List of Crimean War Victoria Cross recipients

The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 111 members of the British Armed Forces during the Crimean War (also known as the Russian War) that lasted from 1854 to 1856. The Victoria Cross is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. The VC was introduced in Great Britain on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. It takes precedence over all other Orders, decorations and medals; it may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The first ceremony was held on 26 June 1857 where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in Hyde Park.[1]

Sergeant Luke O'Conner Winning the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Alma (1854). Oil by Louis William Desanges.

In 1854, the Crimean War broke out between the Russian Empire and an alliance of France, Great Britain, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire. One of the first battles of the War was the Battle of the Alma where allied forces convincingly defeated the Russian forces. The Siege of Sevastapol followed shortly after in September 1854; it was to last for a year at the cost of over 128,000 lives, three quarters of which died from disease. After the siege at Sevastapol, the fighting mainly ceased and on 30 March 1856, after two years of action, the Russians negotiated a Peace Treaty at the Congress of Paris. The Treaty set the Black Sea as neutral territory, closing it to all warships, and prohibiting fortifications and the presence of armaments on its shores. The Crimean War led to a number of large-scale changes in the British Army. The sale of commissions came under great scrutiny during the war, especially in connection with the Battle of Balaclava, which saw the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade.[2] This scrutiny eventually led to the abolition of the sale of commissions.

The dispatches of William Howard Russell during the war highlighted how many acts of bravery and valour by British servicemen went unrewarded.[3] There was a growing feeling amongst the public and in the Royal Court that a new award was needed to recognise incidents of gallantry that were unconnected with a man's lengthy or meritorious service. Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign-manual on 29 January 1856[3][4] (gazetted 5 February 1856)[4] that officially constituted the VC. The order was backdated to 1854 to recognise acts of valour during the Crimean War.[5] The first awards ceremony was held on 26 June 1857 where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in a ceremony in Hyde Park.[3]

Citations for the Crimean War, particularly those in the first gazette of 24 February 1857, listed multiple actions for about a third of the recipients. The format of each citation varied between recipients, some specify the actual date, some the name of the battle and others have both sets of information.

Until 1907, it was policy not to award the VC posthumously. Between 1857 and 1901, nine notices were published in the London Gazette for soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, medals were sent to the next of kin of the three mentioned for the Boer War and at the same time the first three official posthumous awards, again for the Boer War, were gazetted. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the remaining six officers and men.[6] As a result of the change of policy, one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous but it was only in the general revision of the warrant issued in 1920 that a clause was inserted to explicitly allow posthumous awards.[7][8]

Recipients

NameUnitDate of actionPlace of action
Alfred AblettGrenadier Guards1855-09-022 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John Alexander09090th Regiment of Foot1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Thomas ArthurRoyal Regiment of Artillery1855-06-077 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Thomas Beach05555th Regiment of Foot1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
Edward BellRoyal Welch Fusiliers1854-09-2020 September 1854Alma, Crimea
John Berryman01717th Lancers1854-10-2525 October 1854Balaclava, Crimea
Claud BourchierRifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)1854-11-2020 November 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Joseph BradshawRifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)1855-04-2222 April 1855Woronzoff Road, Crimea
Cecil BuckleyHMS Miranda1855-05-2929 May 1855Sea of Azov, Crimea
Hugh BurgoyneHMS Swallow1855-05-2929 May 1855Sea of Azov, Crimea
John Byrne06868th Regiment of Foot1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
John BytheseaHMS Arrogant1854-08-099 August 1854Åland Islands, Finland
Daniel CambridgeRoyal Regiment of Artillery1855-09-088 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Henry CliffordRifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
William Coffey03434th Regiment of Foot1855-03-2929 March 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John Coleman09797th Regiment of Foot1855-08-3030 August 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John CommerellHMS Weser1855-10-1111 October 1855Sea of Azov, Crimea
John Connors0033rd Regiment of Foot1855-09-088 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John Conolly04949th Regiment of Foot1854-10-2626 October 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Henry CooperHMS Miranda1855-06-033 June 1855Taganrog, Crimea
James CraigScots Fusiliers Guards1855-09-066 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
William CuninghameRifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)1854-11-2020 November 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Henry CurtisNaval Brigade1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Edward DanielHMS Diamond1854-10-1818 October 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Gronow DavisRoyal Regiment of Artillery1855-09-088 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
George DayHMS Recruit1855-09-1717 September 1855Genitichi, Crimea
Collingwood DicksonRoyal Regiment of Artillery1854-10-1717 October 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Matthew DixonRoyal Regiment of Artillery1855-04-1717 April 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
George DowellRoyal Marine Artillery1855-07-1313 July 1855Fort of Viborg, Finland
Alexander Dunn01111th Hussars1854-10-2525 October 1854Balaclava, Crimea
Howard ElphinstoneCorps of Royal Engineers1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Frederick Elton05555th Regiment of Foot1855-03-2929 March 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Thomas Esmonde01818th Regiment of Foot1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Samuel Evans01919th Regiment of Foot1855-04-1313 April 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John Farrell01717th Lancers1854-10-2525 October 1854Balaclava, Crimea
George Gardiner05757th Regiment of Foot1855-03-2222 March 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Gerald GoodlakeColdstream Guards1854-10-2828 October 1854Inkerman, Crimea
James GormanNaval Brigade1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
Thomas Grady0044th Regiment of Foot1854-10-1818 October 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Gerald GrahamCorps of Royal Engineers1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John GrieveRoyal Scots Greys1854-10-2525 October 1854Balaclava, Crimea
Thomas Hale0077th Regiment of Foot1855-09-088 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Thomas Hamilton06868th Regiment of Foot1855-05-1111 May 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Andrew HenryRoyal Regiment of Artillery1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
William HewettHMS Beagle1854-10-2626 October 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
William Hope0077th Regiment of Foot1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Mathew Hughes0077th Regiment of Foot1855-06-077 June 1855
18 June 1855[9]
Sevastopol, Crimea
Robert HumpstonRifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)1855-04-2222 April 1855Woronzoff Road, Crimea
George IngouvilleHMS Arrogant1855-07-1313 July 1855Fort of Viborg, Finland
William JohnstoneHMS Arrogant1854-08-099 August 1854Åland Islands, Finland
Henry Jones0077th Regiment of Foot1855-06-077 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Joseph KellawayHMS Wrangler1855-08-3131 August 1855Sea of Azov, Crimea
John KnoxScots Fusiliers Guards1854-09-2020 September 1854Alma, Crimea
Peter LeitchCorps of Royal Engineers1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
William LendrimCorps of Royal Engineers1855-02-1414 February 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Wilbraham LennoxCorps of Royal Engineers1854-11-2020 November 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Robert LindsayScots Fusiliers Guards1854-09-2020 September 1854Alma, Crimea
Charles LucasHMS Hecla1854-06-2121 June 1854Åland Islands, Finland
Charles Lumley09797th Regiment of Foot1855-09-088 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John Lyons01919th Regiment of Foot1855-06-1010 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Henry MacDonaldCorps of Royal Engineers1855-04-1919 April 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Ambrose Madden04141st Regiment of Foot1854-10-2626 October 1854Inkerman, Crimea
Joseph Malone01313th Light Dragoons1854-10-2525 October 1854Balaclava, Crimea
Frederick Maude0033rd Regiment of Foot1855-09-055 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Charles McCorrie05757th Regiment of Foot1855-06-2323 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John McDermond04747th Regiment of Foot1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
Roderick McGregorRifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)1855-04-22July 1855[10]Sevastopol, Crimea
James McKechnieScots Fusilier Guards1854-09-2020 September 1854Alma, Crimea
William McWheeney04444th Regiment of Foot1854-10-2020 October 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Frederick MillerRoyal Regiment of Artillery1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
James Mouat0066th Dragoons1854-10-2626 October 1854Balaclava, Crimea
Andrew Moynihan09090th Regiment of Foot1855-09-088 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
William Norman0077th Regiment of Foot1854-12-1919 December 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Luke O'ConnorRoyal Welch Fusiliers1854-09-2020 September 1854Alma, Crimea
James Owens04949th Regiment of Foot1854-10-3030 October 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Anthony PalmerGrenadier Guards1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
John Park07777th Regiment of Foot1855-04-1919 April 1855[11]Alma, Crimea
Inkerman, Crimea
Samuel Parkes0044th Light Dragoons1854-10-2525 October 1854Balaclava, Crimea
William PeelNaval Brigade1854-10-1818 October 1854[12]
5 November 1854
18 June 1855
Sevastopol, Crimea
Henry PercyGrenadier Guards1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
John PerieCorps of Royal Engineers1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John PrettyjohnsRoyal Marine Light Infantry1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
Joseph Prosser0011st Regiment of Foot1855-06-1616 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Henry RabyNaval Brigade1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Henry Ramage0022nd Dragoons1854-10-2525 October 1854Balaclava, Crimea
Thomas ReevesNaval Brigade1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
William ReynoldsScots Fusiliers Guards1854-09-2020 September 1854Alma, Crimea
William RickardHMS Weser1855-10-1111 October 1855Sea of Azov, Crimea
John RobartsHMS Ardent1855-05-2929 May 1855Sea of Azov, Crimea
John RossCorps of Royal Engineers1855-07-2121 July 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Hugh Rowlands04141st Regiment of Foot1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
Charles RussellGrenadier Guards1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
Mark ScholefieldNaval Brigade1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
John SheppardNaval Brigade1855-07-1515 July 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Robert ShieldsRoyal Welch Fusiliers1855-09-088 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
John Sims03434th Regiment of Foot1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Philip Smith01717th Regiment of Foot1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
William StanlakeColdstream Guards1854-10-2626 October 1854Inkerman, Crimea
George StrongColdstream Guards1855-09-00September 1855[13]Sevastopol, Crimea
John SullivanNaval Brigade1855-04-1010 April 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
William SylvesterRoyal Welch Fusiliers1855-09-088 September 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
George SymonsRoyal Regiment of Artillery1855-06-066 June 1855Inkerman, Crimea
John TaylorNaval Brigade1855-06-1818 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Christopher TeesdaleRoyal Regiment of Artillery1855-09-2229 September 1855Kars, Turkey
Joseph TrewavasHMS Beagle1855-07-033 July 1855Sea of Azov, Crimea
Mark Walker03030th Regiment of Foot1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
George Walters04949th Regiment of Foot1854-11-055 November 1854Inkerman, Crimea
Francis WheatleyRifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)1854-10-1212 October 1854Sevastopol, Crimea
Thomas WilkinsonRoyal Marine Artillery1855-06-077 June 1855Sevastopol, Crimea
Charles Wooden01717th Lancers1854-10-2626 October 1854Balaclava, Crimea
Alexander Wright07777th Regiment of Foot1855-03-2222 March 1855
19 April 1855[11]
Sevastopol, Crimea

References

General
  • "Victoria Cross Registers". National Archives (UK). Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  • Ashcroft, Michael (2006). Victoria Cross Heroes. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7553-1632-0.
  • Crook, M.J. (1975). The Evolution of the Victoria Cross. Midas books. ISBN 0-85936-041-5.
Specific
  1. Ashcroft, Michael; preface; XIXIII
  2. "The Crimean War 18531856". Armed Conflicts Database. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  3. Ashcroft, Michael; Preface to Victoria Cross Heroes
  4. "No. 21846". The London Gazette. 5 February 1856. pp. 410–411. The Gazette publishing the original Royal Warrant
  5. Ashcroft, Michael; pp.710
  6. "No. 27986". The London Gazette. 15 January 1907. p. 325.
  7. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.6890
  8. "No. 31946". The London Gazette. 18 June 1920. p. 6702.
  9. "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 658.
  10. "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 662.
  11. "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 661.
  12. Peel was awarded the Victoria Cross for three separate actions.
    "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. pp. 651–652.
  13. "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 657.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.