Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/West, Charles Richard Sackville-
WEST, Sir CHARLES RICHARD SACKVILLE-, sixth Earl de la Warr, sixth Viscount Cantelupe, and twelfth Baron de la Warr (1815–1873), born on 13 Nov. 1815, in Upper Grosvenor Street, London, was the eldest surviving son of George John West, fifth earl De La Warr (1791–1869), by his wife Elizabeth, first baroness Buckhurst (d. 1870), daughter of John Frederick Sackville, third duke of Dorset [q. v.] The fifth earl and his sons took the additional name of Sackville before West on 30 Nov. 1843 by royal license. Charles Richard obtained the commission of ensign in the 43rd foot on 26 July 1833, and was promoted to a second lieutenancy on 30 Aug. On 5 June 1835 he became lieutenant in the 15th foot, and on 15 April 1842 captain in the 21st foot. In 1845 and 1846 he served as aide-de-camp and acting military secretary to Sir Hugh Gough (afterwards Viscount Gough) [q. v.] during the first Sikh war, and was several times mentioned in the despatches. On 3 April 1846 he obtained the brevet rank of major, and in the following year he received the Indian medal with three clasps. On 2 Aug. 1850 he attained the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel, and on 23 April 1852 the regimental rank of major.
West was sent to the Crimea in 1854, was present at the battle of Inkerman in command of a wing of the 21st fusiliers, and initiated the attack on the battery on Shelf Hill which is believed to have led to General Dannenberg's retreat. On 28 Nov. 1854 he received the army rank of colonel. On 18 June 1855 he commanded the reserve in the unsuccessful assault made against the west flank of the Redan, and after the death of Sir John Campbell (1816–1855) [q. v.] he assumed the command of the attack. In the same year he received the Crimean medal with four clasps, and on 27 July was made C.B. On 24 July 1856 he obtained the local rank of major-general. On 2 Aug. 1856 he was made an officer of the Legion of Honour. He also received the military medal of Sardinia, and was made a knight of the third class of the Medjidie on 2 March 1858. On 29 Oct. 1864 he became a major-general; on 24 Feb. 1869 he succeeded his father as sixth Earl De La Warr; and on 20 May 1871 he was created K.C.B. On 30 Sept. 1871 he was appointed a commissioner to carry out the abolition of purchase in the army. He committed suicide at Cambridge on 22 April 1873. He was unmarried, and was succeeded by his brother Reginald Windsor Sackville, seventh earl.
[G. E. C[okayne]'s Peerage; Kinglake's Crimea; Ann. Reg. 1873, ii. 46.]