The End Of The Crimean War, 168 Years On
168 years ago, the two-and-a-half-year long conflict of the Crimean War came to an end. Fought between the Russian Empire and allied forces of the British Empire, Ottoman Empire, France and the Kingdom of Sardinia, the alliance ultimately won on the 30th of March 1856.
When the war began, it was not well-anticipated globally, and neither was its victor. According to some accounts, the Russian army was at first perceived as invincible. However, its demoralised troops and lacklustre military supplies led to a faltering army that was beat by its allied opposition.
The war also took a huge toll on its victors – both sides lost over 250,000 soldiers each, with the former British Empire suffering over 22,000 casualties. Perhaps most famously, many died not from the conflict, but from poor sanitary treatment in recovery hospitals. Famous figures resulting from the war include British nurse Florence Nightingale and her team, who provided safe sanitary practices that reduced patient death and suffering, and Mary Seacole’s British Hotel that nursed sick soldiers.
Life for soldiers after the war
For many soldiers, poor conditions during the war and the harrowing experience of front-line conflict left them in a tough position. Ex-soldiers had limited employment opportunities, which Sir Edward Walter, a retired officer of the 8th Hussars, was determined to change.
Sir Walter was the founder and commanding officer of the Corps of Commissionaires. He had retired from the army in 1853 but founded the company to become the organisation’s first commanding officer. We see the inception date of Corps on the 13th of February 1859, as Sir Walter wrote in his diary:
“The Commissionaires will parade at 10am tomorrow morning and attend Divine Service at Westminster Abbey, after which they will dine together. The undermentioned men have been appointed to the Corps.”
Sir Walter advocated for the abilities of ex-servicemen to transition into the vital role of protecting the financial houses of the City of London, once the world’s commercial capital. The uniformed service’s first resettlement project gave jobs to the ‘Original Eight’, one sailor and seven soldiers.
Quickly, the organisation gained a reputation for its high standard of operation, leading more organisations to request its services. Within the first year of operation, the Commissionaires took rented accommodation at Exchange Court in its location The Barracks, which became the official headquarters for permanent staff.
The organisation grew, as Sir Walter extended membership to reservists as well as ex-servicemen. By 1880, the Corps of Commissionaires was operating in London, Belfast, and Liverpool, with over 1,000 members.
Since then, the organisation has grown globally, with Corps of Commissionaires establishing officers in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
In 1901, His Majesty King Edward VII consented to head the Corps of Commissionaires’ board of governors. Over a century later in 2008, the organisation changed its name to Corps Security.
Supporting ex-military personnel today
The Crimean War was a difficult time for the nation, and many soldiers were left with little support after they returned from war. Sir Edward Walter’s mission, and the mission of the Corps of Commissionaires let many use their military skills in key civilian positions.
In 2024, Corps’ original message still rings true throughout the organisation. We still support ex-military personnel in their transition to security roles, and fundraise for veterans organisations – the SSAFA, the Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Airmen’s Families Association, and Combat Stress.
Last year, the combined efforts of our community raised over £22,000 for Combat Stress. Initiatives included a 750-mile cycling challenge ‘Tour De Corps’, a North vs South football match in Birmingham, Salman Shamim’s ‘D-Day Challenge’ and Saharan challenge ultra-marathons, and the Corps national account team’s participation in the March in March’s annual fundraiser.
Employment opportunities and support for veterans underpins the ethos of Corps Security – to offer specialist security services that ensure the safety of property and people.
Read more about Sir Edward Walter and our history.
