EDWARD WILLIAM HEREFORD, R.N. (FL.1851-74)
The Bombardment of Sebastopol, 17th October, 1854 at 3.35pm: H.M.S. Trafalgar's guiding paddle frigate Retribution's mast being shot away by the enemy
Signed and dated 'RIH/55' (lower right)
Watercolour on paper heightened with white mounted on linen-backed card.
11½ x 17¼in. (29 x 44cm.)

For details of H.M.S. Trafalgar please refer to lot 63 where the moment in this picture is mentioned.
H.M.S. Retribution enjoyed the distinction of being the first custom-built paddle frigate in the Royal Navy and was launched in 1844. Suffering from the usual failings of any prototype, she was significantly modified in 1847-49, after which she proved a very successful ship. Sent to the Black Sea to support the fleet at the outbreak of the Crimean War, she scored the winning hit on the arsenal at Odessa during the 12-hour bombardment on 22nd April 1854, and was likewise employed off Sebastopol on 17th October the same year where she was damaged but survived until scrapped in 1864.