we came to the charge. The Russians took to their hills.’ Capt Wills 33^rd  (or 1^st Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment, Battle of the Alma – 1854.

The 33^rd Regiment later took part in the battle of Inkerman and the siege of Sabastopol. As it transpired , it was the Crimean war that had a profound affect on the conditions the soldiers ought to be subjected to. Not for the first time, the armies’ consequential casualties were greater than those inflicted by the enemy.

The war ended in 1856 and the Regiment returned home to England.

76^th Regiment

In March 1853 with Lt Col Joseph Clark in command, the 76^th left Malta for St John’s, Fredericton and Prince Edward’s Island in New Brunswick, Canada. The following year the Regiment proceeded to Halifax, leaving behind one company in Fredericton. The link with Halifax, Nova Scotia would later lead to some confusion with Halifax in the West Riding.

The 76^th Regiment would play no part in the war in the Crimea.