While leading a sortie Cleland was shot dead, and was buried in the churchyard.
Calling a council of war on the heights of Fort St Julien, he asked the opinion of his subordinates, who were unanimously against the proposed sortie, principally because the artillery "had only ammunition enough for a single battle!"
But a sortie of the garrison of Astrakhan drove back the besiegers; 15,000 Russians, under Knes Serebianov, attacked and scattered the workmen and the Tatar force sent for their protection; and, finally, the Ottoman fleet was destroyed by a storm.
With its engine running, the said cameraman was duly strapped in for a quick air to air sortie.
I then saw out two aircraft from their HAS (hardened aircraft shelter) which were undertaking a training sortie.