Alfred Ablett

File:The Battle of Sebastopol.png

The Siege of Sebastopol

Alfred Ablett ( 3 August 1830 – 12 March 1897) was a British Army soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. A soldier with the Grenadier Guards during the Crimean War, he was awarded the VC for his actions on 2 September 1855, during the siege of Sebastopol.

Early life

Alfred Ablett was born on 3 August 1830 at Weybread, Suffolk, to Samuel and Elizabeth Ablett. He was baptised just over a month later on 3 September.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to the 1841 census, he had four older brothers, one younger brother and two younger sisters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Military service

Ablett joined the army on 20 February 1850 at the age of 19 years and five months,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. He served in the Crimean War, seeing action at the battles of the Alma, Inkerman and Balaclava. In early September 1855, while still a private, he performed the deed which would earn him a Victoria Cross for bravery while in the trenches at the siege of Sebastopol.<ref name=falkirk>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

His VC citation in the London Gazette reads: Template:Blockquote

He was nominated for the award by his company captain who witnessed the event,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was among 29 men to be presented with the medal in Hyde Park, London, on 26 June 1857 by Queen Victoria.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> While in the Crimea he also received the Distinguished Conduct Medal<ref name=vcgca/> and gained the rank of sergeant.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He was one of two members of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards who earned the Victoria Cross during the Crimean War, the other being Private Anthony Palmer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Later life and legacy

Ablett was invalided out of Army in October 1862 suffering from rheumatism, the result of frostbite and fever contracted in Crimea.<ref name=vcgca>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1868, he was accused of attempting to kill himself with a rifle, but was found not guilty by a jury at a court in Norwich.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 1871<ref name=vcgca/> he served for 26 years in the London Dock Police, leaving as an inspector.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He died at his home on East India Road, Poplar, London on 12 March 1897<ref name=falkirk/> and was buried in St Andrew's churchyard, Weybread.<ref name=VConl>Template:Cite web</ref>

His Victoria Cross was sold for £62 in 1903,<ref name=VConl/> and is now held by the Grenadier Guards Regimental Headquarters, Wellington Barracks, London.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His family is in possession of a replica.

External links

• Template:Find a Grave