List of Victoria Cross recipients by campaign

The Victoria Cross

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.^[13]

Recipients

•       This along with a ‡ indicates that the row is a link to a separate page containing the recipients of wars or campaigns with a large number of recipients.
•       This along with a * indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously.

Recipients	Unit	Campaign	Dates	Location
111 Crimean War recipients‡	—	Crimean War	1854–1856	—
Wood, JohnJohn Wood	20th Bombay Native Infantry	Anglo-Persian War	9 August 1856	Bushire, Persia
Malcolmson, JohnJohn Malcolmson	3rd Bombay Light Cavalry	Anglo-Persian War	8 February 1857	Khoosh-ab, Persia
Moore, ArthurArthur Moore	3rd Bombay Light Cavalry	Anglo-Persian War	8 February 1857	Khoosh-ab, Persia
182 Indian Mutiny recipients‡	—	Indian Mutiny	1857–1859	—
Burslem, NathanielNathaniel Burslem	67th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	21 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
Chaplin, JohnJohn Chaplin	67th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	21 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
Fitzgibbon, AndrewAndrew Fitzgibbon	67th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	21 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
Lane, ThomasThomas Lane	67th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	21 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
Lenon, EdmundEdmund Lenon	67th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	21 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
McDougall, JohnJohn McDougall	44th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	21 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
Rogers, RobertRobert Rogers	44th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	21 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
15 New Zealand Land Wars recipients‡	—	New Zealand Land Wars	1860–1865	—
Hinckley, GeorgeGeorge Hinckley	Naval Brigade	Taiping Rebellion	9 October 1862	Fenghua, China
Fosbery, GeorgeGeorge Fosbery	4th Bengal European Regiment	Umbeyla Campaign	30 October 1863	Crag Picquet, India
Pitcher, HenryHenry Pitcher	4th Punjab Infantry	Umbeyla Campaign	30 October 1863	Crag Picquet, India
Boyes, DuncanDuncan Boyes	HMS Euryalus	Bombardment of Shimonoseki	6 September 1864	Kanmon Straits, Japan
Pride, ThomasThomas Pride	Royal Navy	Bombardment of Shimonoseki	6 September 1864	Kanmon Straits, Japan
Seeley, WilliamWilliam Seeley	HMS Euryalus	Bombardment of Shimonoseki	6 September 1864	Kanmon Straits, Japan
Dundas, JamesJames Dundas	Bengal Engineers	Bhutan War	30 April 1865	Dewan-Giri, India
Trevor, WilliamWilliam Trevor	Bengal Engineers	Bhutan War	30 April 1865	Dewan-Giri, India
O'Hea, TimothyTimothy O'Hea	Rifle Brigade	—^[A]	9 June 1866	Danville, Quebec
Hodge, SamuelSamuel Hodge	West India Regiment	The Gambia	30 June 1866	Tubabecelong, Gambia|
Bell, DavidDavid Bell	24th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	7 May 1867	Little Andaman
Douglas, CampbellCampbell Douglas	24th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	7 May 1867	Little Andaman
Cooper, JamesJames Cooper	24th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	7 May 1867	Little Andaman
Murphy, ThomasThomas Murphy	24th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	7 May 1867	Little Andaman
Griffiths, WilliamWilliam Griffiths	24th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	7 May 1867	Little Andaman
Bergin, JamesJames Bergin	33rd Regiment of Foot	Abyssinian War	13 April 1868	Battle of Magdala, Abyssinia
Magner, MichaelMichael Magner	33rd Regiment of Foot	Abyssinian War	13 April 1868	Battle of Magdala, Abyssinia
Macintyre, DonaldDonald Macintyre	2nd Gurkha Rifles	Looshai Expedition	4 January 1872	Lalgnoora, India
Gifford, EdricEdric Gifford	24th Regiment of Foot	First Ashanti Expedition	1873–1874	Becquah, Ashanti
Sartorius, ReginaldReginald Sartorius	6th Bengal Cavalry	First Ashanti Expedition	17 January 1874	Abogu, Ashanti
McGaw, SamuelSamuel McGaw	42nd Regiment of Foot	First Ashanti Expedition	21 January 1874	Amoaful, Ashanti
Bell, MarkMark Bell	Corps of Royal Engineers	First Ashanti Expedition	4 February 1874	Ordashu, Ashanti
Channer, GeorgeGeorge Channer	Bengal Staff Corps	Perak War	20 December 1875	Malaya, Malaysia
Scott, AndrewAndrew Scott	Bengal Staff Corps	Baluchistan	26 July 1877	Quetta, India
Moore, HansHans 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	1878–1880	—
Brown, PeterPeter Brown	Cape Mounted Riflemen	Basuto War	8 April 1879	Morosi's Mountain, South Africa
Scott, RobertRobert Scott	Cape Mounted Riflemen	Basuto War	8 April 1879	Morosi's Mountain, South Africa
Hartley, EdmundEdmund Hartley	Cape Mounted Riflemen	Basuto War	5 June 1879	Morosi's Mountain, South Africa
Fitzpatrick, FrancisFrancis Fitzpatrick	Connaught Rangers	Basuto War	28 November 1879	Sekukuni's Town, South Africa
Flawn, ThomasThomas Flawn	Connaught Rangers	Basuto War	28 November 1879	Sekukuni's Town, South Africa
McCrea, JohnJohn McCrea	1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry	Basuto War	14 January 1881	Tweefontein, South Africa
Ridgeway, RichardRichard Ridgeway	Bengal Staff Corps	Second Naga Hills Expedition	22 November 1879	Konama, India
Danaher, JohnJohn Danaher	Nourse's Horse	First Boer War	16 January 1881	Elandsfontein, South Africa
Murray, JamesJames Murray	Connaught Rangers	First Boer War	16 January 1881	Elandsfontein, South Africa
Doogan, JohnJohn Doogan	1st King's Dragoon Guards	First Boer War	28 January 1881	Laing's Nek, South Africa
Hill, AlanAlan Hill	Northamptonshire Regiment	First Boer War	28 January 1881	Laing's Nek, South Africa
Osborne, JamesJames Osborne	Northamptonshire Regiment	First Boer War	22 February 1881	Wesselstroom, South Africa
Farmer, JosephJoseph Farmer	Royal Army Medical Corps	First Boer War	27 February 1881	Majubu Hill, South Africa
Harding, IsraelIsrael Harding	HMS Alexandra	Occupation of Egypt	11 July 1882	Alexandria, Egypt
Corbett, FrederickFrederick Corbett	King's Royal Rifle Corps	Occupation of Egypt	5 August 1882	Kafr Dowar, Egypt
Edwards, WilliamWilliam Edwards	Highland Light Infantry	Occupation of Egypt	13 September 1882	Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt
Marshall, WilliamWilliam Marshall	19th Hussars	Sudan Campaign	29 February 1884	El Teb, Sudan
Wilson, ArthurArthur Wilson	HMS Hecla	Sudan Campaign	29 February 1884	El Teb, Sudan
Edwards, ThomasThomas Edwards	Black Watch	Sudan Campaign	13 March 1884	Tamai, Sudan
Marling, PercivalPercival Marling	King's Royal Rifle Corps	Sudan Campaign	13 March 1884	Tamai, Sudan
Smith, AlfredAlfred Smith	Royal Regiment of Artillery	Sudan Campaign	17 January 1885	Abu Klea, Sudan
Byrne, ThomasThomas Byrne	21st Lancers	Sudan Campaign	2 September 1898	Omdurman, Sudan
De Montmorency, RaymondRaymond De Montmorency	21st Lancers	Sudan Campaign	2 September 1898	Omdurman, Sudan
Kenna, PaulPaul Kenna	21st Lancers	Sudan Campaign	2 September 1898	Omdurman, Sudan
Smyth, NevillNevill Smyth	2nd Dragoon Guards	Sudan Campaign	2 September 1898	Omdurman, Sudan
Hore-Rithven, AlexanderAlexander Hore-Rithven	Highland Light Infantry	Sudan Campaign	22 September 1898	Gedarif, Sudan
Crimmin, JohnJohn Crimmin	Bombay Medical Service	British rule in Burma	1 January 1889	Karenni, Burma
Le Quesne, FerdinandFerdinand Le Quesne	Royal Army Medical Corps	British rule in Burma	4 May 1889	Tartan, Burma
Grant, CharlesCharles Grant	Indian Staff Corps	Manipur Expedition	21 March 1891 to 9 April 1891	Thobal, Burma
Aylmer, FentonFenton Aylmer	Corps of Royal Engineers	Hunza-Naga Campaign	2 December 1891	Nilt Fort, India
Boisragon, GuyGuy Boisragon	5th Gurkha Rifles	Hunza-Naga Campaign	2 December 1891	Nilt Fort, India
Smith, JohnJohn Smith	5th Gurkha Rifles	Hunza-Naga Campaign	20 December 1891	Nilt Fort, India
Gordon, WilliamWilliam Gordon	West India Regiment	The Gambia	13 March 1892	Toniataba, Gambia
Lloyd, OwenOwen Lloyd	Royal Army Medical Corps	Kachin Hills Expedition	6 January 1893	Fort Sima, Burma
Whitchurch, HarryHarry Whitchurch	Indian Medical Service	Chitral Expedition	3 March 1895	Chitral Fort, India
Henderson, HerbertHerbert Henderson	Bulawayo Field Force	Matabeleland Rebellion	30 March 1896	Bulawayo, Rhodesia
Baxter, FrankFrank Baxter	Bulawayo Field Force	Matabeleland Rebellion	22 April 1896*	Umguza, Rhodesia
Nesbitt, RandolphRandolph Nesbitt	Mashonaland Mounted Police	Mashona Rebellion	19 June 1896	Salisbury, Rhodesia
Costello, EdmondEdmond Costello	22nd Punjab Infantry	Siege of Malakand	26 July 1897	Malakand, India
Colvin, JamesJames Colvin	Corps of Royal Engineers	Mohmand Campaign	16 September 1897	Bilot, India
Smith, JamesJames Smith	Corps of Royal Engineers	Mohmand Campaign	16 September 1897	Bilot, India
Watson, ThomasThomas Watson	Corps of Royal Engineers	Mohmand Campaign	16 September 1897	Bilot, India
Adams, RobertRobert Adams	Corps of Guides	Tirah Campaign	17 August 1897	Swat, India
MacLean, HectorHector MacLean	Corps of Guides	Tirah Campaign	17 August 1897*	Swat, India
Fincastle, AlexanderAlexander Fincastle	16th Lancers	Tirah Campaign	17 August 1897	Swat, India
Pennell, HenryHenry Pennell	Sherwood Foresters	Tirah Campaign	20 October 1897	Dargai, India
Findlater, GeorgeGeorge Findlater	Gordon Highlanders	Tirah Campaign	20 October 1897	Dargai, India
Lawson, EdwardEdward Lawson	Gordon Highlanders	Tirah Campaign	20 October 1897	Dargai, India
Vickery, SamuelSamuel Vickery	Dorset Regiment	Tirah Campaign	20 October 1897	Dargai, India
Maillard, WilliamWilliam Maillard	HMS Hazard	Occupation of Crete	6 September 1898	Crete, Greece
Mackenzie, JohnJohn Mackenzie	Seaforth Highlanders	Third Ashanti Expedition	6 June 1900	Dompoassi, Ashanti
Melliss, CharlesCharles Melliss	Indian Staff Corps	Third Ashanti Expedition	30 September 1900	Obassa, Ashanti
Halliday, LewisLewis Halliday	Royal Marine Light Infantry	Boxer Rising	24 June 1900	Peking, China
Guy, BasilBasil Guy	Naval Brigade	Boxer Rising	13 July 1900	China
78 Second Boer War recipients‡	—	Second Boer War	1899–1902	—
Cobbe, AlexanderAlexander Cobbe	King's African Rifles	Second Somaliland Expedition	6 October 1902	Erego, Somaliland
Walker, WilliamWilliam Walker	4th Gurkha Rifles	Third Somaliland Expedition	22 April 1903	Daratoleh, Somaliland
Gough, JohnJohn Gough	Rifle Brigade	Third Somaliland Expedition	22 April 1903	Daratoleh, Somaliland
Rolland, GeorgeGeorge Rolland	1st Bombay Grenadiers	Third Somaliland Expedition	22 April 1903	Daratoleh, Somaliland
Carter, HerbertHerbert Carter	Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry	Fourth Somaliland Expedition	19 December 1903	Jidballi, Somaliland
Smith, ClementClement Smith	Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry	Fourth Somaliland Expedition	10 January 1904	Jidballi, Somaliland
Wright, WallaceWallace Wright	2nd Regiment of Foot	Kano-Sokoto Expedition	26 February 1903	Northern Nigeria
Grant, JohnJohn Grant	8th Gurkha Rifles	Armed Mission to Tibet	6 July 1904	Gyantse Fortress
627 First World War recipients‡^[B]	—	First World War	1914–1918	—
Agar, AugustusAugustus Agar	HM Coastal Motor Boat 4	North Russia Relief Force	17 June 1919	Kronstadt, Russia
Sullivan, ArthurArthur Sullivan	Royal Fusiliers	North Russia Relief Force	10 August 1919	Sheika River, Russia
Dobson, ClaudeClaude Dobson	HM Coastal Motor Boat 31	North Russia Relief Force	18 August 1919	Kronstadt, Russia
Steele, GordonGordon Steele	HM Coastal Motor Boat 88	North Russia Relief Force	18 August 1919	Kronstadt, Russia
Pearse, SamuelSamuel Pearse	Royal Fusiliers	North Russia Relief Force	29 August 1919*	Emtsa, Russia
Andrews, HenryHenry Andrews	Indian Medical Service	Waziristan Campaign	22 October 1919*	Khajuri, Waziristan
Kenny, WilliamWilliam Kenny	39th Garhwal Rifles	Waziristan Campaign	2 January 1920*	Kot Kai, Waziristan
Singh, IsharIshar Singh	28th Punjab Regiment	Waziristan Campaign	10 April 1921	Haidari Kach, Waziristan
Henderson, GeorgeGeorge Henderson	Manchester Regiment	Arab Revolt	24 July 1920*	Hillah, Mesopotamia
Meynell, GodfreyGodfrey Meynell	12th Frontier Force Regiment	Second Mohmand Campaign	29 September 1935*	Mamund Valley, India
181 Second World War recipients‡^[C]	—	Second World War	1939–1945	—
Muir, KennethKenneth Muir	Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders	Korean War	23 September 1950*	Songju, Korea
Carne, JamesJames Carne	Gloucestershire Regiment	Korean War	22–23 April 1951	Imjin River, Korea
Curtis, PhilipPhilip Curtis	Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry	Korean War	22–23 April 1951*	Imjin River, Korea
Speakman, BillBill Speakman	Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)	Korean War	4 November 1951	Hill 217, Korea
Limbu, RambahadurRambahadur Limbu	10th Gurkha Rifles	Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation	21 November 1965	Sarawak, Borneo
Wheatley, KevinKevin Wheatley	Australian Army Training Team Vietnam	Vietnam War	13 November 1965*	Tra Bong, Vietnam
Badcoe, PeterPeter Badcoe	Australian Army Training Team Vietnam	Vietnam War	23 February 1967 7 March 1967 7 April 1967*	Huong Tra, Vietnam
Simpson, RayRay Simpson	Australian Army Training Team Vietnam	Vietnam War	6–11 May 1969	Kon Tum province, Vietnam
Payne, KeithKeith Payne	Australian Army Training Team Vietnam	Vietnam War	24 May 1969	Ben Het, Vietnam
Jones, HerbertHerbert Jones	Parachute Regiment	Falklands War	28 May 1982*	Goose Green, Falkland Islands
McKay, IanIan McKay	Parachute Regiment	Falklands War	12 June 1982*	Mount Longdon, Falkland Islands
Beharry, JohnsonJohnson Beharry	Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment	Iraq War	1 May 2004 11 June 2004	Al-Amarah, Iraq
Budd, BryanBryan Budd	Parachute Regiment	War in Afghanistan	27 July 2006 20 August 2006*	Sangin, Afghanistan
Ashworth, JamesJames Ashworth	Grenadier Guards	War in Afghanistan	13 June 2012*	Nahiri Saraj District, Afghanistan
Leakey, JoshuaJoshua Leakey	Parachute Regiment	War in Afghanistan	22 August 2013	Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Notes

• A ^ 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".^[14]
• B ^ 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 ^ 182 medals were awarded to 181 recipients; Charles Upham was awarded the Victoria Cross and Bar.

References

General

• Arthur, Max (2005). Symbol of Courage; Men behind the Medal. Pan books. ISBN 978-0-330-49133-4.
• Ashcroft, Michael (2006). Victoria Cross Heroes. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7553-1632-0.
• Crook, M.J. (1975). The Evolution of the Victoria Cross. Midas books. ISBN 0-85936-041-5.
• "Victoria Cross Registers". The National Archives. Retrieved 5 August 2009.

Specific

1. Ashcroft, Michael; preface; XI–XIII
2. The Gazette publishing the original Royal Warrant
   The London Gazette: no. 21846. pp. 410–411. 5 February 1856. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
3. Ashcroft, Michael; pp.7–10
4. Ashcroft, Michael; Preface to Victoria Cross Heroes
5. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
6. The London Gazette: no. 27986. p. 325. 15 January 1907. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
7. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
8. The London Gazette: no. 31946. p. 6702. 18 June 1920. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
9. Ashcroft, Michael, Introduction: A brief History of the VC (pp.14–18)
10. Arthur, Max; pp.185–371
11. http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.941
12. Arthur, Max; p.XIV
13. "Press kit related to July 2007 gallantry awards (NZ)" (PDF). NZ Government through news agency. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2007.
14. "VC background". British War Graves Memorial. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2008.