Army recruiting poster, 1915, featuring Michael O'Leary
List of Irish Victoria Cross recipients lists all recipients of the Victoria Cross (post-nominal letters "VC") 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.
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.[ 1] Six people (four Irish, one English and one Canadian ) were awarded Victoria Crosses under this clause (one in 1866 during the Fenian raids , five for a single incident in 1867 during the Andaman Islands Expedition ), until it was amended in 1881 to only allow acts "in the presence of the enemy".[ 1] [ 2] 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.[ 3] 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.
This along with the * indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Date of action
Conflict
Unit
Place of action
Notes
James Adams
1879
Second Afghan War
British Indian Army
Killa Kazi , Afghanistan
Augustus Agar
1919
Baltic Campaign 1918
HM Coastal Motor Boat 4
Kronstadt , Russia
John Alexander
1855
Crimean War
090 90th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
Charles Anderson
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
002 2nd Queen's Dragoon Guards
Sandila , India
John Barry
1901*
Second Boer War
Royal Irish Regiment
Monument Hill, South Africa
David Bell
1867
Andaman Islands Expedition
024 24th Regiment of Foot
Little Andaman , India
[ 4]
Edward Bell
1854
Crimean War
023 23rd Regiment of Foot
Alma , Crimea
Eric Bell
1916*
First World War
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Thiepval , France
William Beresford
1879
Anglo-Zulu War
009 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Ulundi , South Africa
James Bergin
1868
Abyssinian Expedition
033 33rd Regiment of Foot
Magdala , Abyssinia
Edward Bingham
1916
First World War
HMS Nestor
Jutland , Denmark
Abraham Boulger
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
084 84th Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
George Boyd-Rochfort
1915
First World War
Scots Guards
Cambrin , France
Joseph Bradshaw
1855
Crimean War
Rifle Brigade
Woronzoff Road , Crimea
William Bradshaw
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
090 90th Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Edward Brown
1900
Second Boer War
014 14th King's Hussars
Geluk , South Africa
Francis Brown
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
001 1st European Bengal Fusiliers
Narnaul , India
Bryan Budd
2006*
War in Afghanistan
001 Parachute Regiment
Sangin , Afghanistan
Hugh Burgoyne
1855
Crimean War
HMS Swallow
Sea of Azov , Crimea
Nathaniel Burslem
1860
Second Opium War
067 67th Regiment of Foot
Taku Forts , China
James Byrne
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
086 86th Regiment
Jhansi , India
John Byrne
1854
Crimean War
068 68th Regiment of Foot
Inkerman , Crimea
Thomas Byrne
1898
Mahdist War
021 21st Lancers
Omdurman , Sudan
John Caffrey
1915
First World War
002 2nd York and Lancaster Regiment
La Brique , France
Daniel Cambridge
1855
Crimean War
Royal Artillery
Sevastopol , Crimea
Patrick Carlin
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
013 13th Regiment of Foot
Azumgurh , India
Geoffrey Cather
1916*
First World War
Royal Irish Fusiliers
Hamel , France
Alexander Cobbe
1902
Somaliland Campaign
King's African Rifles
Erego , Somaliland
William Coffey
1855
Crimean War
034 34th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
Nevill Coghill
1879*
Anglo-Zulu War
024 24th Regiment of Foot
Isandhlwana South Africa
Hugh Colvin
1917
First World War
Cheshire Regiment
Ypres , Belgium
John Connors
1855
Crimean War
003 3rd Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
John Conolly
1854
Crimean War
049 49th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
William Cosgrove
1915
First World War
Royal Munster Fusiliers
Gallipoli , Turkey
Edmund Costello
1897
Siege of Malakand
022 22nd Punjab Infantry
Malakand , India
Cornelius Coughlan
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Gordon Highlanders
Delhi , India
Garrett Creagh
1879
Second Afghan War
Bombay Staff Corps
Kam Dakka , Afghanistan
Thomas Crean
1901
Second Boer War
Imperial Light Horse
Tygerkloof Spruit , South Africa
James Crichton
1918
First World War
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Crèvecœur , France
John Crimmin
1889
Karenni Expedition
Bombay Medical Service
Lwekaw , Burma
John Cunningham
1917*
First World War
Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment
Bois-en-Hache , France
John Danaher
1881
First Boer War
Nourse's Horse (Transvaal)
Elandsfontein , South Africa
Maurice Dease
1914*
First World War
Royal Fusiliers
Mons , Belgium
Denis Dempsey
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
010 10th Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Bernard Diamond
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Bengal Horse Artillery
Bulandshahr , India
Edmund De Wind
1918*
First World War
Royal Ulster Rifles
Groagie , France
John Divane
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
060 60th Rifles
Delhi , India
Patrick Donohoe
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
009 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Bulandshahr , India
John Doogan
1881
First Boer War
001 1st King's Dragoon Guards
Laing's Nek , South Africa
William Dowling
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
032 32nd Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Martin Doyle
1918
First World War
Royal Munster Fusiliers
Reincourt , France
James Duffy
1917
First World War
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Kereina Peak , Palestine
Thomas Duffy
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
102 102nd Madras Fusiliers
Lucknow , India
John Dunlay
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
093 93rd Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Denis Dynon
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
053 53rd Regiment of Foot
Chota Behar , India
Frederick Edwards
1916
First World War
Middlesex Regiment
Thiepval , France
James Emerson
1917*
First World War
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
La Vacquerie , France
William English
1901
Second Boer War
The Scottish Horse
Vlakfontein , South Africa
Harold Ervine-Andrews
1940
Second World War
East Lancashire Regiment
Dunkirk , France
Eugene Esmonde
1942*
Second World War
825 825 Naval Air Squadron
Straits of Dover
Thomas Esmonde
1855
Crimean War
018 18th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
John Farrell
1854
Crimean War
017 17th Lancers
Balaklava , Crimea
Edward Fegen
1940
Second World War
HMS Jervis Bay
Atlantic Ocean
Charles FitzClarence
1899
Second Boer War
Royal Fusiliers
Mafeking , South Africa
Richard Fitzgerald
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Bengal Horse Artillery
Bulandshahr , India
Andrew Fitzgibbon
1860
Second Opium War
067 67th Regiment of Foot
Taku Forts , China
Francis Fitzpatrick
1879
Basuto War
094 94th Regiment of Foot
Sekukuni's Town , South Africa
Thomas Flinn
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
064 64th Regiment of Foot
Cawnpore , India
George Forrest
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Bengal Veteran Establishment
Delhi , India
Edmund Fowler
1879
Anglo-Zulu War
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Zlobane Mountain , South Africa
George Gardiner
1855
Crimean War
057 57th Regiment of Foot
Sebastopol , Crimea
Donald Garland
1940*
Second World War
No. 12 Squadron RAF
Albert Canal , Belgium
Stephen Garvin
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
060 60th Rifles
Delhi , India
Peter Gill
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Loodiana Regiment
Benares , India
Henry Gore-Browne
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
032 32nd Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Charles Gough
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
5th Bengal European Light Cavalry
Lucknow , India
Hugh Gough
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
1st Bengal European Light Cavalry
Lucknow , India
John Gough
1903
Somaliland Campaign
Rifle Brigade
Daratoleh , Somaliland
Thomas Grady
1854
Crimean War
004 4th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
Patrick Graham
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
090 90th Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Peter Grant
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
093 93rd Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Patrick Green
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
075 75th Regiment of Foot
Delhi , India
William Griffiths
1867
Andaman Islands Expedition
024 24th Regiment of Foot
Little Andaman , India
[ 4]
Thomas Hackett
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
023 23rd Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Frederick Hall
1915*
First World War
008 8th (Winnipeg Rifles) Battalion
Ypres , Belgium
Walter Hamilton
1879
Second Afghan War
Staff Corps Staff Corps and Corps of Guides
Futtehabad , Afghanistan
Robert Hanna
1917
First World War
029 29th Battalion, CEF
Lens , France
John Harrison
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Naval Brigade
Lucknow , India
Reginald Hart
1879
Second Afghan War
Royal Engineers
Bazar Valley , Afghanistan
Henry Hartigan
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
009 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Delhi , India
Frederick Harvey
1917
First World War
Lord Strathcona's Horse
Guyencourt , France
Robert Hawthorne
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
052 52nd Regiment of Foot
Delhi , India
Samuel Hill
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
090 90th Regiment
Lucknow , India
John Holland
1916
First World War
Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment
Guillemont , France
Thomas Hughes
1916
First World War
Connaught Rangers
Guillemont , France
Charles Irwin
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
053 53rd Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
James Jackman
1941*
Second World War
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
Tobruk , Libya
Edward Jennings
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Bengal Artillery
Lucknow , India
Robert Johnston
1899
Second Boer War
Imperial Light Horse (Natal)
Elandslaagte , South Africa
Henry Jones
1855
Crimean War
007 7th Regiment
Sebastopol , Crimea
Thomas Kavanagh
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Bengal Civil Service
Lucknow , India
Richard Keatinge
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Bombay Artillery
Chundairee , India
Richard Kelliher
1943
Second World War
Australian Australian Imperial Force
New Guinea , Pacific
Henry Kelly
1916
First World War
Duke of Wellington's Regiment
Le Sars , France
[ 5]
William Kenealy
1915
First World War
Lancashire Fusiliers
Gallipoli , Turkey
James Kenny
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
53rd Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
William Kenny
1914
First World War
Gordon Highlanders
Ypres , Belgium
William Kenny
1920*
Waziristan Campaign
039 39th Garhwal Rifles
Kot Kai , India
George Lambert
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
084 84th Regiment of Foot
Oonao , India
Thomas Lane
1860
Second Opium War
067 67th Regiment of Foot
Taku Forts , China
Thomas Laughnan
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Bengal Artillery
Lucknow , India
Samuel Lawrence
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
032 32nd Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Edward Leach
1879
Second Afghan War
Royal Engineers
Maidanah , Afghanistan
William Leet
1879
Anglo-Zulu War
013 13th Regiment of Foot
Inhlobana , South Africa
William Lendrim
1855
Crimean War
Royal Engineers
Sevastopol , Crimea
Owen Lloyd
1893
Kachin Expedition
Army Medical Services Army Medical Service
Fort Sima , Burma
David Lord
1944*
Second World War
No. 271 Squadron RAF
Battle of Arnhem , Netherlands
Charles Lucas
1854
Crimean War
HMS Hecla
Åland , Finland
[ 6]
John Lucas
1861
First Taranaki War
040 40th Regiment of Foot
New Zealand
John Lyons
1855
Crimean War
019 19th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
Harry Lyster
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
072 72nd Bengal Native Infantry
Calpee , India
Ambrose Madden
1854
Crimean War
041 41st Regiment
Little Inkerman , Crimea
James Magennis
1945
Second World War
HMS XE3
Johore Straits , Singapore
[ 7]
Michael Magner
1868
Abyssinian Expedition
033 33rd Regiment of Foot
Magdala , Abyssinia
Patrick Mahoney
1857*
Indian Rebellion of 1857
102 102nd Madras Fusiliers
Mungulwar , India
William Manley
1864
New Zealand Wars
Royal Artillery
Tauranga , New Zealand
Edward Mannock
1918*
First World War
No. 74 Squadron RAF
Western Front
James Masterson
1900
Second Boer War
Devonshire Regiment
Ladysmith, South Africa
Frederick Maude
1855
Crimean War
003 3rd Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
Charles McCorrie
1855
Crimean War
057 57th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
William McFadzean
1916*
First World War
Royal Ulster Rifles
Thiepval Wood , France
John McGovern
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
101 101st Regiment of Foot
Delhi , India
James McGuire
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
101 101st Regiment of Foot
Delhi , India
Patrick McHale
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
005 5th Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Peter McManus
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
005 5th Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Bernard McQuirt
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
095 95th Regiment of Foot
Rowa , India
William McWheeney
1854
Crimean War
044 44th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
Martin Moffat
1918
First World War
Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment
Ledeghem , Belgium
Arthur Moore
1857
Anglo-Persian War
003 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry
Khushab , Persia
Hans Moore
1877
Cape Frontier Wars
088 88th Regiment
Komgha , South Africa
Robert Morrow
1915*
First World War
Royal Irish Fusiliers
Messines , Belgium
John Moyney
1917
First World War
Irish Guards
Broembeek , Belgium
Andrew Moynihan
1855
Crimean War
090 90th Regiment of Foot
Redan , Crimea
Patrick Mullane
1880
Second Afghan War
Royal Horse Artillery
Maiwand , Afghanistan
[ 8]
Michael Murphy
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
017 17th Lancers
Azumgurh , India
[ 9]
Thomas Murphy
1867
Andaman Islands Expedition
024 24th Regiment of Foot
Little Andaman , India
[ 4]
James Murray
1881
First Boer War
088 88th Regiment
Elandsfontein , South Africa
John Murray
1864
New Zealand Wars
068 68th Regiment of Foot
Tauranga , New Zealand
Patrick Mylott
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
084 84th Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Michael John O'Leary
1917
First World War
Irish Guards
Cuinchy , France
William Nash
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Rifle Brigade
Lucknow , India
David Nelson
1914
First World War
Royal Artillery
Néry , France
Claude Nunney
1918*
First World War
038 38th Battalion, CEF
Drocourt-Quéant Line , France
George Nurse
1899
Second Boer War
Royal Field Artillery
Colenso , South Africa
Luke O'Connor
1854
Crimean War
023 23rd Regiment of Foot
Alma , Crimea
[ 10]
Timothy O'Hea
1866
Fenian raids on Canada
Rifle Brigade
Danville, Quebec , Canada
[ 11]
Michael John
1915
First World War
Irish Guards
Cuinchy , France
William Olpherts
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Bengal Artillery
Lucknow , India
Martin O'Meara
1916
First World War
001 1st Division (Australia)
Pozières , France
Michael O'Rourke
1917
First World War
007 7th Battalion, CEF
Hill 70 , France
Gerald O'Sullivan
1915
First World War
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Gallipoli , Turkey
Edmund O'Toole
1879
Anglo-Zulu War
Frontier Light Horse
Ulundi , South Africa
James Owens
1854
Crimean War
049 49th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
John Park
1854
Crimean War
077 77th Regiment of Foot
Alma , Crimea
James Pearson
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
086 86th Regiment of Foot
Jhansi , India
Dighton Probyn
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
002 2nd Punjab Cavalry
Agra , India
Joseph Prosser
1855
Crimean War
001 1st Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
John Purcell
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
009 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
Delhi , India
Robert Quigg
1916
First World War
Royal Ulster Rifles
Hamel , France
Hamilton Reed
1899
Second Boer War
Royal Field Artillery
Colenso , South Africa
James Reynolds
1879
Anglo-Zulu War
Army Medical Service Army Medical Service
Rorke's Drift , Natal , South Africa
George Richardson
1859
Indian Rebellion of 1857
034 34th Regiment of Foot
Kewane Trans-Gogra , India
Richard Ridgeway
1879
Naga Hills Expedition
Bengal Staff Corps
Konoma , India
Frederick Roberts
1899*
Second Boer War
King's Royal Rifle Corps
Colenso , South Africa
Clement Robertson
1917*
First World War
Queen's Royal Regiment
Zonnebeke , Belgium
Patrick Roddy
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Bengal Army
Kuthirga , India
Robert Rogers
1860
Second Opium War
044 44th Regiment of Foot
Taku Forts , China
George Roupell
1915
First World War
East Surrey Regiment
Hill 60 , Belgium
John Ryan
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
102 102nd Madras Fusiliers
Lucknow , India
John Ryan
1863
New Zealand Wars
065 65th Regiment of Foot
Cameron Town , New Zealand
Miles Ryan
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
101 101st Regiment of Foot
Delhi , India
Robert Scott
1900
Second Boer War
Manchester Regiment
Natal , South Africa
[ 12]
John Sinnott
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
084 84th Regiment of Foot
Lucknow , India
Michael Sleavon
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
Royal Engineers
Jhansi , India
Frederick Smith
1864
New Zealand Wars
043 43rd Regiment of Foot
Tauranga , New Zealand
Philip Smith
1855
Crimean War
017 17th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
James Somers
1915
First World War
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Gallipoli , Turkey
Dudley Stagpoole
1863
New Zealand Wars
057 57th Regiment of Foot
Poutoko , New Zealand
John Sullivan
1855
Crimean War
Naval Brigade
Sevastopol , Crimea
William Temple
1863
New Zealand Wars
Royal Artillery
Rangiriri , New Zealand
James Travers
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
002 2nd Bengal Native Infantry
Indore , India
Mark Walker
1854
Crimean War
030 30th Regiment of Foot
Inkerman , Crimea
Joseph Ward
1858
Indian Rebellion of 1857
008 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
Gwalior , India
George White
1879
Second Afghan War
092 92nd Regiment of Foot
Charasiah , Afghanistan
Alexander Wright
1855
Crimean War
077 77th Regiment of Foot
Sevastopol , Crimea
Alexander Young
1901
Second Boer War
Cape Police
Ruiterskraal , South Africa
^ a b Christopher McCreery (2015). The Canadian Honours System . Dundurn. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-4597-2417-4 .
^ "VC background" . British War Graves Memorial. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2008 .
^ Karsten, Peter (1983). "Irish Soldiers in the British Army, 1792–1922: Suborned or Subordinate". Journal of Social History . 17 (1): 31–64. doi :10.1353/jsh/17.1.31 .
^ a b c 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. Five people were awarded Victoria Crosses when they manned a boat to rescue their comrades who had been sent to the Andaman Islands on an investigation. This rule was changed in 1881 to only allow acts "in the presence of the enemy"."VC background" . British War Graves Memorial. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2008 .
^ Kelly is considered an Irish recipient as well as English, due to Irish parentage."Manchester Military & Civilian Heroes (2)" . Papillon Graphics' Virtual Encyclopaedia of Greater Manchester. 7 December 2007. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2008 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link )
^ The earliest action for which the VC was awarded (First Battle of Bomarsund , 21 June 1854).
^ The only native of Northern Ireland to receive the VC for action in the Second World War.
^ Mullane was born in India. He is considered an Irish recipient by parentage Doherty, Truesdale, 2000
^ Michael Murphy was one eight VC recipients whose award was forfeited. Although King George V in 1920 expressed the view that the VC should not be forfeited, the medals of Murphy and the other seven were not restored. List of Recipients of the Victoria Cross , The War Office (MS3), January 1953, note, page 7.
^ The earliest action for which the VC was awarded to a soldier (20 September 1854).
^ 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. Six in total were awarded for actions taken not in the face of the enemy. O'Hea single-handedly put out a fire in an ammunition railway car, for which he was awarded the VC. This rule was changed in 1881 to only allow acts "in the presence of the enemy"."VC background" . British War Graves Memorial. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2008 .
^ Scott was born in Manchester , England. He is considered an Irish recipient by parentage. Doherty, Truesdale, 2000
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