Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/211

GENERAL CAMPBELL'S ATTACK. 181 still remained to them ; and— delighted with their c ^ p - pilot Gerald Graham— a giant intent on his work L_ as though proof against grape-shot and fear — they wanted, if he would but lead them, to go and at- tack the Eedan without asking any one other landsman to share in the bliss of the enterprise. Their ' pilot ' of course could not humour them in this wild desire; and on the contrary he soon brought them back to find shelter under the para- pet. There, he kept them together in readiness for any renewed advance that Lord West might think fit to direct. It was for his service with the ' ladder- party ' The admira- tion and in this, and in the earlier part of the day that approval be- stowed on Gerald Graham received the high honour of the Graham and Victoria Cross. This honour was awarded to Graham for what the royal warrant described as his 'determined gallantry at the head of a ' ladder-party,' and the words, unless I mistake, are blended by him in his memory with the hero- ism of the sailors who shared his labours and perils. ' I wish,' wrote Lord West, ' I wish I could do ' justice to the daring and intrepid conduct of the ' party of sailors. . . . Lieutenant Graham of ' the Engineers who led the ladder-party evinced ' a coolness and a readiness to expose himself to ' any personal risk which does him the greatest ' credit.' * Lord West, however, meanwhile was far from The solo means at havim: the means out of which he could form a l<>»i west's ° disposal.
 * Lord West to Lieutenant-General Bentinck, ubi ante.