Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Carte de Visite studio portrait photographs (2) of Vice Admiral William Nathan Wrighte Hewett V.C., and Commander Cecil William Buckley V.C, good condition (2) £80-£100

Vice Admiral William Nathan Wrighte Hewett, Royal Navy
V.C. London Gazette 24 February 1857.
‘1st. On the occasion of a repulse of a sortie of Russians by Sir De Lacy Evans’ Division on the 26th October, 1854, Mr. Hewett, then Acting-Mate of Her Majesty’s Ship Beagle, was in charge of the Right Lancaster Battery before Sebastopol. The advance of the Russians placed the gun in great jeopardy, their skirmishers advancing within 300 yards of the Battery, and pouring in a sharp fire from their Minié rifles. By some misapprehension the word was passed to spike the gun and retreat; but Mr. Hewett, taking upon himself the responsibility of disregarding the order, replied, that ‘Such order did not come from Captain Lushington, and he would not do it till it did.’ Mr. Hewett then pulled down the parapet of the Battery, and with the assistance of some soldiers, got his gun round, and poured upon the advancing column of Russians a most destructive and effective fire. For the gallantry exhibited on this occasion, the Board of Admiralty promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant. 2nd. On the 5th November, 1854, at the Battle of Inkerman, Captain Lushington again brought before the Commander-in-chief the services of Mr. Hewett, saying, ‘I have much pleasure in again bringing Mr. Hewett’s gallant conduct to your notice.’ (Sir S. Lushington to Vice-Admiral Sir J. D. Dundas, enclosed in despatches of 1st November, 1854, and 8th November, 1854). 

Commander Cecil William Buckley, Royal Navy
V.C. London Gazette 24 February 1857.
‘Lord Lyons reports that ‘Whilst serving as junior Lieutenant of the ‘Miranda,’ this Officer landed in presence of a superior force, and set fire to the Russian stores at Genitchi;’ and ‘he also performed a similar desperate service at Taganrog.’ The first service referred to occurred after the shelling of the town of Genitchi, on the 29th May, 1855. After mentioning that the stores were in a very favourable position for supplying the Russian Army, and that, therefore, their destruction was of the utmost importance, Captain Lyons writes: ‘Lieutenant Cecil W. Buckley, Lieutenant Hugh T. Burgoyne, and Mr. John Roberts, gunner, volunteered to land alone, and fire the stores, which offer I accepted, knowing the imminent risk there would be in landing a party in presence of such a superior force, and out of gunshot of the ships. This very dangerous service they most gallantly performed, narrowly escaping the Cossacks, who all but cut them off from their boat.’ (Despatch from Admiral Lord Lyons, 2nd June, 1855, No. 419.) The second volunteer service was performed while the town of Taganrog was being bombarded by the boats of the Fleet, and is thus recorded by Captain Lyons: ‘Lieutenant Cecil Buckley, in a four-oared gig, accompanied by Mr. Henry Cooper, Boatswain, and manned by volunteers, repeatedly landed and fired the different stores and Government buildings. This dangerous, not to say desperate service (carried out in a town containing upwards of 3,000 troops, constantly endeavouring to prevent it, and only checked by the fire of the boats’ guns), was most effectually performed.’