Alfred Ablett

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Alfred Ablett

VC DCM
File:The Battle of Sebastopol.png
Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol
Born (1830-08-03)3 August 1830
Weybread, Suffolk
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Poplar, London
Buried
St Andrew's Churchyard, Weybread
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  British Army
Rank Sergeant
Service number 5,872
Unit 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards
Battles/wars Battle of Alma
Battle of Inkerman
Battle of Balaclava
(Crimean War)
Awards Victoria Cross
Distinguished Conduct Medal

Alfred Ablett VC DCM (3 August 1830 – 12 March 1897) was an English Crimean War recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

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.[1] According to the 1841 England, Wales and Scotland census, he had four older brothers, one younger brother and two younger sisters.[2]

Military service

He joined the army on 20 February 1850 at the age of 19 years and five months,[3] being assigned to the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. He would go on to serve in the Crimean War, serving at the Battle of Alma, Battle of Inkerman and the Battle of Balaclava, earning service bars for each. But at the rank of private in early September 1855 when he performed a deed which would earn him a Victoria Cross for bravery while in the trenches at the siege of Sebastopol.[4][5]

His VC citation in the London Gazette reads:

On 2 September, 1855, seeing a shell fall in the centre of a number of ammunition cases and powder, he instantly seized and threw it outside the trench; it burst as it touched the ground. [6][7]

He was nominated for the award by his company Captain who witnessed the event,[8] and was among 29 men to be awarded the medal on 26 June 1857 by Queen Victoria, at which point it was still called "The Order of Valor".[9] Ablett later achieved the rank of sergeant.[10] Ablett was one of two members of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards who earned the Victoria Cross during the Crimean War, the other being Pvt. Anthony Palmer.[11]

Later life and legacy

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.[12] He had served for 26 years in the London Dock Police following his departure from military service, reaching the rank of sergeant.[13] He died at his home on East India Road, Poplar, London on 12 March 1897[4] and was buried in St Andrew's churchyard, Weybread. [14]

His Victoria Cross is held by the Grenadier Guards Regimental Headquarters, Wellington Barracks, London, England.[15]

References

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  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 21971. p. 657. 24 February 1857.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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