Cecil Buckley
Captain Cecil William Buckley VC (7 October 1828 – 7 December 1872) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Cecil William Buckley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 7 October 1828 Eccles, Lancashire |
| Died | 7 December 1872 (aged 44) Funchal, Madeira |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1845 - 1872 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | HMS Miranda |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Légion d'Honneur |
He was 26 years old, and a lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 29 May 1855 in the Sea of Azov, Crimea, Lieutenant Buckley of HMS Miranda, with a lieutenant (Hugh Talbot Burgoyne) from HMS Swallow and a gunner (John Robarts) from HMS Ardent, volunteered to land at a beach where the Russian army were in strength. They were out of covering gunshot range of the ships offshore and met considerable enemy opposition, but managed to set fire to corn stores and ammunition dumps and destroy enemy equipment. On 3 June Lieutenant Buckley carried out another raid with a boatswain (Henry Cooper) from Miranda. They landed at the town of Taganrog and were successful in destroying enemy equipment and stores, whilst being under enemy fire.[1]
He was the first winner of the VC to be actually gazetted on 24 February 1857. He later achieved the rank of captain.
Captain Buckley was buried on the island of Madeira, Portugal.[2]
References
- "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 649.
- Best, Brian (2007). "Cecil William Buckley: The first Gazetted VC". British Historical Society of Portugal Annual Report. 34: 15–20. Retrieved 26 February 2020.