On This Day ... in 1855 & 1879
At Sevastopol, Major Elton of the 55th Regiment led a counter-attack against Russians who had sallied from the fortress to destroy siege works. He was awarded the Victoria Cross.
His citation reads
On 29th March 1855 in the Crimea, Major Elton, with a small number of men, drove off a party of Russians who were destroying one of the new detached works, taking one prisoner himself. On 7th June he was the first to lead his men from the trenches. On 4th August he was in command of a working party in the advance trenches in front of the Quarries, encouraging his men to work under very heavy fire and even used a pick and shovel himself to set an example.
Meanwhile, Private Willaim Coffey of the 34th Regiment saved the lives of many of his comrades when he picked up a live shell that had landed in a crowded trench and managed to throw it clear before it exploded. He was also awarded the Victoria Cross.
1879: In heavy fighting at Hlobane, Lieutenant Edward Browne spurred to the assistance of a mounted infantryman who had lost his horse, and helped him to safety before the Zulus could close in. Browne was awarded the Victoria Cross.