2-913-534 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Bombardment of Bomarsund, 1854. 'Riflemen - Masked Battery - "Hecla" - 1st Round Fort - "Valorous" - Village of Bomarsund'. British warships during the Aland War. 'A large round fort on a hill, with two tiers of guns...now appeared...The Hecla fired a few shot from her long guns, which, at first, fell short; but, as we continued slowly to close the batteries, she soon threw a shell over the long fort, and the fire now became general...we continued to fire away, at a distance of about 2000 yards, passing and re-passing one another until six, when a small masked battery at the point of the wood to the left opened a smart flanking fire to us...we soon found we had a rather more formidable enemy to contend with than we at first suspected, many of their shot striking our hull, and rifle bullets falling thick all round us'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.