Mark Scholefield

Mark Scholefield

Depiction of the battle of Inkerman
Born 16 April 1828
London
Died 15 February 1858 (aged 29)
On board HMS Acorn
Buried at Buried at sea
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  Royal Navy
Rank Quartermaster
Unit HMS Albion
Battles/wars Crimean War
Awards Victoria Cross

Mark Scholefield VC (16 April 1828 15 February 1858) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Scholefield was 26 years old, and a seaman in the Royal Navy, serving in the Naval Brigade, during the Crimean War when he earned the VC.

On 5 November 1854 at the Battle of Inkerman, Crimea, the Right Lancaster Battery was attacked and many of the soldiers were wounded. Seaman Scholefield with two other seamen (James Gorman and Thomas Reeves) and two others who were killed during the action, mounted the defense work banquette and, under withering attack from the enemy, kept up a rapid, repulsing fire. The muskets were re-loaded for them by the wounded soldiers under the parapet and eventually the enemy fell back and gave no more trouble.[1]

Further information

He later achieved the rank of quartermaster. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

References

  1. The London Gazette: no. 21971. p. 653. 24 February 1857. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
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