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Captain Cecil William Buckley VC RN 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.
He was 26 years old, and a lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 29 May 1855 in the Sea of Azov, Crimea, Lieutenant Buckley of HMS Miranda, with a lieutenant from HMS Swallow and a gunner from HMS Ardent, volunteered to land at a beach where the Russian army were in strength. They were out of covering gunshot range of the ships offshore and met considerable enemy opposition, but managed to set fire to corn stores and ammunition dumps and destroy enemy equipment. On 3 June Lieutenant Buckley carried out another raid with a boatswain from Miranda. They landed at the town of Taganrog and were successful in destroying enemy equipment and stores, whilst being under enemy fire.
First winner of the VC to be actually gazetted on 24 February 1857. He later achieved the rank of captain.
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