John Robarts
Gunner, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 1058 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Gunner all Gunners →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Ardent) all HMS Ardent VCs →
- Date of action
- 29 May 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- in 1818 at Chacewater, Cornwall
- Died
- 17th October 1888 at Southsea, Hampshire
- Memorial / grave
- atHighland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth
Digest of citation
On 29 May 1855 in the Sea of Azov, Crimea, Gunner Robarts of HMS Ardent with two lieutenants*, one from HMS Miranda and the other from HMS Swallow, volunteered to land on a beachwhere 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 before embarking again. For his services in the Crimea, Gunner Robarts was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour. His death was announced in The Times of the 8th October 1888 saying,"'Our Portsmouth Correspondent says, 'The death is announced of Mr John Robarts VC, a retired Gunner in the Navy at his residence at Southsea.' " A similar announcement was made in 'The Naval and Military Record'. For the 25th October 1888 it stated, "The death is announced of Mr John Robarts, a retired Chief Gunner, Royal Navy, who won the Victoria Cross for his bravery in the Black Sea during the Crimean War. The deceased, who has resided at Southsea, was just over 68 years of age." More to add
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
ROBARTS, John. (Reg No. 1058)
Gunner Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 24th February 1857 Born in 1818 at Chacewater, Cornwall.
Died on 17th October 1888 at Southsea, Hampshire.
Memorial on grave atHighland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth.
Digest of Citation reads: On 29 May 1855 in the Sea of Azov, Crimea, Gunner Robarts of HMS Ardent with two lieutenants*, one from HMS Miranda and the other from HMS Swallow, volunteered to land on a beachwhere 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 before embarking again.
* Lt.C.W. BUCKLEY(Reg. No.145) and Lt.H.T. BURGOYNE. (Reg. No.151) For his services in the Crimea, Gunner Robarts was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour. His death was announced in The Times of the 8th October 1888 saying,"'Our Portsmouth Correspondent says, 'The death is announced of Mr John Robarts VC, a retired Gunner in the Navy at his residence at Southsea.' " A similar announcement was made in 'The Naval and Military Record'. For the 25th October 1888 it stated, "The death is announced of Mr John Robarts, a retired Chief Gunner, Royal Navy, who won the Victoria Cross for his bravery in the Black Sea during the Crimean War. The deceased, who has resided at Southsea, was just over 68 years of age." More to add.
From Alf's photographs
* Lt.C.W. BUCKLEY(Reg. No.145) and Lt.H.T. BURGOYNE. (Reg. No.151)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: atHighland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth
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