Battle Honour, 'SEVASTOPOL'

Battle Honour SEVASTOPOL

The Battle Honour SEVASTOPOL is emblazoned on the Regimental Colours of The Royal Irish Regiment.

SEVASTOPOL was awarded to all the regiments that landed in the Crimea from 14 September 1854 to 8 September 1855, the latter date being the final attack on the Russians' Redan fortress at Sebastopol.

The 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot was in the 3rd Division, one of the two reserve divisions, when they 'stood to' in the trenches for the final attack on the Redan on 8 September. However, the Russians withdrew before that final attack was mounted. Following the occupation of Sebastopol by the assaulting divisions, the 89th were moved to Balaclava in October where they spent a bitterly cold winter in huts and 'laboured at fatigue-duties'. The tasks were varied and included sick duty at the Balaclava General Hospital where the nurses were from the Sisters of Mercy. When one of the sisters died of cholera in October, a sergeant asked if men of the 89th might erect a marble cross to her.

The Irish regiments receiving the Battle Honour SEVASTOPOL were:

The 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot

The 88th (Connaught Rangers) Regiment

The 89th (Princess Victoria's) Regiment of Foot

Following the amalgamation with the 87th in 1881, the 89th carried forward this Battle Honour on the Regimental Colours of The Royal Irish Fusiliers and its successor regiments.