Thomas Byrne (VC)

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Template other Thomas Byrne, VC (December 1866 Dublin – 15 March 1944) was an Irish British Army soldier. He was the recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Deed

He was 31 years old, and a private in the 21st Lancers (Empress of India's), British Army, during the reconquest of Sudan when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 2 September 1898 at the Battle of Omdurman, Sudan, Private Byrne turned back in the middle of the charge of the 21st Lancers and went to the assistance of a lieutenant of the Royal Horse Guards who was wounded, dismounted, disarmed and being attacked by several Dervishes. Private Byrne, already wounded, attacked these Dervishes, received a second severe wound and by his gallant conduct enabled the officer to escape.

Winston Churchill, an eye-witness, described it was the bravest act he had ever seen performed.

Honours

Byrne's medal entitlement was:

Ribbon	Description	Notes
File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg	Victoria Cross (VC)	2 September 1898
File:Queens Sudan Medal BAR.svg	Queen's Sudan Medal
File:Queen's South Africa Medal.png	Queen's South Africa Medal	With clasps "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Transvaal"
File:UK King George VI Coronation Medal ribbon.svg	King George VI Coronation Medal	12 May 1937 All living VC recipients received this medal
File:Ribbon - Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military).png	Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
File:Khedives Sudan Medal 1897.png	Khedive's Sudan Medal	With clasp "Khartoum"

File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg
File:Queens Sudan Medal BAR.svg File:Queen's South Africa Medal.png File:UK King George VI Coronation Medal ribbon.svg
File:Ribbon - Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military).png File:Khedives Sudan Medal 1897.png

• His Medals (including a replacement VC) were sold at Auction for £40,000 at David Lay Auctioneers in Penzance, Cornwall on 25 August 2015.

Later life

File:Thomas Byrne grave Canterbury 2017.jpg

Byrne's grave (Section MJ Grave 22) at Canterbury City Cemetery, England, in 2017

He later served in the Second Boer War and retired from the army in 1909 after serving with the Regimental Police. In retirement he lived in Canterbury, Kent. He rejoined the army in 1914 and served at the Cavalry Remount Depot, Canterbury, and in the Garrison Police. After the War, he was a messenger at the Cavalry Pay and Records Office. He died in Canterbury on 15 March 1944, and is buried at Canterbury City Cemetery. His funeral was attended by Winston Churchill, who also took part in the charge at Omdurman.

Bibliography

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• Ireland's VCs (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)