British Army lists |
---|
French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars |
|
Victorian era |
|
First World War |
|
Second World War |
|
Regiments |
|
Officers |
|
Other |
|
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]
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] |
British Army lists |
---|
French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars |
|
Victorian era |
|
First World War |
|
Second World War |
|
Regiments |
|
Officers |
|
Other |
|
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]
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] |