Lieutenant William Buckley received this Victoria Cross for destroying enemy equipment while under fire on the coast of the Sea of Azoff, west of the Crimean peninsula; the dates of the action leading to his award (29 May and 3 June 1855) are inscribed on the reverse of the medal. Buckley was the first recipient of the Victoria Cross to be listed in the London Gazette. The dark blue ribbon indicates that the recipient was in the Navy; those in the Army received a red ribbon. Since 1918 all ribbons have been red.