Thomas Arthur

Gunner Thomas Arthur VC: The Royal Artillery Hero of Sebastopol

Under intense Russian fire, one young artilleryman repeatedly crossed open ground carrying ammunition to British infantry fighting for their lives. Just eleven days later, he volunteered for another exceptionally dangerous mission against the Russian defences. These acts of courage made Thomas Arthur one of the distinguished British soldiers of the Crimean War and earned him the Victoria Cross.

Born around 1835 in Abbotsham, near Bideford, Devon, Thomas Arthur enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Devonport in March 1853. Serving as a Gunner and Driver with No. 1 Company, 5th Battalion, he sailed for the Crimea in December 1854 and arrived in January 1855. His battery served during the siege of Sebastopol, where the young artilleryman would demonstrate extraordinary courage under fire.

Arthur was present at five bombardments against Sebastopol. On 7 June 1855, during the fighting for the Quarries, he was responsible for an ammunition magazine in an advanced artillery battery. Recognising that the 7th Fusiliers were desperately short of ammunition, he repeatedly carried barrels of infantry ammunition across exposed ground under enemy fire, acting entirely on his own initiative.

On 18 June, during the assault on the Redan, he volunteered for and formed part of an artillery spiking party sent against the Russian guns. His gallantry during these operations was officially recognised in the London Gazette of 24 February 1857, No. 21971, page 656. The contemporary history by Thomas Carter and William H. Long also records that Arthur was severely wounded while participating in the spiking party.

He received the Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria at the first public VC investiture in Hyde Park on 26 June 1857.

Arthur's Crimean service was also recognised through the Crimea Medal with the Sebastopol clasp and the Sardinian War Medal for Military Valour. The latter is independently documented in Carter and Long's 1893 publication, War Medals of the British Army, which names Arthur among the Sardinian medal recipients. The British Numismatic Journal also recorded a silver Sardinian War Medal awarded to Thomas Arthur of the 5th Battalion, Royal Artillery, in 1927.

Following his return from the Crimea in 1856, Arthur continued his military career through postings in Northampton, Devonport and Ireland. In 1866, he proceeded to India with his artillery unit, serving at Lucknow and other locations in Bengal. During his later years in India and Wiltshire, he was also recorded under the surname McArthur. He retired from the British Army on 19 May 1874 after more than twenty years of service.

After returning to England, Arthur settled in Wiltshire, where he spent his remaining years. He died at Savernake on 2 March 1902 and was buried at Cadley Churchyard.

Thomas Arthur's story is a reminder that extraordinary courage is not always displayed by senior commanders or celebrated battlefield leaders. Sometimes it belongs to an ordinary gunner who sees his comrades in danger, acts without hesitation and accepts the risks himself. His actions at the Quarries and the Redan secured his place among the enduring heroes of the Victoria Cross.