Orders, Decorations and Medals

Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Alma, Inkermann (Colr. Serjt. William Dobbie, 7th Regt.) officially impressed naming, nearly extremely fine £500-600

Colour-Sergeant William D. K. Dobbie was killed in action in the assault on the Quarries, 7 June 1855. He was the most senior of the 12 men of the 7th Fusiliers to be killed.

The first serious assault by the Allies on the Russian permanent works took place on the night of the 7th June, when the French attacked the Mamelon, and the British the Quarries. About 5 o’clock on the afternoon of the 7th, 150 men of the Royal Fusiliers under Major Frederick Mills were ordered to attack the Quarries from the right of the zig-zag approach on the left of the advanced trench; the 47th and 49th starting from the left of this approach. “The first rush” writes Colonel Waller who took part in the attack, “carried the works at an easy cost, when a large working party, including 200 Fusiliers, under Captain F. E. Appleyard entered the place and effected a lodgement. Meanwhile the Russians were preparing to re-capture the place. At dusk, the attempt was made. Then came the struggle, one of the most determined of the whole war. During the night, repeated attacks, six in all, were made on the place; and each of these attacks was fierce hand to hand fighting. During one of these attacks, shortly before dusk, the ammunition on both sides having fallen short, and English and Russian, both wishing to keep a few rounds in reserve in case of a sudden attempt being made by either party, the fight was kept up a short time with stones, of which numbers were lying on the ground, until the pouches were replenished, when the strife was more sternly renewed, with continual success on the English side.

The most murderous sortie of the enemy took place about three in the morning; then the whole ravine was lighted up with a fierce blaze of fire, and a storm of shot was thrown in from the screened battery, and every other spot within range. With a larger body in reserve, it was not doubtful that our men could have been in the Redan in a twinkling. This was asserted by both officers and men and the latter expressed this in no uncertain manner! They were near enough up to it to see that it was scarcely defended, and one officer almost lost his life within its limits.”

In the attack on the Quarries, the Royal Fusiliers casualties were; 5 officers and 74 other ranks wounded, and 12 men killed, with 8 missing.