Edward Knight's Family
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Cecil Rice continued.
... for when his regiment left Limerick for Malta, en route for Russia, in April 1855, he was left behind as one of the four junior Captains in charge of the Dépôt at Limerick. However fortune favoured him, and he was sent out with a draft of 200 men in a hired transport from Dublin, the 'Assistance'. They landed at the end of the month at Balaclava and marched to the front, to join the First Division under the commander of Sir Colin Campbell.
My father served in the trenches until August, when the Highland Brigade was sent to Kamara to support the Sardinians after the Battle of Cheenazo(?). 'Kamara' he said, 'was a most agreeable change from the front, where all was dirt and filth; to new fresh ground in the woods, and clean fresh water.' The Brigade was under arms every morning before daylight, but no fresh attack was made by the enemy.
Soon the Brigade was ordered back to the trenches, to take part in a general bombardment of Sebastopol on September 5th, the city falling three days later.
On the night of the 5th, my father was sent to the bomb proof-tent of Sir Colin Campbell, to ask permission to search for the body of a cousin, killed in an attack made by the Light Division earlier in the day. 'Very well, Rice,' said the General, 'you may go if you take the risk.' Then, as he was leaving the tent, he called him back and said, 'Rice, I have an idea that the Russians have evacuated Sebastopol. Would you like to go and see?
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