List of Crimean War Victoria Cross recipients

Sergeant Luke O'Connor Winning the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Alma (1854). Oil by Louis William Desanges.

The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 111 members of the British Armed Forces during the Crimean War (also known as the Russian War) that lasted from 1854 to 1856. The Victoria Cross 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. The VC was introduced in Great Britain on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. It takes precedence over all other Orders, decorations and medals; it may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The first ceremony was held on 26 June 1857 where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in Hyde Park.<ref>Ashcroft, Michael; preface; XI–XIII</ref>

In 1854, the Crimean War broke out between the Russian Empire and an alliance of France, Great Britain, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire. One of the first battles of the War was the Battle of the Alma where allied forces convincingly defeated the Russian forces. The siege of Sevastapol followed shortly after in September 1854; it was to last for a year at the cost of over 128,000 lives, three-quarters of which died from disease. After the siege at Sevastapol, the fighting mainly ceased and on 30 March 1856, after two years of action, the Russians negotiated a Peace Treaty at the Congress of Paris. The Treaty set the Black Sea as neutral territory, closing it to all warships, and prohibiting fortifications and the presence of armaments on its shores. The Crimean War led to a number of large-scale changes in the British Army. The sale of commissions came under great scrutiny during the war, especially in connection with the Battle of Balaclava, which saw the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This scrutiny eventually led to the abolition of the sale of commissions.

The dispatches of William Howard Russell during the war highlighted how many acts of bravery and valour by British servicemen went unrewarded.<ref name=Ashcroft>Ashcroft, Michael; Preface to Victoria Cross Heroes</ref> There was a growing feeling amongst the public and in the Royal Court that a new award was needed to recognise incidents of gallantry that were unconnected with a man's lengthy or meritorious service. Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign-manual on 29 January 1856<ref name=Ashcroft/><ref name=GazetteOriginalWarrant>Template:London Gazette The Gazette publishing the original Royal Warrant</ref> (gazetted 5 February 1856)<ref name=GazetteOriginalWarrant /> that officially constituted the VC. The order was backdated to 1854 to recognise acts of valour during the Crimean War.<ref>Ashcroft, Michael; pp.7–10</ref> 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.<ref name=Ashcroft/>

Citations for the Crimean War, particularly those in the first gazette of 24 February 1857, listed multiple actions for about a third of the recipients. The format of each citation varied between recipients, some specify the actual date, some the name of the battle and others have both sets of information.

Until 1907, it was policy not to award the VC posthumously. Between 1857 and 1901, nine notices were published in the London Gazette for soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, medals were sent to the next of kin of the three mentioned for the Boer War and at the same time the first three official posthumous awards, again for the Boer War, were gazetted. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the remaining six officers and men.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> As a result of the change of policy, one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous but it was only in the general revision of the warrant issued in 1920 that a clause was inserted to explicitly allow posthumous awards.<ref>Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp. 68–90</ref><ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

Recipients

Name	Unit	Date of action	Place of action
Template:Sortname	Grenadier Guards	1855-09-022 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	09090th Regiment of Foot	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Regiment of Artillery	1855-06-077 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	05555th Regiment of Foot	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Welch Fusiliers	1854-09-2020 September 1854	Alma, Crimea
Template:Sortname	01717th Lancers	1854-10-2525 October 1854	Balaclava, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)	1854-11-2020 November 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Joseph Bradshaw	Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)	1855-04-2222 April 1855	Woronzoff Road, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Template:HMS	1855-05-2929 May 1855	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Template:HMS	1855-05-2929 May 1855	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Template:Sortname	06868th Regiment of Foot	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Template:HMS	1854-08-099 August 1854	Åland, Finland
Template:Sortname	Royal Regiment of Artillery	1855-09-088 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	03434th Regiment of Foot	1855-03-2929 March 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	09797th Regiment of Foot	1855-08-3030 August 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Template:HMS	1855-10-1111 October 1855	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0033rd Regiment of Foot	1855-09-088 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	04949th Regiment of Foot	1854-10-2626 October 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	HMS Miranda	1855-06-033 June 1855	Taganrog, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Scots Fusiliers Guards	1855-09-066 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)	1854-11-2020 November 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Naval Brigade	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Template:HMS	1854-10-1818 October 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Regiment of Artillery	1855-09-088 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Template:HMS	1855-09-1717 September 1855	Genitichi, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Regiment of Artillery	1854-10-1717 October 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Regiment of Artillery	1855-04-1717 April 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Marine Artillery	1855-07-1313 July 1855	Fort of Viborg, Finland
Template:Sortname	01111th Hussars	1854-10-2525 October 1854	Balaclava, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Corps of Royal Engineers	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	05555th Regiment of Foot	1855-03-2929 March 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	01818th Regiment of Foot	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	01919th Regiment of Foot	1855-04-1313 April 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	01717th Lancers	1854-10-2525 October 1854	Balaclava, Crimea
Template:Sortname	05757th Regiment of Foot	1855-03-2222 March 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Coldstream Guards	1854-10-2828 October 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Naval Brigade	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0044th Regiment of Foot	1854-10-1818 October 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Corps of Royal Engineers	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Scots Greys	1854-10-2525 October 1854	Balaclava, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0077th Regiment of Foot	1855-09-088 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	06868th Regiment of Foot	1855-05-1111 May 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Regiment of Artillery	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Template:HMS	1854-10-2626 October 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0077th Regiment of Foot	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0077th Regiment of Foot	1855-06-077 June 1855 18 June 1855<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)	1855-04-2222 April 1855	Woronzoff Road, Crimea
Template:Sortname	HMS Arrogant	1855-07-1313 July 1855	Fort of Viborg, Finland
Template:Sortname	HMS Arrogant	1854-08-099 August 1854	Åland Islands, Finland
Template:Sortname	0077th Regiment of Foot	1855-06-077 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Template:HMS	1855-08-3131 August 1855	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Scots Fusiliers Guards	1854-09-2020 September 1854	Alma, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Corps of Royal Engineers	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Corps of Royal Engineers	1855-02-1414 February 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Corps of Royal Engineers	1854-11-2020 November 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Scots Fusiliers Guards	1854-09-2020 September 1854	Alma, Crimea Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Template:HMS	1854-06-2121 June 1854	Åland Islands, Finland
Template:Sortname	09797th Regiment of Foot	1855-09-088 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	01919th Regiment of Foot	1855-06-1010 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Corps of Royal Engineers	1855-04-1919 April 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	04141st Regiment of Foot	1854-10-2626 October 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	01313th Light Dragoons	1854-10-2525 October 1854	Balaclava, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0033rd Regiment of Foot	1855-09-055 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	05757th Regiment of Foot	1855-06-2323 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	04747th Regiment of Foot	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)	1855-04-22July 1855<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Scots Fusilier Guards	1854-09-2020 September 1854	Alma, Crimea
Template:Sortname	04444th Regiment of Foot	1854-10-2020 October 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Regiment of Artillery	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0066th Dragoons	1854-10-2626 October 1854	Balaclava, Crimea
Template:Sortname	09090th Regiment of Foot	1855-09-088 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0077th Regiment of Foot	1854-12-1919 December 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Welch Fusiliers	1854-09-2020 September 1854	Alma, Crimea
Template:Sortname	04949th Regiment of Foot	1854-10-3030 October 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Grenadier Guards	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	07777th Regiment of Foot	1855-04-1919 April 1855<ref name=Gazette661>Template:London Gazette</ref>	Alma, Crimea Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0044th Light Dragoons	1854-10-2525 October 1854	Balaclava, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Naval Brigade	1854-10-1818 October 1854<ref>Peel was awarded the Victoria Cross for three separate actions. Template:London Gazette</ref> 5 November 1854 18 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Grenadier Guards	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Corps of Royal Engineers	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Marine Light Infantry	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0011st Regiment of Foot	1855-06-1616 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Naval Brigade	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	0022nd Dragoons	1854-10-2525 October 1854	Balaclava, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Naval Brigade	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Scots Fusiliers Guards	1854-09-2020 September 1854	Alma, Crimea
Template:Sortname	HMS Weser	1855-10-1111 October 1855	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Template:Sortname	HMS Ardent	1855-05-2929 May 1855	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Corps of Royal Engineers	1855-07-2121 July 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	04141st Regiment of Foot	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Grenadier Guards	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Naval Brigade	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Naval Brigade	1855-07-1515 July 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Welch Fusiliers	1855-09-088 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	03434th Regiment of Foot	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	01717th Regiment of Foot	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Coldstream Guards	1854-10-2626 October 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Coldstream Guards	1855-09-00September 1855<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Naval Brigade	1855-04-1010 April 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Welch Fusiliers	1855-09-088 September 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Regiment of Artillery	1855-06-066 June 1855	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Naval Brigade	1855-06-1818 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Regiment of Artillery	1855-09-2229 September 1855	Kars, Turkey
Template:Sortname	HMS Beagle	1855-07-033 July 1855	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Template:Sortname	03030th Regiment of Foot	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	04949th Regiment of Foot	1854-11-055 November 1854	Inkerman, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)	1854-10-1212 October 1854	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	Royal Marine Artillery	1855-06-077 June 1855	Sevastopol, Crimea
Template:Sortname	01717th Lancers	1854-10-2626 October 1854	Balaclava, Crimea
Template:Sortname	07777th Regiment of Foot	1855-03-2222 March 1855 19 April 1855<ref name=Gazette661/>	Sevastopol, Crimea

References

General

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Specific