George Symons

Cleared a battery's gun ports while under intense enemy fire

George Symons was born on 18 March 1826 in South Hill, Cornwall, the son of William, an agricultural labourer, and Anne Symons. He was baptised at St Sampson's Church on 2 April. The 1841 census recorded him living with a blacksmith and his family near Manaton Mill. He worked as a labourer before enlisting in the Royal Artillery on 29 June 1845, aged nineteen. In September 1849 he married Mary Ann Bonner at Charlton, Kent. They had three sons and two daughters. He became a sergeant on 1 January 1853.

During the Crimean War, Symons survived the battle of Inkerman on 5 November 1854. The VC & GC Association records him as one of only two survivors of a two-gun battery struck during the artillery engagement. His Crimean service earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His Victoria Cross action came during the subsequent siege of Sevastopol.

On 6 June 1855, the Allies opened their third bombardment of the Russian fortress. Serving with No. 6 Company, 11th Battalion, Royal Artillery, Symons volunteered to uncover the embrasures of a five-gun battery in the advanced Right Attack. These openings through the parapet had to be cleared before the guns could fire. Russian fire began as the first opening was uncovered and intensified as he worked along the battery. When the final embrasure proved difficult to clear, he climbed onto the parapet and threw down the obstructing sandbags. An enemy shell exploded and severely wounded him.

Symons survived and continued his military career as a commissioned officer. He served with the Turkish contingent from December 1855 and subsequently joined the Military Train. When his VC was announced on 20 November 1857, he was a lieutenant in its 5th Battalion. Queen Victoria presented the cross at Windsor Castle the following day. The announcement's incorrect action date was officially corrected in December.

He became a captain on half pay on 24 May 1861. The London Gazette recorded his appointment as adjutant of the 1st Administrative Brigade East York Artillery Volunteers from 10 January 1862. He held the adjutancy for the remainder of his life. Symons died at Bridlington Quay on 18 November 1871, aged forty-five, and was buried at Bridlington Priory on 23 November.

Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 20 November 1857, issue 22065, page 3920:

Military Train, 5th Battalion (late Serjeant, Royal Artillery), Lieutenant George Symons.

“For conspicuous gallantry on the 18th October, 1854, in having volunteered to unmask the embrasures of a five-gun battery in the advanced Right Attack, and when so employed, under a terrific fire, which the enemy commenced immediately on the opening of the first embrasure, and increased on the unmasking of each additional one; in having overcome the great difficulty of uncovering the last, by boldly mounting the parapet, and throwing down the sand-bags, when a shell from the enemy burst, and wounded him severely.”

Official correction, London Gazette, 22 December 1857, issue 22075, page 4511:

“The date of Lieutenant George Symons’s Act of Bravery, is the ‘6th of June, 1855,’ and not the ‘18th of October, 1854.’”

Sources: https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/935/George-SYMONS https://south-hill.co.uk/south-hill-remembers-george-symonds/ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22065/page/3920 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22075/page/4511 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22608/page/1418