Alexander Wright

The siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War devolved into months of continuous trench warfare where survival depended on discipline under constant artillery bombardment. Holding the British positions on Woronzov Ridge was Private Alexander Wright, service number 2239 of the 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, in 1826, Wright served in the 2nd Brigade of the Light Division through the early campaign engagements at Alma and Inkerman before his regiment occupied the siege lines surrounding the Russian fortress.

Night engagements along the defensive perimeter tested small-unit resilience. On 22 March 1855, Russian forces under General Kroulev launched an assault exceeding 5,000 troops aimed at halting Allied sap trenches near the Kamtchatka Lunette. As enemy assault columns pushed toward Woronzov Ridge, Wright distinguished himself among the infantrymen repelling the sortie and securing the British line.

Operations against Russian forward posts required direct infantry attacks on fortified field positions. On the night of 19 April 1855, Wright joined a detachment tasked with capturing the Russian rifle pits commanding the approaches to British artillery batteries. The assault carried the positions, which became known as Egerton’s Pit following the death of Colonel Egerton during the fighting. Serving as Egerton’s soldier servant, Wright remained in the forward works while Russian artillery and rifle fire concentrated on the captured ground. Throughout the defense, he encouraged the soldiers around him to hold their ground against counter-attacks until reinforcements arrived. He sustained a wound during the engagement but remained with his unit.

Combat in the trenches continued through the summer. On 30 August 1855, Wright again displayed courage under fire during trench operations, incurring a second wound shortly before the fall of Sevastopol. His record across the campaign set his service apart, earning recognition for sustained bravery rather than a single isolated action.

Queen Victoria instituted the Victoria Cross in January 1856 to recognize operational gallantry across all military ranks. The official announcement of Wright's decoration appeared in The London Gazette on 24 February 1857.

"For conspicuous bravery through the whole Crimean War. Highly distinguished on the night of the 22nd March, 1855, in repelling a sortie. Highly distinguished at the taking of the Russian Rifle Pits, on the night of the 19th April,1855; remarked for the great encouragement he gave the men while holding the pits under a terrible fire. He was wounded. Highly distinguished on the 30th August, 1855, (wounded)."

Before the official investiture took place in London in June 1857, the 77th Regiment received orders for overseas duty and posted to New South Wales, arriving in Sydney. As a result, Wright and Sergeant John Park were absent from the royal presentation at Hyde Park. Their medals were sent to Australia, where the General Officer Commanding New South Wales presented them during a ceremony in Sydney in March 1858 as the regiment prepared for emergency deployment to India.

The regiment embarked for Bengal to reinforce British units suppressing the Indian Rebellion. Active service in the Indian subcontinent proved brief, as Wright died during military operations in Calcutta on 28 July 1858 at thirty-two years of age. His body was not recovered from the field.