The Illustrated London News 30th December 1854

Dear Brother, Before you receive this letter you will no doubt have heard of my been wounded at the battle of Inkerman.  At day break on the morning 5th November a strong army of Russians, said to have arrived from Odessa, made an attack on our Division (the second), and commenced by firing shot and shell into our camp, which proceeding rather took us by surprise.  We immediately turned out, and advanced to meet them, and when we came into action we gave it to them very sharp.  Our Battery took up a position on a hill in front of Sebastobol, where we fired away the whole of our ammunition, the shot and shell from the enemy coming thick among us, also plenty of musket balls. 

The Russians advanced in large columns towards us, and when within about forty yards from our guns we opened fire with canister upon them, which mowed them down in sections.  They turned, but shortly after advanced again upon us.  We still continued firing canister at them until our ammunition was expended.  We then got am order to limber up, but the enemy made a rush on our guns, the detachments made off (leaving the guns), with exception of myself and one gunner (James Taylor) belonging to my detachment.  He and I tried to get the gun away, but the Russians surrounded us.  The gunner and I then drew our swords and tried to defend ourselves, but unfortunately, our swords were to short for the long muskets of the enemy.  I threw a number of them off with my left arm, but was soon knocked down, and bayoneted in twelve different places. 

I received one in the chest which bent me in double, breaking a small bone in that locality.  This wound I received before I fell, and three in the left arm, three in the right thigh, two in the back, one in the right ribs, and two in the head.  They certainly left me for dead.  It was God's mercy that the savages had no more ammunition, they would no doubt, have settled the account with my comrades and myself in a more expeditious way.  However, they did not get the guns away with them, after all, as the French came to our assistance and compelled them to retire.

I lay on the ground for a hour before I was carried to the rear, the blood gushing out of my wounds.  The doctor came and sewed them up, which stopped the bleeding.  My breathing became very short, through the broken bone in my chest, which the doctor said touched my lungs.  He told me to prepare for the next world, as he thought I  could not possibly get over it.  I suffered greatly, and for six days I could not either eat anything nor turn myself on my blanket, but after that I began to recover, every day gaining strength, and my wounds healing.  I am now, thank God able to walk about, and my breastbone has knitted and soon be all right again.  I hope to be able to rejoin my Battery, and assist in giving the Russians another good drubbing.

Our Battery was greatly cut up on the 5th.  It was a dreadful engagement, and lasted all day, and was much more severe than the battle of Alma, that being my first, I thought it bad enough.  We had two men killed and 13 wounded in the Battery, and I believe about 30 horses.  Several wheels and limber boxes were broken by the shot from enemy's batteries.  The gunner who was wounded with me at the gun has died since.  This is the third battle I have been in since I arrived in the Crimea, and escaped in all except the last one.

Captain Turner came to me at night, after Inkerman, and praised me for my brave conduct, and promised that I should not be forgotten, so expect you will hear something official about me.  This alone gave me great consolation, to think I had given so much satisfaction in the performance of my duty.

ANDREW HENRY, Sergeant  R.A.

Before dawn the bells of Sebastobol began to ring out,  that seemed nothing unusual for the British.  It was after all a Sunday,  merely Guy Fawkes Day,  5th of November.  But to some it was one of those occasions which called for a mighty din at an early hour!!

AN  EXTRACT FROM THE

       WESTERN DAILY MERCURY THURSDAY 29th OCTOBER 1870

       THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE 

        CAPTAIN ANDREW HENRY, V.C. R.A.

 The funeral of the late Capt A. Henry, V.C., Coast Brigade, R.A., took place at the cemetery, yesterday, with full military honours, the procession leaving the Citadel at about 2:30 p.m., headed by a firing party, consisting of 100 men of the 13th Brigade Royal Artillery, under the command of a captain, and with usual proportion of subalterns and non-commissioned officers.  By the permission of the respective commanding officers, three regimental bands attended, viz, those of the 1st battalion 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 57th Regiment, and South Devon Militia, and relieved each other on the line of route in playing the "Dead March."

          The corpse was conveyed to the Cemetery on a gun carriage, drawn by eight horses, of C Battery, 14th Brigade, and which was appropriately fitted, and covered with the Union flag, under which the gallant deceased had for many years faithfully served.  His sword, Busby and decorations, were laid on the coffin.  The brother of the deceased, Captain William, Henry, Coast Brigade, Royal Artillery, followed as chief mourner, leading the two sons of the deceased.  Other gentlemen intimate friends of the deceased, also walked in the rear of the coffin, the pall being supported by brother officers of the regiment.  The whole of the master gunners and non-commissioned officers and men off duty of the division of the Coast Brigade, which the deceased officer had commanded ever since its organisation, in 1859, followed next, after which came the non-commissioned officers and men of C Battery, 14th Brigade (on foot), the 13th Brigade R.A., and a detachment of the 57th Regiment, together with a large number of staff sergeants, &c., of various corps, including the Devon Artillery and Rifle Volunteers-the whole marching was deep.  The procession was closed by Colonel Westmacott, Commanding the Royal Engineers, and Deputy Controller W. L Penno, together with a number of staff and other officers representing the various corps and departments in garrison and naval and volunteer officers.  The Rev. W. Sykes Chaplain to the forces, officiated assisted by the Rev F.Barnes, of Trinity Church, at whose place of worship the deceased had most regular attendant.  The Rev Joseph Wood Presbyterian Chaplain to the Forces, as well as the Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Forces also kindly attended as followers and had it not been for the very unfavourable state of the weather, the funeral would doubtless have been much more numerously attended.  The ceremony, from first to last, was most impressive, and the deepest sympathy is every where felt for her who has been so suddenly bereft of an affectionate husband. 

An immense concourse of spectators lined the route of the procession, many accompanying it to the cemetery, but we regret to say the conduct of a large number of roughs was most indecorous.  They indulged in close proximity to the grave, in most unbecoming levity, all endeavours on the part of many respectable and well-behaved spectators to restrain them proving ineffectual.  When the burial service had been gone through three volleys were fired over the grave, and this brought to a termination the solemn proceedings.

[The funeral cortege adopted a different route to that which was intended, in consequence of the severity of the weather.]

 Donated to the Battery by Alf and Rose Lamey