2-982-250 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Admiral Hamelin, of the French Navy, 1858. 'Ferdinand Alphonse Hamelin was born in 1796 and commenced his career in the French navy in his eleventh year...In 1827 he rendered valuable services to commerce in an an expedition against the Algerian pirates, who then infested the Mediterranean...[Hamelin commanded the French squadron during the Crimean War]. A shell fell on the [warship] 'Ville de Paris', and blew up nearly the whole of the poop, on which were standing at the time Admiral Hamelin and four of his Aides-de-Camp. The Admiral was thrown some feet into the air, but without being hurt. After having glanced at his Aides-de- Camp one of whom was cut in two, another had both his legs carried away, and a third was slightly wounded, he merely exclaimed "Poor fellows!" and resumed the command with as much coolness as before'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.