William Thomas Rickard
Quartermaster, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 1050 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Quartermaster all Quartermasters →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Weser) all HMS Weser VCs →
- Date of action
- 11 October 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 10th February 1828 at Stoke Damarel, Devonport, Devonshire
- Died
- 21st February 1905 at Ryde, Isle of Wight
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
In the Sea of Azov, in the Crimea, Quartermaster Rickard of HMS Weser, went with Commander Commerell and Able-Seaman Milestone to destroy large quantities of forage stored on the shore of the Sivash. They eventually reached the objective, a corn magazine, after a difficult and dangerous journey in a small boat, hauled across the Spit of Arabat, sailing across the Sivash to the shore. They managed to set fire to the stacks, but this alerted the guards and they gave chase, firing on the three men. The Seaman, badly fatigued by the frenzy of the pursuance, fell in the mud and was unable to free himself. Quartermaster Rickard, himself exhausted, went back to assist the seaman. The three men finally reached HMS Weser. The lookouts reported that the storage magazine had burned to the ground
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RICKARD, William Thomas. (reg No. 1050).
Quartermaster. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
Born on 10th February 1828 at Stoke Damarel, Devonport, Devonshire.
Died on 21st February 1905 at Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: In the Sea of Azov, in the Crimea, Quartermaster Rickard of HMS Weser, went with Commander Commerell and Able-Seaman Milestone to destroy large quantities of forage stored on the shore of the Sivash. They eventually reached the objective, a corn magazine, after a difficult and dangerous journey in a small boat, hauled across the Spit of Arabat, sailing across the Sivash to the shore. They managed to set fire to the stacks, but this alerted the guards and they gave chase, firing on the three men. The Seaman, badly fatigued by the frenzy of the pursuance, fell in the mud and was unable to free himself. Quartermaster Rickard, himself exhausted, went back to assist the seaman. The three men finally reached HMS Weser. The lookouts reported that the storage magazine had burned to the ground.
Additional information:. Quartermaster Rickard also held the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) and the French Légion d'Honneur.
Additional information
Quartermaster Rickard also held the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) and the French Légion d'Honneur.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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