List of Irish Victoria Cross recipients
List of Irish Victoria Cross recipients lists all recipients of the Victoria Cross 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. Six people were awarded Victoria Crosses under this clause, until it was amended in 1881 to only allow acts "in the presence of the enemy". 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. 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
Name | Date of action | Conflict | Unit | Place of action | Notes |
1879 | Second Afghan War | British Indian Army | Killa Kazi, Afghanistan | ||
1919 | Baltic Campaign 1918 | HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 | Kronstadt, Russia | ||
1855 | Crimean War | Regiment of Foot | 90thSevastopol, Crimea | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Queen's Dragoon Guards | 2ndSandila, India | ||
1901* | Second Boer War | Royal Irish Regiment | Monument Hill, South Africa | ||
1867 | Andaman Islands Expedition | 24th Regiment of Foot | Little Andaman, India | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 23rd Regiment of Foot | Alma, Crimea | ||
1916* | First World War | Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers | Thiepval, France | ||
1879 | Anglo-Zulu War | Queen's Royal Lancers | 9thUlundi, South Africa | ||
1868 | Abyssinian Expedition | 33rd Regiment of Foot | Magdala, Abyssinia | ||
1916 | First World War | Jutland, Denmark | |||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 84th Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1915 | First World War | Scots Guards | Cambrin, France | ||
Joseph Bradshaw | 1855 | Crimean War | Rifle Brigade | Woronzoff Road, Crimea | |
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 90th Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1900 | Second Boer War | 14th King's Hussars | Geluk, South Africa | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 1st European Bengal Fusiliers | Narnaul, India | ||
2006* | War in Afghanistan | Parachute Regiment | Sangin, Afghanistan | ||
1855 | Crimean War | Sea of Azov, Crimea | |||
1860 | Second Opium War | 67th Regiment of Foot | Taku Forts, China | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 86th Regiment | Jhansi, India | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 68th Regiment of Foot | Inkerman, Crimea | ||
1898 | Mahdist War | 21st Lancers | Omdurman, Sudan | ||
1915 | First World War | York and Lancaster Regiment | 2ndLa Brique, France | ||
1855 | Crimean War | Royal Artillery | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 13th Regiment of Foot | Azumgurh, India | ||
1916* | First World War | Royal Irish Fusiliers | Hamel, France | ||
1902 | Somaliland Campaign | King's African Rifles | Erego, Somaliland | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 34th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1879* | Anglo-Zulu War | 24th Regiment of Foot | IsandhlwanaSouth Africa | ||
1917 | First World War | Cheshire Regiment | Ypres, Belgium | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 3rd Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 49th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1915 | First World War | Royal Munster Fusiliers | Gallipoli, Turkey | ||
1897 | Siege of Malakand | 22nd Punjab Infantry | Malakand, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Gordon Highlanders | Delhi, India | ||
1879 | Second Afghan War | Bombay Staff Corps | Kam Dakka, Afghanistan | ||
1901 | Second Boer War | Imperial Light Horse | Tygerkloof Spruit, South Africa | ||
1918 | First World War | New Zealand Expeditionary Force | Crèvecœur, France | ||
1889 | Karenni Expedition | Bombay Medical Service | Lwekaw, Burma | ||
1917* | First World War | Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment | Bois-en-Hache, France | ||
1881 | First Boer War | Nourse's Horse | Elandsfontein, South Africa | ||
1914* | First World War | Royal Fusiliers | Mons, Belgium | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 10th Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bengal Horse Artillery | Bulandshahr, India | ||
1918* | First World War | Royal Ulster Rifles | Groagie, France | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 60th Rifles | Delhi, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 9th Queen's Royal Lancers | Bulandshahr, India | ||
1881 | First Boer War | King's Dragoon Guards | 1stLaing's Nek, South Africa | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 32nd Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1918 | First World War | Royal Munster Fusiliers | Reincourt, France | ||
1917 | First World War | Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers | Kereina Peak, Palestine | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 102nd Madras Fusiliers | Lucknow, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 93rd Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 53rd Regiment of Foot | Chota Behar, India | ||
1916 | First World War | Middlesex Regiment | Thiepval, France | ||
1917* | First World War | Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers | La Vacquerie, France | ||
1901 | Second Boer War | The Scottish Horse | Vlakfontein, South Africa | ||
1940 | Second World War | East Lancashire Regiment | Dunkirk, France | ||
1942* | Second World War | Naval Air Squadron | 825Straits of Dover | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 18th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 17th Lancers | Balaklava, Crimea | ||
1940 | Second World War | Atlantic Ocean | |||
1899 | Second Boer War | Royal Fusiliers | Mafeking, South Africa | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bengal Horse Artillery | Bulandshahr, India | ||
1860 | Second Opium War | 67th Regiment of Foot | Taku Forts, China | ||
1879 | Basuto War | 94th Regiment of Foot | Sekukuni's Town, South Africa | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 64th Regiment of Foot | Cawnpore, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bengal Veteran Establishment | Delhi, India | ||
1879 | Anglo-Zulu War | Cameronians | Zlobane Mountain, South Africa | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 57th Regiment of Foot | Sebastopol, Crimea | ||
1940* | Second World War | No. 12 Squadron RAF | Albert Canal, Belgium | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 60th Rifles | Delhi, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Loodiana Regiment | Benares, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 32nd Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 5th Bengal European Light Cavalry | Lucknow, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 1st Bengal European Light Cavalry | Lucknow, India | ||
1903 | Somaliland Campaign | Rifle Brigade | Daratoleh, Somaliland | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 4th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 90th Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 93rd Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 75th Regiment of Foot | Delhi, India | ||
1867 | Andaman Islands Expedition | 24th Regiment of Foot | Little Andaman, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 23rd Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1915* | First World War | 8th Battalion | Ypres, Belgium | ||
1879 | Second Afghan War | Corps of Guides | Staff Corps andFuttehabad, Afghanistan | ||
1917 | First World War | 29th Battalion, CEF | Lens, France | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Naval Brigade | Lucknow, India | ||
1879 | Second Afghan War | Royal Engineers | Bazar Valley, Afghanistan | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 9th Queen's Royal Lancers | Delhi, India | ||
1917 | First World War | Lord Strathcona's Horse | Guyencourt, France | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 52nd Regiment of Foot | Delhi, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 90th Regiment | Lucknow, India | ||
1916 | First World War | Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment | Guillemont, France | ||
1916 | First World War | Connaught Rangers | Guillemont, France | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 53rd Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1941* | Second World War | Royal Northumberland Fusiliers | Tobruk, Libya | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bengal Artillery | Lucknow, India | ||
1899 | Second Boer War | Imperial Light Horse | Elandslaagte, South Africa | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 7th Regiment | Sebastopol, Crimea | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bengal Civil Service | Lucknow, India | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bombay Artillery | Chundairee, India | ||
1943 | Second World War | Australian Imperial Force | New Guinea, Pacific | ||
1916 | First World War | Duke of Wellington's Regiment | Le Sars, France | ||
1915 | First World War | Lancashire Fusiliers | Gallipoli, Turkey | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 53rd Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1914 | First World War | Gordon Highlanders | Ypres, Belgium | ||
1920* | Waziristan Campaign | 39th Garhwal Rifles | Kot Kai, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 84th Regiment of Foot | Oonao, India | ||
1860 | Second Opium War | 67th Regiment of Foot | Taku Forts, China | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bengal Artillery | Lucknow, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 32nd Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1879 | Second Afghan War | Royal Engineers | Maidanah, Afghanistan | ||
1879 | Anglo-Zulu War | 13th Regiment of Foot | Inhlobana, South Africa | ||
1855 | Crimean War | Royal Engineers | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1893 | Kachin Expedition | Army Medical Service | Fort Sima, Burma | ||
1944* | Second World War | No. 271 Squadron RAF | Battle of Arnhem, Netherlands | ||
1854 | Crimean War | Åland Islands, Finland | |||
1861 | First Taranaki War | 40th Regiment of Foot | New Zealand | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 19th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bengal Native Infantry | 72ndCalpee, India | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 41st Regiment | Little Inkerman, Crimea | ||
1945 | Second World War | Johore Straits, Singapore | |||
1868 | Abyssinian Expedition | 33rd Regiment of Foot | Magdala, Abyssinia | ||
1857* | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 102nd Madras Fusiliers | Mungulwar, India | ||
1864 | New Zealand Wars | Royal Artillery | Tauranga, New Zealand | ||
1918* | First World War | No. 74 Squadron RAF | Western Front | ||
1900 | Second Boer War | Devonshire Regiment | Ladysmith, South Africa | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 3rd Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 57th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1916* | First World War | Royal Ulster Rifles | Thiepval Wood, France | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 101st Regiment of Foot | Delhi, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 101st Regiment of Foot | Delhi, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 5th Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 5th Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 95th Regiment of Foot | Rowa, India | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 44th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1918 | First World War | Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment | Ledeghem, Belgium | ||
1857 | Anglo-Persian War | 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry | Khushab, Persia | ||
1877 | Cape Frontier Wars | 88th Regiment | Komgha, South Africa | ||
1915* | First World War | Royal Irish Fusiliers | Messines, Belgium | ||
1917 | First World War | Irish Guards | Broembeek, Belgium | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 90th Regiment of Foot | Redan, Crimea | ||
1880 | Second Afghan War | Royal Horse Artillery | Maiwand, Afghanistan | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 17th Lancers | Azumgurh, India | ||
1867 | Andaman Islands Expedition | 24th Regiment of Foot | Little Andaman, India | ||
1881 | First Boer War | 88th Regiment | Elandsfontein, South Africa | ||
1864 | New Zealand Wars | 68th Regiment of Foot | Tauranga, New Zealand | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 84th Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1917 | First World War | Irish Guards | Cuinchy, France | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Rifle Brigade | Lucknow, India | ||
1914 | First World War | Royal Artillery | Néry, France | ||
1918* | First World War | 38th Battalion, CEF | Drocourt-Quéant Line, France | ||
1899 | Second Boer War | Royal Field Artillery | Colenso, South Africa | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 23rd Regiment of Foot | Alma, Crimea | ||
1866 | Fenian raids on Canada | Rifle Brigade | Danville, Quebec, Canada | ||
1915 | First World War | Irish Guards | Cuinchy, France | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bengal Artillery | Lucknow, India | ||
1916 | First World War | 1st Division | Pozières, France | ||
1917 | First World War | 7th Battalion, CEF | Hill 70, France | ||
1915 | First World War | Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers | Gallipoli, Turkey | ||
1879 | Anglo-Zulu War | Frontier Light Horse | Ulundi, South Africa | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 49th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 77th Regiment of Foot | Alma, Crimea | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 86th Regiment of Foot | Jhansi, India | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 2nd Punjab Cavalry | Agra, India | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 1st Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 9th Queen's Royal Lancers | Delhi, India | ||
1916 | First World War | Royal Ulster Rifles | Hamel, France | ||
1899 | Second Boer War | Royal Field Artillery | Colenso, South Africa | ||
1879 | Anglo-Zulu War | Army Medical Service | Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa | ||
1859 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 34th Regiment of Foot | Kewane Trans-Gogra, India | ||
1879 | Naga Hills Expedition | Bengal Staff Corps | Konoma, India | ||
1899* | Second Boer War | King's Royal Rifle Corps | Colenso, South Africa | ||
1917* | First World War | Queen's Royal Regiment | Zonnebeke, Belgium | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Bengal Army | Kuthirga, India | ||
1860 | Second Opium War | 44th Regiment of Foot | Taku Forts, China | ||
1915 | First World War | East Surrey Regiment | Hill 60, Belgium | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 102nd Madras Fusiliers | Lucknow, India | ||
1863 | New Zealand Wars | 65th Regiment of Foot | Cameron Town, New Zealand | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 101st Regiment of Foot | Delhi, India | ||
1900 | Second Boer War | Manchester Regiment | Natal, South Africa | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 84th Regiment of Foot | Lucknow, India | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | Royal Engineers | Jhansi, India | ||
1864 | New Zealand Wars | 43rd Regiment of Foot | Tauranga, New Zealand | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 17th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1915 | First World War | Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers | Gallipoli, Turkey | ||
1863 | New Zealand Wars | 57th Regiment of Foot | Poutoko, New Zealand | ||
1855 | Crimean War | Naval Brigade | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1863 | New Zealand Wars | Royal Artillery | Rangiriri, New Zealand | ||
1857 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 2nd Bengal Native Infantry | Indore, India | ||
1854 | Crimean War | 30th Regiment of Foot | Inkerman, Crimea | ||
1858 | Indian Rebellion of 1857 | 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars | Gwalior, India | ||
1879 | Second Afghan War | 92nd Regiment of Foot | Charasiah, Afghanistan | ||
1855 | Crimean War | 77th Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | ||
1901 | Second Boer War | Cape Police | Ruiterskraal, South Africa |