List of Victoria Cross recipients by campaign
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.
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| Recipients | Unit | Campaign | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 Crimean War recipients‡ | — | Crimean War | 1854–1856 | — |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 20th Bombay Native Infantry | Anglo-Persian War | 9 August 1856 | Bushire, Persia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry | Anglo-Persian War | 8 February 1857 | Khoosh-ab, Persia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry | Anglo-Persian War | 8 February 1857 | Khoosh-ab, Persia |
| 182 Indian Mutiny recipients‡ | — | Indian Mutiny | 1857–1859 | — |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 67th Regiment of Foot | Third China War | 21 August 1860 | Taku Forts, China |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 67th Regiment of Foot | Third China War | 21 August 1860 | Taku Forts, China |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 67th Regiment of Foot | Third China War | 21 August 1860 | Taku Forts, China |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 67th Regiment of Foot | Third China War | 21 August 1860 | Taku Forts, China |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 67th Regiment of Foot | Third China War | 21 August 1860 | Taku Forts, China |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 44th Regiment of Foot | Third China War | 21 August 1860 | Taku Forts, China |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 44th Regiment of Foot | Third China War | 21 August 1860 | Taku Forts, China |
| 15 New Zealand Wars recipients‡ | — | New Zealand Wars | 1860–1865 | — |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Naval Brigade | Taiping Rebellion | 9 October 1862 | Fenghua, China |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 4th Bengal European Regiment | Umbeyla Campaign | 30 October 1863 | Crag Picquet, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 4th Punjab Infantry | Umbeyla Campaign | 30 October 1863 | Crag Picquet, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HMS Euryalus | Bombardment of Shimonoseki | 6 September 1864 | Kanmon Straits, Japan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HMS Euryalus | Bombardment of Shimonoseki | 6 September 1864 | Kanmon Straits, Japan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HMS Euryalus | Bombardment of Shimonoseki | 6 September 1864 | Kanmon Straits, Japan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Bengal Engineers | Bhutan War | 30 April 1865 | Dewan-Giri, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Bengal Engineers | Bhutan War | 30 April 1865 | Dewan-Giri, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Rifle Brigade | —<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>[A] | 9 June 1866 | Danville, Quebec |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | West India Regiment | The Gambia | 30 June 1866 | Tubabecelong, Gambia| |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 24th Regiment of Foot | Andaman Islands Expedition | 7 May 1867 | Little Andaman |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 24th Regiment of Foot | Andaman Islands Expedition | 7 May 1867 | Little Andaman |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 24th Regiment of Foot | Andaman Islands Expedition | 7 May 1867 | Little Andaman |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 24th Regiment of Foot | Andaman Islands Expedition | 7 May 1867 | Little Andaman |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 24th Regiment of Foot | Andaman Islands Expedition | 7 May 1867 | Little Andaman |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 33rd Regiment of Foot | Abyssinian War | 13 April 1868 | Battle of Magdala, Abyssinia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 33rd Regiment of Foot | Abyssinian War | 13 April 1868 | Battle of Magdala, Abyssinia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2nd Gurkha Rifles | Looshai Expedition | 4 January 1872 | Lalgnoora, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 24th Regiment of Foot | First Ashanti Expedition | 1873–1874 | Becquah, Ashanti |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 6th Bengal Cavalry | First Ashanti Expedition | 17 January 1874 | Abogu, Ashanti |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 42nd Regiment of Foot | First Ashanti Expedition | 21 January 1874 | Amoaful, Ashanti |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Corps of Royal Engineers | First Ashanti Expedition | 4 February 1874 | Ordashu, Ashanti |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Bengal Staff Corps | Perak War | 20 December 1875 | Malaya, Malaysia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Bengal Staff Corps | Baluchistan | 26 July 1877 | Quetta, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 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 | 1878–1880 | — |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Cape Mounted Riflemen | Basuto War | 8 April 1879 | Morosi's Mountain, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Cape Mounted Riflemen | Basuto War | 8 April 1879 | Morosi's Mountain, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Cape Mounted Riflemen | Basuto War | 5 June 1879 | Morosi's Mountain, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 94th Regiment of Foot | Campaign against Sekukuni | 28 November 1879 | Sekukuni's Town, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 94th Regiment of Foot | Campaign against Sekukuni | 28 November 1879 | Sekukuni's Town, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Bengal Staff Corps | Second Naga Hills Expedition | 22 November 1879 | Konama, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry | Basuto War | 14 January 1881 | Tweefontein, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Nourse's Horse | First Boer War | 16 January 1881 | Elandsfontein, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 94th Regiment of Foot | First Boer War | 16 January 1881 | Elandsfontein, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 1st King's Dragoon Guards | First Boer War | 28 January 1881 | Laing's Nek, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 58th Regiment of Foot | First Boer War | 28 January 1881 | Laing's Nek, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 58th Regiment of Foot | First Boer War | 22 February 1881 | Wesselstroom, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Army Medical Department | First Boer War | 27 February 1881 | Majubu Hill, South Africa |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HMS Alexandra | Occupation of Egypt | 11 July 1882 | Alexandria, Egypt |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | King's Royal Rifle Corps | Occupation of Egypt | 5 August 1882 | Kafr Dowar, Egypt |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Highland Light Infantry | Occupation of Egypt | 13 September 1882 | Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 19th Hussars | Sudan Campaign | 29 February 1884 | El Teb, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HMS Hecla | Sudan Campaign | 29 February 1884 | El Teb, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Black Watch | Sudan Campaign | 13 March 1884 | Tamai, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | King's Royal Rifle Corps | Sudan Campaign | 13 March 1884 | Tamai, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Royal Regiment of Artillery | Sudan Campaign | 17 January 1885 | Abu Klea, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 21st Lancers | Sudan Campaign | 2 September 1898 | Omdurman, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 21st Lancers | Sudan Campaign | 2 September 1898 | Omdurman, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 21st Lancers | Sudan Campaign | 2 September 1898 | Omdurman, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2nd Dragoon Guards | Sudan Campaign | 2 September 1898 | Omdurman, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Highland Light Infantry | Sudan Campaign | 22 September 1898 | Gedarif, Sudan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Bombay Medical Service | British rule in Burma | 1 January 1889 | Karenni, Burma |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Army Medical Department | British rule in Burma | 4 May 1889 | Tartan, Burma |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Indian Staff Corps | Manipur Expedition | 21 March 1891 to 9 April 1891 |
Thobal, Burma |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Corps of Royal Engineers | Hunza-Naga Campaign | 2 December 1891 | Nilt Fort, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 5th Gurkha Rifles | Hunza-Naga Campaign | 2 December 1891 | Nilt Fort, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 5th Gurkha Rifles | Hunza-Naga Campaign | 20 December 1891 | Nilt Fort, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | West India Regiment | The Gambia | 13 March 1892 | Toniataba, Gambia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Army Medical Department | Kachin Hills Expedition | 6 January 1893 | Fort Sima, Burma |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Indian Medical Service | Chitral Expedition | 3 March 1895 | Chitral Fort, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Bulawayo Field Force | Matabeleland Rebellion | 30 March 1896 | Bulawayo, Rhodesia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Bulawayo Field Force | Matabeleland Rebellion | 22 April 1896* | Umguza, Rhodesia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Mashonaland Mounted Police | Mashona Rebellion | 19 June 1896 | Salisbury, Rhodesia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 22nd Punjab Infantry | Siege of Malakand | 26 July 1897 | Malakand, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Corps of Royal Engineers | Mohmand Campaign | 16 September 1897 | Bilot, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Corps of Royal Engineers | Mohmand Campaign | 16 September 1897 | Bilot, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Corps of Royal Engineers | Mohmand Campaign | 16 September 1897 | Bilot, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Corps of Guides | Tirah Campaign | 17 August 1897 | Swat, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Corps of Guides | Tirah Campaign | 17 August 1897* | Swat, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 16th Lancers | Tirah Campaign | 17 August 1897 | Swat, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Sherwood Foresters | Tirah Campaign | 20 October 1897 | Dargai, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Gordon Highlanders | Tirah Campaign | 20 October 1897 | Dargai, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Gordon Highlanders | Tirah Campaign | 20 October 1897 | Dargai, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Dorset Regiment | Tirah Campaign | 20 October 1897 | Dargai, India |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HMS Hazard | Occupation of Crete | 6 September 1898 | Crete, Greece |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Seaforth Highlanders | Third Ashanti Expedition | 6 June 1900 | Dompoassi, Ashanti |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Indian Staff Corps | Third Ashanti Expedition | 30 September 1900 | Obassa, Ashanti |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Royal Marine Light Infantry | Boxer Rising | 24 June 1900 | Peking, China |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Naval Brigade | Boxer Rising | 13 July 1900 | China |
| 78 Second Boer War recipients‡ | — | Second Boer War | 1899–1902 | — |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | King's African Rifles | Second Somaliland Expedition | 6 October 1902 | Erego, Somaliland |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 4th Gurkha Rifles | Third Somaliland Expedition | 22 April 1903 | Daratoleh, Somaliland |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Rifle Brigade | Third Somaliland Expedition | 22 April 1903 | Daratoleh, Somaliland |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 1st Bombay Grenadiers | Third Somaliland Expedition | 22 April 1903 | Daratoleh, Somaliland |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry | Fourth Somaliland Expedition | 19 December 1903 | Jidballi, Somaliland |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry | Fourth Somaliland Expedition | 10 January 1904 | Jidballi, Somaliland |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) | Kano-Sokoto Expedition | 26 February 1903 | Northern Nigeria |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 8th Gurkha Rifles | Armed Mission to Tibet | 6 July 1904 | Gyantse Fortress |
| 627 First World War recipients‡<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>[B] | — | First World War | 1914–1918 | — |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 | North Russia Relief Force | 17 June 1919 | Kronstadt, Russia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Royal Fusiliers | North Russia Relief Force | 10 August 1919 | Sheika River, Russia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HM Coastal Motor Boat 31 | North Russia Relief Force | 18 August 1919 | Kronstadt, Russia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | HM Coastal Motor Boat 88 | North Russia Relief Force | 18 August 1919 | Kronstadt, Russia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Royal Fusiliers | North Russia Relief Force | 29 August 1919* | Emtsa, Russia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Indian Medical Service | Waziristan Campaign | 22 October 1919* | Khajuri, Waziristan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 39th Garhwal Rifles | Waziristan Campaign | 2 January 1920* | Kot Kai, Waziristan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 28th Punjab Regiment | Waziristan Campaign | 10 April 1921 | Haidari Kach, Waziristan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Manchester Regiment | Arab Revolt | 24 July 1920* | Hillah, Mesopotamia |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 12th Frontier Force Regiment | Second Mohmand Campaign | 29 September 1935* | Mamund Valley, India |
| 181 Second World War recipients‡<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>[C] | — | Second World War | 1939–1945 | — |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | Korean War | 23 September 1950* | Songju, Korea |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Gloucestershire Regiment | Korean War | 22–23 April 1951 | Imjin River, Korea |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry | Korean War | 22–23 April 1951* | Imjin River, Korea |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) | Korean War | 4 November 1951 | Hill 217, Korea |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 10th Gurkha Rifles | Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation | 21 November 1965 | Sarawak, Borneo |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Australian Army Training Team Vietnam | Vietnam War | 13 November 1965* | Tra Bong, Vietnam |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Australian Army Training Team Vietnam | Vietnam War | 23 February 1967 7 March 1967 7 April 1967* |
Huong Tra, Vietnam |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Australian Army Training Team Vietnam | Vietnam War | 6–11 May 1969 | Kon Tum province, Vietnam |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Australian Army Training Team Vietnam | Vietnam War | 24 May 1969 | Ben Het, Vietnam |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Parachute Regiment | Falklands War | 28 May 1982* | Goose Green, Falkland Islands |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Parachute Regiment | Falklands War | 12 June 1982* | Mount Longdon, Falkland Islands |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment | Iraq War | 1 May 2004 11 June 2004 |
Al-Amarah, Iraq |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Parachute Regiment | War in Afghanistan | 27 July 2006 20 August 2006* |
Sangin, Afghanistan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Grenadier Guards | War in Afghanistan | 13 June 2012* | Nahiri Saraj District, Afghanistan |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | Parachute Regiment | War in Afghanistan | 22 August 2013 | Helmand Province, Afghanistan |
Notes
- A <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^ 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. O'Hea single-handedly put out a fire in an ammunition cart, and was awarded the VC for that action. This rule was changed in 1881 to allow only acts "in the presence of the enemy".[13]
- B <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^ 628 Medals were awarded to 627 recipients. Two Bars were awarded; Noel Godfrey Chavasse was awarded the Victoria Cross and Bar for two separate actions; Arthur Martin-Leake was awarded a VC in the Second Boer War, and his Bar for actions in the First World War.
- C <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^ 182 medals were awarded to 181 recipients; Charles Upham was awarded the Victoria Cross and Bar.
References
- General
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- Specific
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Ashcroft, Michael; preface; XI–XIII
- ↑ The Gazette publishing the original Royal Warrant
Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util". - ↑ Ashcroft, Michael; pp.7–10
- ↑ Ashcroft, Michael; Preface to Victoria Cross Heroes
- ↑ Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
- ↑ Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
- ↑ Ashcroft, Michael, Introduction: A brief History of the VC (pp.14–18)
- ↑ Arthur, Max; pp.185–371
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Arthur, Max; p.XIV
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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