William Peel
Captain, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 979 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: Naval Brigade) all Naval Brigade VCs →
- Date of action
- 18 October 1854; 5 November 1854; 18 June 1855 on this day → all of 1854 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- London Gazette on 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 2nd November 1824 at London
- Died
- 27th April 1858 at Cawnpore, India
- Memorial / grave
- the form of statues in Painted Hall, Greenwich Hospital;
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PEEL, William. (reg No. 979).
Captain. Royal Navy * London Gazette on 24th February 1857.
Born on 2nd November 1824 at London.
Died on 27th April 1858 at Cawnpore, India.
Memorials in the form of statues in Painted Hall, Greenwich Hospital; at Sandy Church, Bedfordshire; In Eden Gardens, Calcutta, India and in Dublin Ireland.
Digest of Citation reads: On the 18th October, 1854 at Sebastopol, in the Crimea, at the greatest possible risk, to himself, Captain Peel took up a live shell with the fuse still burning which had landed amongst several powder cases, outside the magazine. He threw the shell over the parapet where it immediately burst on leaving his hands. This action saved the magazine and many lives in the immediate vicinity. On 5th November 1854, at the Battle of Inkerman, Captain Peel joined the officers of the Grenadier Guards and assisted in the defence of the Colours of that Regiment when it was hard-pressed at Sandbag Battery. Further, on the 18th June 1855, he volunteered to lead the Ladder Party at the assault on the Redan and was carrying the first ladder until he was wounded by a bullet which penetrated his left-arm. On each of these occasions he was accompanied by Midshipman Edward St John DANIEL (reg No. 300).
* Naval Brigade.
Additional information: Captain Sir William Peel was the third son of the 2nd Baronet, Sir Robert Peel and Julia, his wife, youngest daughter of General Mansue John Floyd,Bart. Captain Peel was created Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) More to be added. There is a considerable amount of information regarding Captain Peel in The Victoria Cross 1856-1920
Alf's notes on his life
at Sandy Church, Bedfordshire; In Eden Gardens, Calcutta, India and in Dublin Ireland. Digest of Citation reads: On the 18th October, 1854 at Sebastopol, in the Crimea, at the greatest possible risk, to himself, Captain Peel took up a live shell with the fuse still burning which had landed amongst several powder cases, outside the magazine. He threw the shell over the parapet where it immediately burst on leaving his hands. This action saved the magazine and many lives in the immediate vicinity. On 5th November 1854, at the Battle of Inkerman, Captain Peel joined the officers of the Grenadier Guards and assisted in the defence of the Colours of that Regiment when it was hard-pressed at Sandbag Battery. Further, on the 18th June 1855, he volunteered to lead the Ladder Party at the assault on the Redan and was carrying the first ladder until he was wounded by a bullet which penetrated his left-arm. On each of these occasions he was accompanied by Midshipman Edward St John DANIEL (reg No. 300).
Additional information
Captain Sir William Peel was the third son of the 2nd Baronet, Sir Robert Peel and Julia, his wife, youngest daughter of General Mansue John Floyd,Bart. Captain Peel was created Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) More to be added. There is a considerable amount of information regarding Captain Peel in The Victoria Cross 1856-1920
* Naval Brigade.
Register note: Awarded for multiple actions
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: the form of statues in Painted Hall, Greenwich Hospital;
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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