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guns, when fired, from striking the wall; thus, her fire raked the open part. The Caves were to be cleared, and the
Marines ordered to do it; as soon as we showed ourselves in the open, a broadside from the frigate thinned our ranks; Captain March fell wounded. Captain Hopkins ordered his men to lie down under a bit of rising ground, and ordered two privates, Pat Sullivan and another man to take the Captain back, and there he stood amidst a shower of shot and shell, seeing him removed.
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We, under
Richards and Prettyjohns, soon cleared the caves, but found our ammunition nearly all expended, and a new batch of the foe were creeping up the hillside in single file, at the back. Prettyjohns, a muscular West Countryman, said, ‘Well lads, we are just in for a warming, and it will be every
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The
Inkermann Caves were occupied by the enemy’s sharpshooters, who were picking off our officers and gunners; between us and these men was an open space exposed to the broadside fire of a frigate in the harbour under shelter of the wall, but she had been heeled over so as to clear the muzzles of her
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The 2 November 1854 was an active day, 312 rank and file marched off from the heights of
Balaklava, for the Light Division, under the command of Captain Hopkins, RMLI, the detachment was divided into four companies, taking turn in the trenches. On the morning of the 5th, the relief, which had
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The bugle sounded the ‘Fall-in’ at the double, and officers were flying about giving orders, saying vast columns of the enemy were moving up to our rear. The roll of musketry was terrific; we were advanced cautiously until bullets began to fall in amongst us, the
Sergeant-Major was the first man
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As soon as the first man stood on the level, Prettyjohns gripped him and gave him a
Westcountry buttock, threw him over upon the men following, and a shower of stones from the others knocked the leaders over. Away they went, tumbling one over the other, down the incline; we gave them a parting
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At the same time some seamen opened fire from some heavy guns into their left flank, and this drove them back into the fog and smoke. Our
Commanding Officer received several orders from mounted officers at this critical time; first it was ‘advance’, then it was ‘hold your ground and prevent a
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Prettyjohns married his first cousin, Elizabeth
Prettyjohns (7 May 1826 – 19 August 1912), at Plymouth Register Office on 10 February 1850. They had two children: Elizabeth (Bessie) Prettyjohns (1857 – 13 July 1889); and Alice Maud Prettyjohns (28 February 1865 – 4 July 1960).
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On 10 June 1844, Prettyjohns enlisted as a private in the 59th
Company, Plymouth Division, for unlimited service – and collected 2s 6d for attestation. On the following day, he collected a bounty of £3 17s 6d for oath of allegiance. He embarked on
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man for himself in a few minutes. Look alive, my hearties, and collect all the stones handy, and pile them on the ridge in front of you. When I grip the front man you let go the biggest stones upon those fellows behind’.
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for
Vancouver and San Juan Island. On 17 December 1863 his final tour of duty came to an end. He was discharged on 16 June 1865 after 21 years and 6 days service – 16 years 94 days of which were spent at sea or abroad.
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Following his discharge, Prettyjohns retired to the Greater Manchester area, and became a Golf Club steward at Whalley Range Bowling Club, Albert Road, Withington, Lancashire. He died on 20 January 1887 at
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just returned, were preparing their rude breakfast; the firing from Sebastopol was gradually increased, and then commenced in our rear. Nothing could be distinguished but fog and smoke from where we were.
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A division under Sergeant Richards and Corporal Prettyjohns, was then thrown out to clear the caves, what became of the Commanding Officer and the others I never knew, so many statements have been made.
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On being mustered, if my memory is not at fault, twenty-one had been killed and disabled, and we felt proud of our own Commanding Officer, who stood fine, like a hero, helping Captain March.
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Corporal Prettyjohns received the VC, Colour Sergeant Jordan the Medal and £20 for Distinguished Conduct in the Field, Captain Hopkins a C.B., others were recommended.
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killed; order given to lay (sic) down; it was well we did so; a rush of bullets passed over us: then we gave them three rounds, kneeling, into their close columns.
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on 29 April, and on 26 June a VC was sent to the Admiralty and despatched to China for presentation. On 16 July, he sailed for Singapore and Calcutta on
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on 7 November 1850. On this ship, he embarked for the Mediterranean in January 1852, being promoted to corporal on 15 January. On 17 October 1854, HMS
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The Royal Marines hold a procession each autumn to honour the memory of Prettyjohns. His Victoria Cross and other medals are displayed at the
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Later in the day we were recalled, and to keep clear of the frigate’s fire had to keep to our left, passing over the field of slaughter.
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to south-east America and East Indies on 22 March 1845, being flogged for an unknown misdemeanour on 28 June. He disembarked at
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volley, and retired out of sight to load; they made off and left us, although there was sufficient to have eaten us up.
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Pow, 1805–1866). His early years were spent labouring in Buckfastleigh.
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On 5 November 1854, Corporal John Prettyjohns won the
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318:On 16 January 1856, Prettyjohns was promoted to
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472:Royal Navy personnel of the Second Opium War
462:Crimean War recipients of the Victoria Cross
477:Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross
279:junction or communication with the town’.
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482:Burials at Southern Cemetery, Manchester
452:British recipients of the Victoria Cross
467:Royal Navy personnel of the Crimean War
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180:(11 June 1823 – 20 January 1887) was a
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419:. 24 February 1857. p. 654.
311:The Prettyjohns family grave in
16:Recipient of the Victoria Cross
238:on 23 August 1849, and joined
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375:Southern Cemetery, Manchester
313:Southern Cemetery, Manchester
85:Southern Cemetery, Manchester
302:Report by Sergeant Turner RM
134:Royal Marine Light Infantry
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447:People from Buckfastleigh
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200:Prettyjohns was born at
148:Second Anglo-Chinese War
184:and a recipient of the
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373:and is buried in the
367:Chorlton upon Medlock
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112:Years of service
387:Royal Marines Museum
457:Royal Marines ranks
70:Chorlton-on-Medlock
416:The London Gazette
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266:Battle of Inkerman
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167:Golf Club steward
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65:(1887-01-20)
52:Dean Prior,
50:11 June 1823
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442:1887 deaths
437:1823 births
411:"No. 21971"
393:, England.
326:Sans Pareil
264:during the
255:Crimean War
253:during the
247:Bellerophon
242:Bellerophon
144:Crimean War
431:Categories
397:References
371:Lancashire
251:Sevastopol
249:bombarded
204:, near to
202:Dean Prior
196:Early life
92:Allegiance
74:Lancashire
46:1823-06-11
346:HMS
339:HMS
331:Hong Kong
324:HMS
229:HMS
115:1844–1865
391:Southsea
320:sergeant
300:—
231:Melampus
192:forces.
100:Service/
348:Tribune
341:Shannon
236:Chatham
381:Legacy
154:Awards
102:branch
80:Buried
210:Devon
54:Devon
329:for
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130:Unit
120:Rank
60:Died
40:Born
215:née
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