Crimea War 1854-1855 Tours

This special  tour is one of flexibility programming in which you choose when you should like to visit any of the Crimea War sites during your stay in Sevastopol, and if you are using the services of  http://www.travel2sevastopol.com  then the service of the guide,
Mr Norman W Hughes is entirely free of charge.

  The Researcher Guide

Hi, My name is Norry Hughes, and I served in the Scots Guards for some twenty years between 1956-1976.

I retired to Sevastopol in 2001 intent on researching the Crimea War, at first from my former Regiments perspective using their own Regimental History. However it was not too long before I was to discover that the truth was some way from the accepted versions, and of the general reading that had always been available on the subject matter of the Crimea War, and so in these times I am working with local groups intent on putting the record to rights.
I also believe that the timing is right for us to continue to make these amendments as we move further into the European Union, the World Trading Organisation and the Global economy, so in turn it surely becomes honest and for the sake of good relationships on the World scale to put aside our Imperialist and Colonial past in which enemies were made and modern history distorted

New Thinking
After the British left the Crimea in 1856 they were not to return until the lifting of the Soviet installed Iron Curtain, and then wait for the closed Russian Military City of Sevastopol to open its gates to outsiders around 1997.

So the perceptions of the events of the Crimea War had not changed for the British Public during those many years past between 1856 and 1997?

A further personal point being that it is only now since I have arrived in Sevastopol, with the primary objective of seeking detached truth rather than making money that this historical truth may be shown, with no favour being granted to any opportunist.

 My further belief is that that the road to the facts of the Crimea War should  be researched and passed around for discussion with absolutely no financial incentive or gain as a motive. This objective way of Tour Guiding does however  raise questions of moral honesty amongst some of the British Institutions and individuals which make their profit from the Crimea War, and this profit made from the bones of the men and women of all sides who were involved in this needless conflict.

There are many who have seized this opportune financial exploitation, and leaders amongst this fraternity include the Crimea War Research Society, and the MP Patrick Mercer. Neither do these people leave any money for the maintenance of the many monuments, nor the security of these places of important historic consequence. You may make up your own minds as to the rights and wrongs of this profiteering point which I am making.

The financial charges made by the Russian Guides on our Tour are used for investment in the sites.

Crimea War, the starting point

The British Invaded the Crimea in September 1854 in league with their French and Turkish Allies. The original war the British were to fight on the River Danube in the 'Principalities' was at an end, with the Russian Armies defeated and making their way back to Russia, and a four point peace plan on the Diplomatic agendas. Czar Nicolai then recognising that the opportunity to cure Turkey 'The sick man of Europe' was no longer an option open to him. Therefore losing his opportunity of taking over Constantinople and his aim of ensuring that both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean could then become 'Russian Lakes'.

 

However, the British were now able to confirm an opportunistic further opening for themselves, and so decided that the Russian Black Sea Fleet Port at Sevastopol posed a future threat to both Turkey and their own British Interests. Therefore leading them to invade the Crimea to destroy the Port, But it had to happen quickly!

 

The Military invasion then took place with speed and expediency being rather more important than the military requirements needs satisfied to mount such an invasion. However the British could always depend on their French Allies to offer much needed support!

 

Thus the Allied Invasion of the Crimea was mounted, unprepared, uncertain and with its Armies very, very sick with the Cholera..

 

It was not until the year after in September 1855, that the Russian defenders moved to North Sevastopol leaving the badly damaged resources of the Black Sea Port on the South side to the tender mercies of the Allies who completely destroyed the Port, which had been their purpose for the Invasion a year earlier.

The war officially ended in April 1856, and so the British contingent headed away from the Crimea.

 

The British were not to return as friends and visitors until the early 1990s, and the City not opened officially to visitors until 1997. Thus it has only been for the last ten years that the Crimea War, (as it become known by the British), could be re-visited and examined.

 

If you so wish you may also be in touch with myself prior to your visit to discuss your specific interests arising from the Crimea War,

 

If you do take advantage of this extra facility it will indeed add to our interest, and to your visit.

 

   Norry Hughes  Sevastopol    norry@nm.ru