Army recruiting poster, 1915, featuring Michael O'Leary

List of Irish Victoria Cross recipients lists all recipients of the Victoria Cross (post-nominal letters "VC") born on the island of Ireland, together with the date and place of their VC action. The Victoria Cross is the highest war honour of the British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The whole island of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom until 1922 when it was partitioned into Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. On 18 April 1949, the Dominion of Ireland became the Republic of Ireland and left the Commonwealth as a result of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 coming into effect. Despite this, citizens of the Republic of Ireland still enlist in the British Army and thus are eligible for the Victoria Cross and other British honours.

Background

Established in 1856, the Victoria Cross has been awarded to service personnel for extraordinary valour and devotion to duty while facing a hostile force. Between 1858 and 1881 the Victoria Cross could also be awarded for actions taken "under circumstances of extreme danger" not in the face of the enemy.[1] Six people (four Irish, one English and one Canadian) were awarded Victoria Crosses under this clause (one in 1866 during the Fenian raids, five for a single incident in 1867 during the Andaman Islands Expedition), until it was amended in 1881 to only allow acts "in the presence of the enemy".[1][2] It was awarded to members of the British Armed Forces which included Irish service personnel until 1922. It is currently available to personnel of any rank in any service, and to allies serving under or with British Forces. It is the highest honour in the Commonwealth honours system, placed before all other orders, decorations and medals.

Both Catholic and Protestant officers and servicemen born in Ireland served alongside each other in the British Military.[3] During the previous two centuries they had a common military background, and irrespective of class or creed many were decorated with the British highest award for valour. 30 Irish VCs were awarded in the Crimean War, 59 Irish VCs in the Indian Mutiny, 46 Irish VCs in numerous other British Empire campaigns between 1857 and 1914, 37 Irish VCs in World War I, and eight Irish VCs in World War II.

Recipients

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

NameDate of actionConflictUnitPlace of actionNotes
James Adams1879Second Afghan WarBritish Indian ArmyKilla Kazi, Afghanistan
Augustus Agar1919Baltic Campaign 1918HM Coastal Motor Boat 4Kronstadt, Russia
John Alexander1855Crimean War90th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
Charles Anderson1858Indian Rebellion of 18572nd Queen's Dragoon GuardsSandila, India
John Barry1901*Second Boer WarRoyal Irish RegimentMonument Hill, South Africa
David Bell1867Andaman Islands Expedition24th Regiment of FootLittle Andaman, India[4]
Edward Bell1854Crimean War23rd Regiment of FootAlma, Crimea
Eric Bell1916*First World WarRoyal Inniskilling FusiliersThiepval, France
William Beresford1879Anglo-Zulu War9th Queen's Royal LancersUlundi, South Africa
James Bergin1868Abyssinian Expedition33rd Regiment of FootMagdala, Abyssinia
Edward Bingham1916First World WarHMS NestorJutland, Denmark
Abraham Boulger1857Indian Rebellion of 185784th Regiment of FootLucknow, India
George Boyd-Rochfort1915First World WarScots GuardsCambrin, France
Joseph Bradshaw1855Crimean WarRifle BrigadeWoronzoff Road, Crimea
William Bradshaw1857Indian Rebellion of 185790th Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Edward Brown1900Second Boer War14th King's HussarsGeluk, South Africa
Francis Brown1857Indian Rebellion of 18571st European Bengal FusiliersNarnaul, India
Bryan Budd2006*War in AfghanistanParachute RegimentSangin, Afghanistan
Hugh Burgoyne1855Crimean WarHMS SwallowSea of Azov, Crimea
Nathaniel Burslem1860Second Opium War67th Regiment of FootTaku Forts, China
James Byrne1858Indian Rebellion of 185786th RegimentJhansi, India
John Byrne1854Crimean War68th Regiment of FootInkerman, Crimea
Thomas Byrne1898Mahdist War21st LancersOmdurman, Sudan
John Caffrey1915First World War2nd York and Lancaster RegimentLa Brique, France
Daniel Cambridge1855Crimean WarRoyal ArtillerySevastopol, Crimea
Patrick Carlin1858Indian Rebellion of 185713th Regiment of FootAzumgurh, India
Geoffrey Cather1916*First World WarRoyal Irish FusiliersHamel, France
Alexander Cobbe1902Somaliland CampaignKing's African RiflesErego, Somaliland
William Coffey1855Crimean War34th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
Nevill Coghill1879*Anglo-Zulu War24th Regiment of FootIsandhlwana South Africa
Hugh Colvin1917First World WarCheshire RegimentYpres, Belgium
John Connors1855Crimean War3rd Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
John Conolly1854Crimean War49th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
William Cosgrove1915First World WarRoyal Munster FusiliersGallipoli, Turkey
Edmund Costello1897Siege of Malakand22nd Punjab InfantryMalakand, India
Cornelius Coughlan1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Gordon HighlandersDelhi, India
Garrett Creagh1879Second Afghan WarBombay Staff CorpsKam Dakka, Afghanistan
Thomas Crean1901Second Boer WarImperial Light HorseTygerkloof Spruit, South Africa
James Crichton1918First World WarNew Zealand Expeditionary ForceCrèvecœur, France
John Crimmin1889Karenni ExpeditionBombay Medical ServiceLwekaw, Burma
John Cunningham1917*First World WarPrince of Wales's Leinster RegimentBois-en-Hache, France
John Danaher1881First Boer WarNourse's Horse (Transvaal)Elandsfontein, South Africa
Maurice Dease1914*First World WarRoyal FusiliersMons, Belgium
Denis Dempsey1857Indian Rebellion of 185710th Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Bernard Diamond1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Bengal Horse ArtilleryBulandshahr, India
Edmund De Wind1918*First World WarRoyal Ulster RiflesGroagie, France
John Divane1857Indian Rebellion of 185760th RiflesDelhi, India
Patrick Donohoe1857Indian Rebellion of 18579th Queen's Royal LancersBulandshahr, India
John Doogan1881First Boer War1st King's Dragoon GuardsLaing's Nek, South Africa
William Dowling1857Indian Rebellion of 185732nd Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Martin Doyle1918First World WarRoyal Munster FusiliersReincourt, France
James Duffy1917First World WarRoyal Inniskilling FusiliersKereina Peak, Palestine
Thomas Duffy1857Indian Rebellion of 1857102nd Madras FusiliersLucknow, India
John Dunlay1857Indian Rebellion of 185793rd Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Denis Dynon1857Indian Rebellion of 185753rd Regiment of FootChota Behar, India
Frederick Edwards1916First World WarMiddlesex RegimentThiepval, France
James Emerson1917*First World WarRoyal Inniskilling FusiliersLa Vacquerie, France
William English1901Second Boer WarThe Scottish HorseVlakfontein, South Africa
Harold Ervine-Andrews1940Second World WarEast Lancashire RegimentDunkirk, France
Eugene Esmonde1942*Second World War825 Naval Air SquadronStraits of Dover
Thomas Esmonde1855Crimean War18th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
John Farrell1854Crimean War17th LancersBalaklava, Crimea
Edward Fegen1940Second World WarHMS Jervis BayAtlantic Ocean
Charles FitzClarence1899Second Boer WarRoyal FusiliersMafeking, South Africa
Richard Fitzgerald1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Bengal Horse ArtilleryBulandshahr, India
Andrew Fitzgibbon1860Second Opium War67th Regiment of FootTaku Forts, China
Francis Fitzpatrick1879Basuto War94th Regiment of FootSekukuni's Town, South Africa
Thomas Flinn1857Indian Rebellion of 185764th Regiment of FootCawnpore, India
George Forrest1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Bengal Veteran EstablishmentDelhi, India
Edmund Fowler1879Anglo-Zulu WarCameronians (Scottish Rifles)Zlobane Mountain, South Africa
George Gardiner1855Crimean War57th Regiment of FootSebastopol, Crimea
Donald Garland1940*Second World WarNo. 12 Squadron RAFAlbert Canal, Belgium
Stephen Garvin1857Indian Rebellion of 185760th RiflesDelhi, India
Peter Gill1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Loodiana RegimentBenares, India
Henry Gore-Browne1857Indian Rebellion of 185732nd Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Charles Gough1857Indian Rebellion of 18575th Bengal European Light CavalryLucknow, India
Hugh Gough1857Indian Rebellion of 18571st Bengal European Light CavalryLucknow, India
John Gough1903Somaliland CampaignRifle BrigadeDaratoleh, Somaliland
Thomas Grady1854Crimean War4th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
Patrick Graham1857Indian Rebellion of 185790th Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Peter Grant1857Indian Rebellion of 185793rd Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Patrick Green1857Indian Rebellion of 185775th Regiment of FootDelhi, India
William Griffiths1867Andaman Islands Expedition24th Regiment of FootLittle Andaman, India[4]
Thomas Hackett1857Indian Rebellion of 185723rd Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Frederick Hall1915*First World War8th (Winnipeg Rifles) BattalionYpres, Belgium
Walter Hamilton1879Second Afghan WarStaff Corps and Corps of GuidesFuttehabad, Afghanistan
Robert Hanna1917First World War29th Battalion, CEFLens, France
John Harrison1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Naval BrigadeLucknow, India
Reginald Hart1879Second Afghan WarRoyal EngineersBazar Valley, Afghanistan
Henry Hartigan1857Indian Rebellion of 18579th Queen's Royal LancersDelhi, India
Frederick Harvey1917First World WarLord Strathcona's HorseGuyencourt, France
Robert Hawthorne1857Indian Rebellion of 185752nd Regiment of FootDelhi, India
Samuel Hill1857Indian Rebellion of 185790th RegimentLucknow, India
John Holland1916First World WarPrince of Wales's Leinster RegimentGuillemont, France
Thomas Hughes1916First World WarConnaught RangersGuillemont, France
Charles Irwin1857Indian Rebellion of 185753rd Regiment of FootLucknow, India
James Jackman1941*Second World WarRoyal Northumberland FusiliersTobruk, Libya
Edward Jennings1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Bengal ArtilleryLucknow, India
Robert Johnston1899Second Boer WarImperial Light Horse (Natal)Elandslaagte, South Africa
Henry Jones1855Crimean War7th RegimentSebastopol, Crimea
Thomas Kavanagh1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Bengal Civil ServiceLucknow, India
Richard Keatinge1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Bombay ArtilleryChundairee, India
Richard Kelliher1943Second World WarAustralian Imperial ForceNew Guinea, Pacific
Henry Kelly1916First World WarDuke of Wellington's RegimentLe Sars, France[5]
William Kenealy1915First World WarLancashire FusiliersGallipoli, Turkey
James Kenny1857Indian Rebellion of 185753rd Regiment of FootLucknow, India
William Kenny1914First World WarGordon HighlandersYpres, Belgium
William Kenny1920*Waziristan Campaign39th Garhwal RiflesKot Kai, India
George Lambert1857Indian Rebellion of 185784th Regiment of FootOonao, India
Thomas Lane1860Second Opium War67th Regiment of FootTaku Forts, China
Thomas Laughnan1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Bengal ArtilleryLucknow, India
Samuel Lawrence1857Indian Rebellion of 185732nd Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Edward Leach1879Second Afghan WarRoyal EngineersMaidanah, Afghanistan
William Leet1879Anglo-Zulu War13th Regiment of FootInhlobana, South Africa
William Lendrim1855Crimean WarRoyal EngineersSevastopol, Crimea
Owen Lloyd1893Kachin ExpeditionArmy Medical ServiceFort Sima, Burma
David Lord1944*Second World WarNo. 271 Squadron RAFBattle of Arnhem, Netherlands
Charles Lucas1854Crimean WarHMS HeclaÅland, Finland[6]
John Lucas1861First Taranaki War40th Regiment of FootNew Zealand
John Lyons1855Crimean War19th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
Harry Lyster1858Indian Rebellion of 185772nd Bengal Native InfantryCalpee, India
Ambrose Madden1854Crimean War41st RegimentLittle Inkerman, Crimea
James Magennis1945Second World WarHMS XE3Johore Straits, Singapore[7]
Michael Magner1868Abyssinian Expedition33rd Regiment of FootMagdala, Abyssinia
Patrick Mahoney1857*Indian Rebellion of 1857102nd Madras FusiliersMungulwar, India
William Manley1864New Zealand WarsRoyal ArtilleryTauranga, New Zealand
Edward Mannock1918*First World WarNo. 74 Squadron RAFWestern Front
James Masterson1900Second Boer WarDevonshire RegimentLadysmith, South Africa
Frederick Maude1855Crimean War3rd Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
Charles McCorrie1855Crimean War57th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
William McFadzean1916*First World WarRoyal Ulster RiflesThiepval Wood, France
John McGovern1857Indian Rebellion of 1857101st Regiment of FootDelhi, India
James McGuire1857Indian Rebellion of 1857101st Regiment of FootDelhi, India
Patrick McHale1857Indian Rebellion of 18575th Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Peter McManus1857Indian Rebellion of 18575th Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Bernard McQuirt1858Indian Rebellion of 185795th Regiment of FootRowa, India
William McWheeney1854Crimean War44th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
Martin Moffat1918First World WarPrince of Wales's Leinster RegimentLedeghem, Belgium
Arthur Moore1857Anglo-Persian War3rd Bombay Light CavalryKhushab, Persia
Hans Moore1877Cape Frontier Wars88th RegimentKomgha, South Africa
Robert Morrow1915*First World WarRoyal Irish FusiliersMessines, Belgium
John Moyney1917First World WarIrish GuardsBroembeek, Belgium
Andrew Moynihan1855Crimean War90th Regiment of FootRedan, Crimea
Patrick Mullane1880Second Afghan WarRoyal Horse ArtilleryMaiwand, Afghanistan[8]
Michael Murphy1858Indian Rebellion of 185717th LancersAzumgurh, India[9]
Thomas Murphy1867Andaman Islands Expedition24th Regiment of FootLittle Andaman, India[4]
James Murray1881First Boer War88th RegimentElandsfontein, South Africa
John Murray1864New Zealand Wars68th Regiment of FootTauranga, New Zealand
Patrick Mylott1857Indian Rebellion of 185784th Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Michael John O'Leary1917First World WarIrish GuardsCuinchy, France
William Nash1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Rifle BrigadeLucknow, India
David Nelson1914First World WarRoyal ArtilleryNéry, France
Claude Nunney1918*First World War38th Battalion, CEFDrocourt-Quéant Line, France
George Nurse1899Second Boer WarRoyal Field ArtilleryColenso, South Africa
Luke O'Connor1854Crimean War23rd Regiment of FootAlma, Crimea[10]
Timothy O'Hea1866Fenian raids on CanadaRifle BrigadeDanville, Quebec, Canada[11]
Michael John1915First World WarIrish GuardsCuinchy, France
William Olpherts1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Bengal ArtilleryLucknow, India
Martin O'Meara1916First World War1st Division (Australia)Pozières, France
Michael O'Rourke1917First World War7th Battalion, CEFHill 70, France
Gerald O'Sullivan1915First World WarRoyal Inniskilling FusiliersGallipoli, Turkey
Edmund O'Toole1879Anglo-Zulu WarFrontier Light HorseUlundi, South Africa
James Owens1854Crimean War49th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
John Park1854Crimean War77th Regiment of FootAlma, Crimea
James Pearson1858Indian Rebellion of 185786th Regiment of FootJhansi, India
Dighton Probyn1857Indian Rebellion of 18572nd Punjab CavalryAgra, India
Joseph Prosser1855Crimean War1st Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
John Purcell1857Indian Rebellion of 18579th Queen's Royal LancersDelhi, India
Robert Quigg1916First World WarRoyal Ulster RiflesHamel, France
Hamilton Reed1899Second Boer WarRoyal Field ArtilleryColenso, South Africa
James Reynolds1879Anglo-Zulu WarArmy Medical ServiceRorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa
George Richardson1859Indian Rebellion of 185734th Regiment of FootKewane Trans-Gogra, India
Richard Ridgeway1879Naga Hills ExpeditionBengal Staff CorpsKonoma, India
Frederick Roberts1899*Second Boer WarKing's Royal Rifle CorpsColenso, South Africa
Clement Robertson1917*First World WarQueen's Royal RegimentZonnebeke, Belgium
Patrick Roddy1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Bengal ArmyKuthirga, India
Robert Rogers1860Second Opium War44th Regiment of FootTaku Forts, China
George Roupell1915First World WarEast Surrey RegimentHill 60, Belgium
John Ryan1857Indian Rebellion of 1857102nd Madras FusiliersLucknow, India
John Ryan1863New Zealand Wars65th Regiment of FootCameron Town, New Zealand
Miles Ryan1857Indian Rebellion of 1857101st Regiment of FootDelhi, India
Robert Scott1900Second Boer WarManchester RegimentNatal, South Africa[12]
John Sinnott1857Indian Rebellion of 185784th Regiment of FootLucknow, India
Michael Sleavon1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Royal EngineersJhansi, India
Frederick Smith1864New Zealand Wars43rd Regiment of FootTauranga, New Zealand
Philip Smith1855Crimean War17th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
James Somers1915First World WarRoyal Inniskilling FusiliersGallipoli, Turkey
Dudley Stagpoole1863New Zealand Wars57th Regiment of FootPoutoko, New Zealand
John Sullivan1855Crimean WarNaval BrigadeSevastopol, Crimea
William Temple1863New Zealand WarsRoyal ArtilleryRangiriri, New Zealand
James Travers1857Indian Rebellion of 18572nd Bengal Native InfantryIndore, India
Mark Walker1854Crimean War30th Regiment of FootInkerman, Crimea
Joseph Ward1858Indian Rebellion of 18578th King's Royal Irish HussarsGwalior, India
George White1879Second Afghan War92nd Regiment of FootCharasiah, Afghanistan
Alexander Wright1855Crimean War77th Regiment of FootSevastopol, Crimea
Alexander Young1901Second Boer WarCape PoliceRuiterskraal, South Africa

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Christopher McCreery (2015). The Canadian Honours System. Dundurn. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-4597-2417-4.
  2. "VC background". British War Graves Memorial. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  3. Karsten, Peter (1983). "Irish Soldiers in the British Army, 1792–1922: Suborned or Subordinate". Journal of Social History. 17 (1): 31–64. doi:10.1353/jsh/17.1.31.
  4. 1 2 3 Between 1858 and 1881 the Victoria Cross could be awarded for actions taken "under circumstances of extreme danger" not in the face of the enemy. Five people were awarded Victoria Crosses when they manned a boat to rescue their comrades who had been sent to the Andaman Islands on an investigation. This rule was changed in 1881 to only allow acts "in the presence of the enemy"."VC background". British War Graves Memorial. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  5. Kelly is considered an Irish recipient as well as English, due to Irish parentage.
    "Manchester Military & Civilian Heroes (2)". Papillon Graphics' Virtual Encyclopaedia of Greater Manchester. 7 December 2007. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  6. The earliest action for which the VC was awarded (First Battle of Bomarsund, 21 June 1854).
  7. The only native of Northern Ireland to receive the VC for action in the Second World War.
  8. Mullane was born in India. He is considered an Irish recipient by parentage
    Doherty, Truesdale, 2000
  9. Michael Murphy was one eight VC recipients whose award was forfeited. Although King George V in 1920 expressed the view that the VC should not be forfeited, the medals of Murphy and the other seven were not restored. List of Recipients of the Victoria Cross, The War Office (MS3), January 1953, note, page 7.
  10. The earliest action for which the VC was awarded to a soldier (20 September 1854).
  11. Between 1858 and 1881 the Victoria Cross could be awarded for actions taken "under circumstances of extreme danger" not in the face of the enemy. Six in total were awarded for actions taken not in the face of the enemy. O'Hea single-handedly put out a fire in an ammunition railway car, for which he was awarded the VC. This rule was changed in 1881 to only allow acts "in the presence of the enemy"."VC background". British War Graves Memorial. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
  12. Scott was born in Manchester, England. He is considered an Irish recipient by parentage.
    Doherty, Truesdale, 2000

Bibliography

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