Robert Shields

Robert Shields
Robert Shields (c. 1855)
Born 1827
Cardiff, Wales
Died 23 December 1864 (aged 37)
Bombay, British India
Buried St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Corporal
Unit 23rd Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars Crimean War
Awards Victoria Cross

Robert Shields VC (1827 – 23 December 1864) was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1827 and died in Bombay, India, in 1864.

Details

On the morning of the 8th September 1856, during the Crimean War Corporal Robert Shields volunteered to go along with Assistant Surgeon William Henry Thomas Sylvester in order to rescue an injured officer who had been incapacitated by a shot not far from their position outside the city of Sevastopol’s walls during the siege of the city.

The wounded officer was one Lieutenant Dyneley, the Adjutant of Shields’ own unit in the Royal Welch Fusiliers regiment. He had been shot and wounded near the Redan, a fort built close to Sevastopol, at this time it had been hastily occupied by more than a dozen Russian soldiers. It was an extremely dangerous and foolhardy thing to venture anywhere close to the Redan, as they would be well within range of all manner of enemy guns. And yet, Sylvester and Shields decided to at least attempt to save the wounded man, for his life would depend on it.

Together, they reached the Lieutenant, however they quickly noticed that his wounds were far more serious than either one of them had anticipated. Sylvester dressed Dyneley’s wounds as well as he was able while under heavy fire from the Redan and returned to the cover of their trenches, bringing with them the injured man. Unfortunately Dyneley later died from his wounds.

For their bravery, both men were awarded the Victoria cross. Subsequently going on parade for the very first presentation of the new medal. Just 60 other men were present at Hyde park on 26 June. The recipients were made up of both the army and the navy, and they were presented with the award by Queen Victoria herself.

Later, after being posted to India at the end of the war, Robert Shields died in Bombay on 23rd December 1864. He was buried in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay.[1][2]

References

  1. ↑ "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 659.
  2. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2011/09/the_first_welsh_vc.html
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