List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Royal Navy

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a naval and 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. It takes precedence over all other postnominals and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. It is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour not "in the face of the enemy."[1] The VC has been awarded on 1356 occasions to 1353 individual recipients.

The Victoria Cross in its pre-1918 Naval form, with a blue ribbon

The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. The traditional explanation of the source of the gunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russian cannon captured at the siege of Sevastopol. Recent research has thrown doubt on this story, suggesting a variety of origins.[2] The original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously. Between 1897 and 1901, several notices were issued in the London Gazette regarding soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, six of the soldiers mentioned were granted the VC, but not "officially" awarded the medal. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six officers and men.[3] The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to explicitly allow posthumous awards until 1920 but one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous.[4][5]

Within this list, the date of action listed is the year in which the action took place for which the VC was awarded. The most naval Victoria Crosses awarded in a single conflict were for the First World War, followed by the Second World War and then the Crimean War. There have been a total of 117 recipients of the Victoria Cross who served with the Royal Navy. Sixty-eight awards were to ship-based Royal Navy personnel, with 49 given to those who served with other organisations within the British naval service, such as the Royal Naval Brigade and the Royal Marines. The Royal Marines have received 10 Victoria Crosses, the Royal Naval Reserve and Volunteer Reserve being awarded 22 VCs. Richard Bell-Davies of the Royal Naval Air Service also received an award. Note: this list does not include naval awards of the VC to persons serving in navies other than the British, i.e. Lieut. R.H. ("Hammy") Gray, VC, DSC, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Recipients

  This along with the * indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously

NameVesselDate of actionConflictPlace of actionNotes
Thomas Hunter43 Commando1945*Second World WarComacchio, Italy
Eugene EsmondeFleet Air Arm
No. 825 Squadron
1942*Second World WarStraits of Dover, England
Israel HardingHMS Alexandria1882Occupation of EgyptAlexandria, Egypt
John RobartsHMS Ardent1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
John BytheseaHMS Arrogant1854Crimean WarÅland Islands, Finland
George IngouvilleHMS Arrogant1855Crimean WarFort of Viborg, Finland
William JohnstoneHMS Arrogant1854Crimean WarÅland Islands, Finland
Norman HolbrookHMS B111914First World WarDardanelles, Turkey
William HewettHMS Beagle1854Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Joseph TrewavasHMS Beagle1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Richard SandfordHMS C31918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
John CarlessHMS Caledon1917*First World WarBattle of Heligoland, Germany
Stephen BeattieHMS Campbeltown1942Second World WarSt. Nazaire, France
Robert RyderHMS Campbeltown1942Second World WarSt. Nazaire, France
Jack CornwellHMS Chester1916*First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark
Augustus AgarHM Coastal Motor Boat 41919Baltic CampaignKronstadt, Russia
Claude DobsonHM Coastal Motor Boat 311919Baltic CampaignKronstadt, Russia
Gordon SteeleHM Coastal Motor Boat 881919Baltic CampaignKronstadt, Russia
Edgar CooksonHMS Comet1915*First World WarKut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Alfred SephtonHMS Coventry1941*Second World WarCrete, Mediterranean
Edward DanielHMS Diamond1854Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea[6]
Ernest PitcherHMS Dunraven1917First World WarBay of Biscay, Atlantic[7]
Martin Dunbar-NasmithHMS E111915First World WarDardanelles, Turkey
Edward BoyleHMS E141915First World WarDardanelles, Turkey
Geoffrey WhiteHMS E141918*First World WarDardanelles, Turkey
Duncan BoyesHMS Euryalus1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiShimonoseki, Japan
Thomas PrideHMS Euryalus1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiShimonoseki, Japan
William SeeleyHMS Euryalus1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiShimonoseki, Japan[8]
Gordon CampbellHMS Farnborough1917First World WarAtlantic Ocean
Jack MantleHMS Foylebank1940*Second World WarPortland, England[9]
Gerald RoopeHMS Glowworm1940*Second World WarWest Ford, Norway[10]
Henry RitchieHMS Goliath1914First World WarDar es Salaam, Tanganyika
Bernard Warburton-LeeHMS Hardy1940*Second World WarNarvik, Norway
Samuel MitchellHMS Harrier1864New Zealand WarsTe Papa, New Zealand
William MaillardHMS Hazard1898Occupation of CreteCrete, Greece
Charles LucasHMS Hecla1854Crimean WarÅland Islands, Finland
Arthur WilsonHMS Hecla1884Mahdist WarBattles of El Teb, Sudan
George BradfordHMS Iris II1918*First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Edward FegenHMS Jervis Bay1940*Second World WarAtlantic Ocean
Humphrey FirmanSS Julnar1916*First World WarKut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Cecil BuckleyHMS Miranda1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Henry CooperHMS Miranda1855Crimean WarTaganrog, Crimea
William SavageHM Motor Gun Boat 3141942*Second World WarSt. Nazaire, France
Edward BinghamHMS Nestor1916First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark
William OdgersHMS Niger1860New Zealand WarsOmata, New Zealand
Robert SherbrookeHMS Onslow1942Second World WarNorth Cape, Norway
George DayHMS Recruit1855Crimean WarGenitichi, Crimea
Wilfred MallesonSS River Clyde1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Edward UnwinSS River Clyde1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
William WilliamsSS River Clyde1915*First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
William HallHMS Shannon/Naval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
George HinckleyHMS Sphinx1862Taiping RebellionFung Wha, China
Loftus JonesHMS Shark1916*First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark
Hugh BurgoyneHMS Swallow1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Thomas GouldHMS Thrasher1942Second World WarCrete, Mediterranean
Peter RobertsHMS Thrasher1942Second World WarCrete, Mediterranean
Anthony MiersHMS Torbay1942Second World WarCorfu, Greece
John LintonHMS Turbulent1943*Second World WarMediterranean
Malcolm WanklynHMS Upholder1941*Second World WarSicily, Mediterranean
Eric RobinsonHMS Vengeance1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Alfred CarpenterHMS Vindictive1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Victor CrutchleyHMS Vindictive1918First World WarOstend, Belgium
Arthur HarrisonHMS Vindictive1918*First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Albert McKenzieHMS Vindictive1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Frederick PetersHMS Walney1942Second World WarOran, Algeria
John CommerellHMS Weser1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
William RickardHMS Weser1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Joseph KellawayHMS Wrangler1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
James MagennisHMS XE31945Second World WarJohore Straits, Singapore
Basil PlaceHMS X71943Second World WarKåfjord, Norway
Henry CurtisNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
James GormanNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, Crimea
Basil GuyNaval Brigade1900Boxer RebellionTientsin, China
John HarrisonNaval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
William PeelNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Henry RabyNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Thomas ReevesNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, Crimea
Edward RobinsonNaval Brigade1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
Nowell SalmonNaval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
Mark ScholefieldNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, Crimea
John SheppardNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
John SullivanNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
John TaylorNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Thomas YoungNaval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
Richard Bell-DaviesNo. 3 Squadron
Royal Naval Air Service
1915First World WarFerrijik Junction, Bulgaria
Reginald WarnefordNo. 1 Squadron
Royal Naval Air Service
1915First World WarGhent, Belgium
George DowellRoyal Marine Artillery1855Crimean WarFort of Viborg, Gulf of Finland
Norman FinchRoyal Marine Artillery1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Frederick LumsdenRoyal Marine Artillery1917First World WarFrancilly, France
Thomas WilkinsonRoyal Marine Artillery1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Edward BamfordRoyal Marine Light Infantry1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Lewis HallidayRoyal Marine Light Infantry1900Boxer RebellionPeking, China
Francis HarveyRoyal Marine Light Infantry1916*First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark
Walter ParkerRoyal Marine Light Infantry1915First World WarGaba Tepe, Gallipoli, Turkey
John PrettyjohnsRoyal Marine Light Infantry1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, Crimea
Daniel BeakRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarLogeast Wood, France
Rowland LouisRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarOstend, Belgium
Charles CowleyRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1916*First World WarKut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Percy DeanRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarZeebrugge, Belgium
Geoffrey DrummondRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarOstend, Belgium
George ProwseRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarPronville, France
Arthur TisdallRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Harold AutenRoyal Naval Reserve1918First World WarEnglish Channel, England
Charles BonnerRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarBay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean
Donald CameronRoyal Naval Reserve1943Second World WarKåfjord, Norway
Thomas CrispRoyal Naval Reserve1917*First World WarNorth Sea
George DrewryRoyal Naval Reserve1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Ian FraserRoyal Naval Reserve1945Second World WarJohore Straits, Singapore
Frederick ParslowRoyal Naval Reserve1915*First World WarAtlantic Ocean
George SamsonRoyal Naval Reserve1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
William SandersRoyal Naval Reserve1917*First World WarAtlantic Ocean
Archibald SmithRoyal Naval Reserve1917*First World WarAtlantic Ocean
Richard StannardRoyal Naval Reserve1940Second World WarNamsos, Norway
Ronald StuartRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarAtlantic Ocean
Joseph WattRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarStrait of Otranto, Italy
Thomas WilkinsonRoyal Naval Reserve1942*Second World WarJava Sea, Malaya
William WilliamsRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarAtlantic Ocean

Notes

  1. "The world's most exclusive club". Ministry of Defence. 30 April 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  2. Davies, Catronia (28 December 2005). "Author explodes myth of the gunmetal VC". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  3. "No. 27986". The London Gazette. 15 January 1907. p. 325.
  4. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.6890
  5. "No. 31946". The London Gazette. 18 June 1920. p. 6702.
  6. VC forfeited for desertion in 1861. "Edward St John DANIEL VC". Michael Daniels pHd. 1 June 2001. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  7. VC awarded by ballot. Ashcroft, Michael, pp.224227
  8. First American recipient. Ricketts, Bruce. "American Victoria Cross recipients". Mysteries of Canada. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  9. Only naval VC awarded for action on British mainland. "Jack Mantle VC". victoriacross.org. 13 June 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  10. Only person to be nominated by enemy. "Foylebank". Heritage Coast. Retrieved 7 March 2008.

References

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