Colonel Wolseley and William O'Connell [perplexity.ai Query]
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What information is available regarding Garnet Joseph Wolseley, later Commander-in-Chief of the British Army and a Viscount, in particular his injury (eye injury?) in the course of the Crimean War and the role of a Sergeant William Connell in saving or assisting him? General Wolseley's autobiography "Story of a Soldier's Life" (1903) or his biography by Maurice and Arthur (1934) may throw more light on the matter.
Garnet Joseph Wolseley, later Commander-in-Chief of the British Army and Viscount Wolseley, suffered a severe injury during the Crimean War. In August 1855, while serving as an assistant engineer with the Royal Engineers during the Siege of Sevastopol, a Russian artillery shell exploded in a nearby gabion, killing two sappers beside him. The explosion embedded stones into his face, tore away much of his cheek, and resulted in the loss of one eye. He was initially thought dead due to his appearance, but regained consciousness and survived after surgery, although the sight in his remaining eye was also impaired.
Regarding the role of Sergeant William Connell in saving or assisting Wolseley during this incident, none of the provided search results mention Connell in connection with Wolseley's injury or recovery. The detailed accounts of Wolseley’s wounding and subsequent treatment focus on the immediate aftermath, his mistaken identification as dead, and the medical attention he received, but do not attribute his rescue or survival to any particular sergeant or individual by that name.
Wolseley's own autobiography, Story of a Soldier's Life (1903), and the biography by Maurice and Arthur (1934) are not directly cited in the search results, so it is unclear if they provide additional details about Sergeant Connell. However, based on the available evidence, there is no documented connection between Sergeant William Connell and Wolseley’s injury or rescue during the Crimean War in the sources reviewed.
Sources referenced by perplexity.ai
- https://warhistory.org/@msw/article/viscount-garnet-joseph-wolseley-1833-1913#:~:text=lost%20an%20eye%20during%20the%20siege%20of%20Sevastopol
- https://www.tailteannwalkingtours.ie/blog.php?title=field-marshal-garnet-wolseley&post=u4D222#:~:text=loss%20of%20an%20eye
- https://www.badassoftheweek.com/sir-garnet-wolseley#:~:text=Russian%20artillery%20shell%20that%20killed%20two%20of%20Wolseley's%20friends
- https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Garnet_Wolseley,_1st_Viscount_Wolseley
- https://www.rusi.org/news-and-comment/library-news/rlmh-news---our-only-soldier-the-life-and-legacy-of-field-marshal-viscount-wolseley-on-the-centenary-of-his-death#:~:text=killing%20the%20two%20sappers%20alongside%20him.%20The%20force%20of%20the%20explosion%20embedded%20stones%20into%20every%20inch%20of%20Wolseley%E2%80%99s%20face%2C%20virtually%20tearing%20away%20his%20cheek%20...%20his%20injuries%20were%20extensive%2C%20and%20the%20occasion%20saw%20the%20loss%20of%20one%20eye
- https://www.dib.ie/biography/wolseley-garnet-joseph-a9110#:~:text=he%20had%20lost%20one%20eye
Conclusion
The sources referenced by perplexity.ai confirm that Wolseley was so severely injured that he was assumed dead. Two people standing beside him were killed. It's quite likely that anyone could have found him, determined he wasn't dead and so "rescued" him. And that somebody could have been William O'Connell. If the story was that simple, it's likely it actually happened and it would fit the family narrative. It's also important enough (for Wolseley) to generate a few favours afterwards, as suggested in the original text.