The crew of HMS Albion, Britain’s amphibious flagship, has paid tribute for the second time in four years to a forgotten hero of the Crimean War, Leading Seaman George Quinnell.
His was the last known burial of a British serviceman on Finnish soil during the 1854-56 conflict with Russia.
Quinnell met a gruesome end during the reconnoitre of the Finnish capital’s defences in June 1855, aboard the steam-powered frigate HMS Amphion. Despite the Crimean War’s name stemming from the key battles around Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, the conflict expanded beyond those borders, encompassing the Baltic region as well.
During this era, “British and French warships spent a year besieging and attacking Russian’s principal ports and naval bases,” highlighting the strategic importance of Finland, then under tsarist rule. One such key location was Helsinki, home to the fortress island of Sveaborg, now known as Suomenlinna, a prominent tourist attraction in Finland.
During Amphion’s mission, the frigate came under intense fire from Helsinki’s fort batteries. Upon returning to the fleet’s anchorage, “shipmates found George Quinnell dead at Amphion’s helm; a cannonball had decapitated him.” Quinnell was later laid to rest on Isosaari, an outlying island near Helsinki.
Though many years have passed since Quinnell’s tragic demise, his memory endures among the crew of HMS Albion. Their recent tribute serves as a poignant reminder of the last British sailor who lost his life in a war that came to an end in February 1856, months after his death.
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Great place to visit is Suomenlinna
Surely the Crimean War did not happen anywhere near Finland?
First paragraph.
Despite the Crimean War’s name stemming from the key battles around Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, the conflict expanded beyond those borders, encompassing the Baltic region as well
Thanks Shaun, I must stop ‘speed reading’!
Modern day Finland was initially a grand duchy of the Swedish monarchy then the ruzzian Tsars expanded west and took it over. Thus it was part of ruzzia at the time of the Crimean war.
After the ruzzian revolution the Finns established an independent sovereign nation and the commies were too busy fighting the Tsarists to stop them. They did try during the Winter War however that didn’t go well for them.
Never underestimate the independence and determination of the Finn’s.
Thanks mate. I have never underestimated those qualities of the Finns. So glad they are with us in NATO now.