Private William Norman, of the 7th Regiment, in a true modest and
soldier-like style thus describes the exploit which won for him the
Victoria Cross:--
On the night of December 19, 1854, I was placed on single sentry
at some distance in front of the advanced sentries of an
out-lying picquet in the White Horse Ravine--a post of much
danger, and requiring great vigilance. The Russian picquet was
posted 300 yards in our front. Three Russian soldiers advanced
under cover of the brushwood for the purpose of reconnoitring. I
immediately fired my rifle, which was the signal of alarm, and
then jumped into the trench almost on the top of the three
Russians, two of whom I succeeded single-handed in taking
prisoners, and marched them into our lines, the other one having
fled back to the Russian lines.
[Illustration: "I JUMPED ALMOST ON THE TOP OF THREE RUSSIANS."]
My feelings I can hardly describe, as what I did was on the spur
of the moment. But it was no doubt the means of saving our
position.