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We are rightly impressed by the Lancashire Fusiliers, who, landing from the fourth Euryalus at Gallipoli, earned "Six VC's before breakfast!", see history of The Fourth Euryalus. It may be that the Euryalus Association should have a corresponding slogan, say 'Three VCs before tea!" referring to those awarded to members of the ship's company of the second Euryalus after the Battle of Shimonoseki in 1864.
Midshipman
For the conspicuous gallantry, which, according to the testimony
of Capt. Alexander CB, at that time Flag Captain to Vice-Admiral
Sir Augustus Kuper KCB, Mr. Boyes displayed on the occasion of the
capture of the enemy's stockade. He carried a Colour with the
leading Company, kept it in advance of all, in the face of the
thickest fire, his Colour-Serjeants having fallen, one mortally,
the other dangerously, wounded and he was only detained from
proceeding yet further by the orders of his superior Officer. The
Colour he carried was six times pierced by musket ball's.
Captain of the Afterguard
Thomas Pride, Captain of the After-guard, the survivor of the two
Colour-Serjeants who supported Mr. Boyes in the gallant rush which
he made in advance of the attack, is also recommended for the
Victoria Cross for his conduct on this occasion.
Ordinary Seaman
For the intelligence and daring which, according, to the testimony
of Lieutenant Edwards, Commanding the Third Company, he exhibited
in ascertaining the enemy's position, and for continuing to retain
his position in front, during the advance, after he had been
wounded in the arm.
Japan
This action is described in the history of The Second Euryalus but briefly an RN and RM brigade from Euryalus, led by her Captain (Captain Alexander), had landed to destroy fortifications on the Shimonoseki Straits in Japan.
Just before reembarkation, they were attacked by a strong Japanese force. As was the tradition, the brigade's counterattack included a Queen's Colour. This was carried by Midshipman Duncan Gordon Boyes, supported by two colour sergeants. They came under intense Japanese fire and one colour sergeant was soon killed while the other, Thomas Pride, Captain of the Afterguard (equivalent to a senior Petty Officer today), was badly wounded. Nonetheless, Boyes and Pride pressed forward, until halted by a direct order from Captain Alexander (also wounded). Later they found six bullet holes in the Colour. Meanwhile, Ordinary Seaman William Seeley had gone ahead to ascertain the disposition of the Japanese, daringly penetrating their lines. He too was wounded, but brought back valuable intelligence, before participating in the final advance to defeat the Japanese. During that afternoon, Euryalus' losses were five killed and eighteen wounded. For their outstanding bravery under fire, Boyes, Pride and Seeley were awarded the Victoria Cross on 21 April 1865. Shortly thereafter, Euryalus returned to Britain to pay off.
Queen Victoria was so impressed by reports of Shimonoseki, that she issued a royal command that the Euryalus VC's were to be presented with the crosses by C-in-C Portsmouth on Southsea Common on 22 September 1865 in front of a large assembly including most of the previous naval VC's, contingents from ships and RM Barracks and a huge civilian crowd. HMS Victory fired a salute and everyone gave three cheers.
Duncan Boyes was only 17 when he won his VC. Eighteen months later, while serving in Bermuda, he was court-martialled and dismissed the service for breaking into the dockyard after hours - such an apparently trivial offence that many have since speculated that there was more to it. He emigrated to New Zealand, where he committed suicide on 26 January 1869. His grave fell into disrepair, but the Dunedin RSA reburied his remains in the services' cemetery at Anderson's Bay in 1954.
Consequent upon his wounds at Shimonoseki, Thomas Pride was invalided out in January 1866 and returned to his home in Dorset, becoming a tollgate keeper. He died at Parkestone in 1893, aged 58, and was buried at All Saints', Branksome. William Seeley was originally an American merchant seaman, and joined the RN in Hong Kong in 1860, under the haphazard recruiting system of the time. When Euryalus paid off, he was honourably discharged and returned to the United States. He died in 1914, aged 74, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Stoughton, Massachusetts. The US Medal of Honor Historical Society placed a commemorative marker above the grave in May 2009.
Boyes bequeathed his VC to his old school, Cheltenham College. They sold it in 1998 to Lord Ashcroft. Pride’s VC is in the National Maritime Museum. Seeley's VC has sadly been lost. We should be very proud of our forebears and the Victoria Crosses they won. Although it is odd that Shimonoseki is not in our Battle Honours, this is a glorious chapter in the History of the Euryaluses.