Born in 1828 near Devonport, Devon, Rickard’s naval experience began at an early age. First serving as a Seaman at age 16, the sailor’s subsequent rise through the ranks showcased his skill and commitment to a lifetime at sea, culminating in his awarding of Britain’s highest award for gallantry – the Victoria Cross.
Rickard served as a Quartermaster aboard HMS Weser during the Crimean War, and was part of a small naval force operating in the treacherous lagoons of the Syvash and along the Salgir River in Northern Crimea.
While sailing on the Sea of Azov near to Ukraine, HMS Weser’s commander, later Vice Admiral Sir John Commerell, called for volunteers for a daring night mission to scupper around 400 tonnes of enemy food and grain stores on shore.
Rickard and three others agreed, landing a small boat on the Spit of Arabat, a thin sandbar separating the sea and the shallow lagoons of the Crimean mainland. They covertly pulled the vessel 300 yards over the spit and waded neck-deep through the ‘Putrid Sea,’ a foul-smelling maze of corrosive and largely impassable mudflats.
The men successfully reached shore and burned the supplies to the ground, but the alarm had been raised, and the group were viciously pursued by Cossacks on horseback. Amid the ensuing chase and gunfight, Quarter Master Rickard selflessly dove deep into the toxic mud to retrieve a fallen comrade and make good their escape.
After receiving his Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria, and the French Legion of Honour medal, Rickard joined Her Majesty's Coastguard and was stationed at Robin Hood’s Bay as a Boatman on HMS Cornwallis, then serving on vessels Dauntless, Wivern, Invincible, and Audacious.
The veteran’s leadership and dedication saw him steadily promoted, first to Commissioned Boatman in 1867, and then to Chief Boatman in 1869. In 1873, he attained the rank of Chief Officer of Coastguards on the Isle of Wight, reflecting his unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Britain’s coasts.
Throughout his service, Rickard was noted for professionalism and the respect he commanded among peers, playing a vital role in coastal defence and rescue operations, safeguarding local communities and mentoring younger sailors.
Chief Officer Rickard’s work was further recognised by the additional annual pension of £25 from Greenwich Hospital, an honour reserved for esteemed coastguards.
After nearly forty years of service, Rickard retired in 1883 where he remained a respected member of the maritime community until his death in 1905 at age 77. Coastguards lined the route of his funeral cortege, alongside a contingent of 30 Portsmouth sailors and appreciative local people.
Today, the Chief Officer’s Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London, celebrating one of the nation’s earliest naval recipients of the prestigious award.
