Osprey's study of the Battle of Inkerman (1854), which was part of the Crimean War (1853-1856). On 5 November 1854 the Russians marched out of the besieged city of Sevastopol to throw off the allied British and French forces by mounting a joint attack with their troops from outside the city. Despite outnumbering their enemies five to one the Russians failed to achieve victory in what looked to be almost a foregone conclusion. The third major action of the Crimean War (following Alma and Balaclava), the battle fought in heavy fog at Inkerman proved to be a testament to the skill and initiative of the individual men and officers of the British Army of the day.

Author Biography

Patrick Mercer is a serving commanding officer of Infantry with expert knowledge of the battles of the Crimean War. Has had a life-long fascination with the Crimean War since, as a boy, he gazed at a cannon brought back from Sevastopol in the centre of Ludlow. This kindled an interest in Victorian military history, especially the achievements of the individual soldiers and their individual regiments, and has culminated in a number of trips to the little visited battlefields of the Crimea. Educated at Oxford University, he now lives in Herefordshire, UK with his wife and son.