Bomarsund was a 19th-century fortress, the construction of which had started in 1832 by Russia in Sund, Åland, in the Baltic Sea.

By the end of July 1854, a British fleet of 25 ships had surrounded the fortress and only waited for the French ground troops to arrive.

[5]: 420  Defenders found their position to be hopeless and withdrew the bulk of their forces to the main fort leaving only a small detachment behind to supervise demolition of the tower.

[3] The bombardment of the main fortress started late on 15 August 1854 with land based guns and the navy opening fire.

However, after the bombardment continued into the 16 August without any indication of landings, it became apparent to the Russian commander that British and French intended to reduce the fortress with artillery fire.

[6] Three hundred Finnish grenadiers defending the fortress were among the captured, and they were taken to Lewes to be imprisoned there until the end of the war.

In addition to Charles Davis Lucas several other Victoria Crosses were awarded in the Baltic Theater during the Crimean War.