List of Victoria Cross recipients by campaign

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The Victoria Cross (VC) 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. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals, and may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. [1] The award was officially constituted when Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign-manual on 29 January 1856 that was gazetted on 5 February 1856. [2] The order was backdated to 1854 to recognise acts of valour during the Crimean War. [3] 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. [4]

The first citations of the VC, particularly those in the initial gazette of 24 February 1857, varied in the details of each action; some specify date ranges while some specify a single date. The original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously. [5] 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 soldiers. [6] 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. [7] [8] Three people have been awarded the VC and Bar, which is a medal for two actions; Noel Chavasse, Arthur Martin-Leake and Charles Upham. [9] Chavasse received both medals for actions in the First World War, while Martin-Leake was awarded his first VC for actions in the Second Boer War, and his second for actions during the First World War. Charles Upham received both VCs for actions during the Second World War.

The Victoria Cross has been awarded 1,358 times to 1,355 individual recipients. The largest number of recipients for one campaign is the First World War, for which 628 medals were awarded to 627 recipients. [10] The largest number awarded for actions on a single day was 24 on 16 November 1857, at the Second Relief of Lucknow, during the Indian Mutiny. [11] The largest number awarded for a single action was 18, for the assault on Sikandar Bagh, during the Second Relief of Lucknow. The largest number awarded to one unit during a single action was 7, to the 2nd/24th Foot, for the defence of Rorke's Drift (22–23 January 1879), during the Zulu War. [12]

Since 1991, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have created their own separate Victoria Crosses: the Victoria Cross for Australia, the Victoria Cross (Canada), and the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. Only five of these separate medals have been awarded, all for actions in the War in Afghanistan; Willie Apiata received the Victoria Cross for New Zealand on 26 July 2007; on 16 January 2009 Mark Donaldson, on 24 August 2010 Daniel Keighran, on 23 January 2011 Ben Roberts-Smith, and on 13 February 2014 Cameron Baird (posthumous award), were awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia. As these are separate medals, they are not included in this list.

RecipientsUnitCampaignDatesLocation
111 Crimean War recipients Crimean War 18541856
John Wood 20th Bombay Native Infantry Anglo-Persian War 9 August 1856 Bushire, Persia
John Malcolmson 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry Anglo-Persian War 8 February 1857 Khoosh-ab, Persia
Arthur Moore 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry Anglo-Persian War 8 February 1857 Khoosh-ab, Persia
182 Indian Mutiny recipients Indian Mutiny 18571859
Nathaniel Burslem 67th Regiment of Foot Third China War 21 August 1860 Taku Forts, China
John Chaplin 67th Regiment of Foot Third China War 21 August 1860 Taku Forts, China
Andrew Fitzgibbon 67th Regiment of Foot Third China War 21 August 1860 Taku Forts, China
Thomas Lane 67th Regiment of Foot Third China War 21 August 1860 Taku Forts, China
Edmund Lenon 67th Regiment of Foot Third China War 21 August 1860 Taku Forts, China
John McDougall 44th Regiment of Foot Third China War 21 August 1860 Taku Forts, China
Robert Rogers 44th Regiment of Foot Third China War 21 August 1860 Taku Forts, China
15 New Zealand Wars recipients New Zealand Wars 18601865
George Hinckley Naval Brigade Taiping Rebellion 9 October 1862 Fenghua, China
George Fosbery 4th Bengal European Regiment Umbeyla Campaign 30 October 1863 Crag Picquet, India
Henry Pitcher 4th Punjab Infantry Umbeyla Campaign 30 October 1863 Crag Picquet, India
Duncan Boyes HMS Euryalus Bombardment of Shimonoseki 6 September 1864 Kanmon Straits, Japan
Thomas Pride Royal Navy Bombardment of Shimonoseki 6 September 1864 Kanmon Straits, Japan
William Seeley HMS Euryalus Bombardment of Shimonoseki 6 September 1864 Kanmon Straits, Japan
James Dundas Bengal Engineers Bhutan War 30 April 1865 Dewan-Giri, India
William Trevor Bengal Engineers Bhutan War 30 April 1865 Dewan-Giri, India
Timothy O'Hea Rifle Brigade [A] 9 June 1866 Danville, Quebec
Samuel Hodge West India Regiment The Gambia 30 June 1866 Tubabecelong, Gambia|
David Bell 24th Regiment of Foot Andaman Islands Expedition 7 May 1867 Little Andaman
Campbell Douglas 24th Regiment of Foot Andaman Islands Expedition 7 May 1867 Little Andaman
James Cooper 24th Regiment of Foot Andaman Islands Expedition 7 May 1867 Little Andaman
Thomas Murphy 24th Regiment of Foot Andaman Islands Expedition 7 May 1867 Little Andaman
William Griffiths 24th Regiment of Foot Andaman Islands Expedition 7 May 1867 Little Andaman
James Bergin 33rd Regiment of Foot Abyssinian War 13 April 1868 Battle of Magdala, Abyssinia
Michael Magner 33rd Regiment of Foot Abyssinian War 13 April 1868 Battle of Magdala, Abyssinia
Donald Macintyre 2nd Gurkha Rifles Looshai Expedition 4 January 1872 Lalgnoora, India
Edric Gifford 24th Regiment of Foot First Ashanti Expedition 1873–1874 Becquah, Ashanti
Reginald Sartorius 6th Bengal Cavalry First Ashanti Expedition 17 January 1874 Abogu, Ashanti
Samuel McGaw 42nd Regiment of Foot First Ashanti Expedition 21 January 1874 Amoaful, Ashanti
Mark Bell Corps of Royal Engineers First Ashanti Expedition 4 February 1874 Ordashu, Ashanti
George Channer Bengal Staff Corps Perak War 20 December 1875 Malaya, Malaysia
Andrew Scott Bengal Staff Corps Baluchistan 26 July 1877 Quetta, India
Hans Moore 88th Regiment of Foot 9th Cape Frontier War 29 December 1877 King William's Town, Cape Colony
23 Zulu War recipients Zulu War 1879
16 Second Afghan War recipients Second Afghan War 18781880
Peter Brown Cape Mounted Riflemen Basuto War 8 April 1879 Morosi's Mountain, South Africa
Robert Scott Cape Mounted Riflemen Basuto War 8 April 1879 Morosi's Mountain, South Africa
Edmund Hartley Cape Mounted Riflemen Basuto War 5 June 1879 Morosi's Mountain, South Africa
Francis Fitzpatrick 94th Regiment of Foot Campaign against Sekukuni 28 November 1879 Sekukuni's Town, South Africa
Thomas Flawn 94th Regiment of Foot Campaign against Sekukuni 28 November 1879 Sekukuni's Town, South Africa
John McCrea 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry Basuto War 14 January 1881 Tweefontein, South Africa
Richard Ridgeway Bengal Staff Corps Second Naga Hills Expedition 22 November 1879 Konama, India
John Danaher Nourse's Horse First Boer War 16 January 1881Elandsfontein, South Africa
James Murray 94th Regiment of Foot First Boer War 16 January 1881Elandsfontein, South Africa
John Doogan 1st King's Dragoon Guards First Boer War 28 January 1881 Laing's Nek, South Africa
Alan Hill 58th Regiment of Foot First Boer War 28 January 1881 Laing's Nek, South Africa
James Osborne 58th Regiment of Foot First Boer War 22 February 1881 Wesselstroom, South Africa
Joseph Farmer Army Medical Department First Boer War 27 February 1881 Majubu Hill, South Africa
Israel Harding HMS Alexandra Occupation of Egypt 11 July 1882 Alexandria, Egypt
Frederick Corbett King's Royal Rifle Corps Occupation of Egypt 5 August 1882 Kafr Dowar, Egypt
William Edwards Highland Light Infantry Occupation of Egypt 13 September 1882 Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt
William Marshall 19th Hussars Sudan Campaign 29 February 1884 El Teb, Sudan
Arthur Wilson HMS Hecla Sudan Campaign 29 February 1884 El Teb, Sudan
Thomas Edwards Black Watch Sudan Campaign 13 March 1884 Tamai, Sudan
Percival Marling King's Royal Rifle Corps Sudan Campaign 13 March 1884 Tamai, Sudan
Alfred Smith Royal Regiment of Artillery Sudan Campaign 17 January 1885 Abu Klea, Sudan
Thomas Byrne 21st Lancers Sudan Campaign 2 September 1898 Omdurman, Sudan
Raymond De Montmorency 21st Lancers Sudan Campaign 2 September 1898 Omdurman, Sudan
Paul Kenna 21st Lancers Sudan Campaign 2 September 1898 Omdurman, Sudan
Nevill Smyth 2nd Dragoon Guards Sudan Campaign 2 September 1898 Omdurman, Sudan
Alexander Hore-Ruthven Highland Light Infantry Sudan Campaign 22 September 1898 Gedarif, Sudan
John Crimmin Bombay Medical Service British rule in Burma 1 January 1889 Karenni, Burma
Ferdinand Le Quesne Army Medical Department British rule in Burma 4 May 1889 Tartan, Burma
Charles Grant Indian Staff Corps Manipur Expedition 21 March 1891 to
9 April 1891
Thobal, Burma
Fenton Aylmer Corps of Royal Engineers Hunza-Naga Campaign 2 December 1891 Nilt Fort, India
Guy Boisragon 5th Gurkha Rifles Hunza-Naga Campaign 2 December 1891 Nilt Fort, India
John Smith 5th Gurkha Rifles Hunza-Naga Campaign 20 December 1891 Nilt Fort, India
William Gordon West India Regiment The Gambia 13 March 1892 Toniataba, Gambia
Owen Lloyd Army Medical Department Kachin Hills Expedition 6 January 1893 Fort Sima, Burma
Harry Whitchurch Indian Medical Service Chitral Expedition 3 March 1895 Chitral Fort, India
Herbert Henderson Bulawayo Field Force Matabeleland Rebellion 30 March 1896 Bulawayo, Rhodesia
Frank Baxter Bulawayo Field Force Matabeleland Rebellion 22 April 1896* Umguza, Rhodesia
Randolph Nesbitt Mashonaland Mounted Police Mashona Rebellion 19 June 1896 Salisbury, Rhodesia
Edmond Costello 22nd Punjab Infantry Siege of Malakand 26 July 1897 Malakand, India
James Colvin Corps of Royal Engineers Mohmand Campaign 16 September 1897 Bilot, India
James Smith Corps of Royal Engineers Mohmand Campaign 16 September 1897 Bilot, India
Thomas Watson Corps of Royal Engineers Mohmand Campaign 16 September 1897 Bilot, India
Robert Adams Corps of Guides Tirah Campaign 17 August 1897 Swat, India
Hector MacLean Corps of Guides Tirah Campaign 17 August 1897* Swat, India
Alexander Fincastle 16th Lancers Tirah Campaign 17 August 1897 Swat, India
Henry Pennell Sherwood Foresters Tirah Campaign 20 October 1897 Dargai, India
George Findlater Gordon Highlanders Tirah Campaign 20 October 1897 Dargai, India
Edward Lawson Gordon Highlanders Tirah Campaign 20 October 1897 Dargai, India
Samuel Vickery Dorset Regiment Tirah Campaign 20 October 1897 Dargai, India
William Maillard HMS Hazard Occupation of Crete 6 September 1898 Crete, Greece
John Mackenzie Seaforth Highlanders Third Ashanti Expedition 6 June 1900 Dompoassi, Ashanti
Charles Melliss Indian Staff Corps Third Ashanti Expedition 30 September 1900 Obassa, Ashanti
Lewis Halliday Royal Marine Light Infantry Boxer Rising 24 June 1900 Peking, China
Basil Guy Naval Brigade Boxer Rising 13 July 1900 China
78 Second Boer War recipients Second Boer War 18991902
Alexander Cobbe King's African Rifles Second Somaliland Expedition 6 October 1902 Erego, Somaliland
William Walker 4th Gurkha Rifles Third Somaliland Expedition 22 April 1903 Daratoleh, Somaliland
John Gough Rifle Brigade Third Somaliland Expedition 22 April 1903 Daratoleh, Somaliland
George Rolland 1st Bombay Grenadiers Third Somaliland Expedition 22 April 1903 Daratoleh, Somaliland
Herbert Carter Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Fourth Somaliland Expedition 19 December 1903 Jidballi, Somaliland
Clement Smith Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Fourth Somaliland Expedition 10 January 1904 Jidballi, Somaliland
Wallace Wright Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Kano-Sokoto Expedition 26 February 1903 Northern Nigeria
John Grant 8th Gurkha Rifles Armed Mission to Tibet 6 July 1904 Gyantse Fortress
627 First World War recipients [B] First World War 19141918
Augustus Agar HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 North Russia Relief Force 17 June 1919 Kronstadt, Russia
Arthur Sullivan Royal Fusiliers North Russia Relief Force 10 August 1919 Sheika River, Russia
Claude Dobson HM Coastal Motor Boat 31 North Russia Relief Force 18 August 1919 Kronstadt, Russia
Gordon Steele HM Coastal Motor Boat 88 North Russia Relief Force 18 August 1919 Kronstadt, Russia
Samuel Pearse Royal Fusiliers North Russia Relief Force 29 August 1919* Emtsa, Russia
Henry Andrews Indian Medical Service Waziristan Campaign 22 October 1919* Khajuri, Waziristan
William Kenny 39th Garhwal Rifles Waziristan Campaign 2 January 1920* Kot Kai, Waziristan
Ishar Singh 28th Punjab Regiment Waziristan Campaign 10 April 1921 Haidari Kach, Waziristan
George Henderson Manchester Regiment Arab Revolt 24 July 1920* Hillah, Mesopotamia
Godfrey Meynell 12th Frontier Force Regiment Second Mohmand Campaign 29 September 1935* Mamund Valley, India
181 Second World War recipients [C] Second World War 19391945
Kenneth Muir Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Korean War 23 September 1950* Songju, Korea
James Carne Gloucestershire Regiment Korean War 2223 April 1951 Imjin River, Korea
Philip Curtis Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Korean War 2223 April 1951* Imjin River, Korea
Bill Speakman Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) Korean War 4 November 1951 Hill 217, Korea
Rambahadur Limbu 10th Gurkha Rifles Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation 21 November 1965 Sarawak, Borneo
Kevin Wheatley Australian Army Training Team Vietnam Vietnam War 13 November 1965* Tra Bong, Vietnam
Peter Badcoe Australian Army Training Team Vietnam Vietnam War 23 February 1967
7 March 1967
7 April 1967*
Huong Tra, Vietnam
Ray Simpson Australian Army Training Team Vietnam Vietnam War 611 May 1969 Kon Tum province, Vietnam
Keith Payne Australian Army Training Team Vietnam Vietnam War 24 May 1969 Ben Het, Vietnam
Herbert Jones Parachute Regiment Falklands War 28 May 1982* Goose Green, Falkland Islands
Ian McKay Parachute Regiment Falklands War 12 June 1982* Mount Longdon, Falkland Islands
Johnson Beharry Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Iraq War 1 May 2004
11 June 2004
Al-Amarah, Iraq
Bryan Budd Parachute Regiment War in Afghanistan 27 July 2006
20 August 2006*
Sangin, Afghanistan
James Ashworth Grenadier Guards War in Afghanistan 13 June 2012* Nahiri Saraj District, Afghanistan
Joshua Leakey Parachute Regiment War in Afghanistan 22 August 2013 Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Notes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Martin-Leake</span> Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Martin-Leake, was an English physician, officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps and a double recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Martin-Leake was the first of three men to be awarded the VC twice, the others being Noel Godfrey Chavasse and Charles Upham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Cross</span> Highest military decoration for valour in the UK

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously awarded to service personnel in the broader British Empire, with most successor independent nations now having established their own honours systems and no longer recommending British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians under military command. No civilian has received the award since 1879. Since the first awards were presented by Queen Victoria in 1857, two thirds of all awards have been personally presented by the British monarch. The investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.

References

General
Specific
  1. Ashcroft, Michael; preface; XIXIII
  2. The Gazette publishing the original Royal Warrant
    "No. 21846". The London Gazette . 5 February 1856. pp. 410–411.
  3. Ashcroft, Michael; pp.710
  4. Ashcroft, Michael; Preface to Victoria Cross Heroes
  5. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
  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. Ashcroft, Michael, Introduction: A brief History of the VC (pp.1418)
  10. Arthur, Max; pp.185371
  11. "Welcome the Imperial War Museum's Collections Home Page : The Victoria Cross". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2006.
  12. Arthur, Max; p.XIV
  13. "VC background". British War Graves Memorial. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2008.