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On 28 March 1854, in support of the Ottoman Empire, the British and the Second French Empire declared war on the Russian Empire. Anglo-French forces landed at Gallipoli, to be in a position to defend Constantinople if needed.[1] On 21 February 1854, FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan was appointed as the general officer commanding of the expeditionary force that was dubbed the Army of the East or the Eastern Army.[2] In mid-June, the British force advanced to Varna, on the Black Sea coast of Ottoman Bulgaria. At Varna, they were reorganised into divisions.[3]

British strategic policy was to destroy the Russian Black Sea Fleet, based at Sevastopol, in order to end the war and carry-out long-term British goals.[4] On 14 September, the expeditionary landed north of Sevastopol and subsequently fought the Battle of Alma.[5] This was followed by the investment the Russian port in October and the start of the Siege of Sevastopol.[6] The expeditionary force fought the Battle of Inkerman soon after. While the battle ended in victory for the British force, it created the conditions that dragged the siege on through the winter into 1855.[7] After the city had been subjected to several major cannonades, the Battle of the Great Redan was launched in 1855.[8] This marked the final effort of the campaign. The expeditionary force remained in the Crimea until the war ended in 1856, after which the British Army demobilised.[9]

Divisions

Divisions
Formation name Created Ceased to exist Locations served Notes Ref
1st Division 20 June 1854 1856 Ottoman Empire (East Thrace and Bulgaria), Russian Empire (Crimea) [10][11]
2nd Division 20 June 1854 1856 Ottoman Empire (East Thrace and Bulgaria), Russian Empire (Crimea) The division played a prominent role in the Battle of Inkerman [12][13]
3rd Division 18 August 1854 1856 Ottoman Empire (East Thrace and Bulgaria), Russian Empire (Crimea) [14][15]
4th Division 18 August 1854 1856 Ottoman Empire (East Thrace and Bulgaria), Russian Empire (Crimea) The division was not complete by the time it had landed in the Crimea, and received additional troops in September and its final units in November 1854. The division was heavily engaged in the Battle of Inkerman and went through four commanding officers during the fighting. [15][16]
Highland Division 13 August 1855 1856 Russian Empire (Crimea) Formed in the Crimea following the reorganisation of the British force [17]
Light Division 1856 Ottoman Empire (East Thrace and Bulgaria), Russian Empire (Crimea)
Cavalry Division 18 August 1854 1856 Ottoman Empire (East Thrace and Bulgaria), Russian Empire (Crimea) [15]

Footnotes

Citations

  1. ^ Royle 2004, pp. 127–129.
  2. ^ Springman 2005, p. 20; McGuigan 2001, p. 10.
  3. ^ Barthorp 1980, p. 155; Bowden 1991, p. 16; Ponting 2006, p. 72.
  4. ^ Lambert 2016, pp. 119–121.
  5. ^ Ponting 2006, pp. 89, 94.
  6. ^ Ffrench Blake 2006, pp. 169–170.
  7. ^ Warner 2001, pp. 75–79; Ffrench Blake 2006, pp. 86–94, 98–101; Raugh 2004, p. 187.
  8. ^ Warner 2001, pp. 150–152; Richards 2006, p. 152.
  9. ^ Ffrench Blake 2006, pp. 143–144, 150–151; Demchak 2011, p. 127.
  10. ^ McGuigan 2001, p. 13.
  11. ^ "No. 21564". The London Gazette. 22 June 1854. p. 1931.
  12. ^ Barthorp 1980, p. 155; Demchak 2011, p. 127; Warner 2001, pp. 75–79; Ffrench Blake 2006, pp. 86–94, 98–101; Raugh 2004, p. 187.
  13. ^ "No. 21564". The London Gazette. 22 June 1854. p. 1932.
  14. ^ McNish, Messenger & Bray 2000, p. 242; Barthorp 1980, p. 155; Demchak 2011, p. 127.
  15. ^ a b c "No. 21584". The London Gazette. 18 August 1854. p. 2566.
  16. ^ Barthorp 1980, p. 155; McGuigan 2001, pp. 8, 10, 29–34.
  17. ^ McGuigan 2001, p. 53.

References

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