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.
Background 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] 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] 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] 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.
Recipients 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 , RussiaJohn 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 , IndiaJohn 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 , FranceWilliam 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 , DenmarkAbraham Boulger 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 084 84th Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaGeorge Boyd-Rochfort 1915 First World War Scots Guards Cambrin , FranceJoseph Bradshaw 1855 Crimean War Rifle Brigade Woronzoff Road , Crimea William Bradshaw 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 090 90th Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaEdward 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 , IndiaBryan 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 , ChinaJames Byrne 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 086 86th Regiment Jhansi , IndiaJohn 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 , FranceDaniel Cambridge 1855 Crimean War Royal Artillery Sevastopol , Crimea Patrick Carlin 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 013 13th Regiment of Foot Azumgurh , IndiaGeoffrey Cather 1916* First World War Royal Irish Fusiliers Hamel , FranceAlexander 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 , BelgiumJohn 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 , TurkeyEdmund Costello 1897 Siege of Malakand 022 22nd Punjab Infantry Malakand , IndiaCornelius Coughlan 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Gordon Highlanders Delhi , IndiaGarrett 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 , FranceJohn Crimmin 1889 Karenni Expedition Bombay Medical Service Lwekaw , Burma John Cunningham 1917* First World War Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment Bois-en-Hache , FranceJohn Danaher 1881 First Boer War Nourse's Horse (Transvaal) Elandsfontein , South Africa Maurice Dease 1914* First World War Royal Fusiliers Mons , BelgiumDenis Dempsey 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 010 10th Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaBernard Diamond 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bengal Horse Artillery Bulandshahr , IndiaEdmund De Wind 1918* First World War Royal Ulster Rifles Groagie , FranceJohn Divane 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 060 60th Rifles Delhi , IndiaPatrick Donohoe 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 009 9th Queen's Royal Lancers Bulandshahr , IndiaJohn 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 , IndiaMartin Doyle 1918 First World War Royal Munster Fusiliers Reincourt , FranceJames Duffy 1917 First World War Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Kereina Peak , Palestine Thomas Duffy 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 102 102nd Madras Fusiliers Lucknow , IndiaJohn Dunlay 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 093 93rd Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaDenis Dynon 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 053 53rd Regiment of Foot Chota Behar , IndiaFrederick Edwards 1916 First World War Middlesex Regiment Thiepval , FranceJames Emerson 1917* First World War Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers La Vacquerie , FranceWilliam English 1901 Second Boer War The Scottish Horse Vlakfontein , South Africa Harold Ervine-Andrews 1940 Second World War East Lancashire Regiment Dunkirk , FranceEugene 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 , IndiaAndrew Fitzgibbon 1860 Second Opium War 067 67th Regiment of Foot Taku Forts , ChinaFrancis 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 , IndiaGeorge Forrest 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bengal Veteran Establishment Delhi , IndiaEdmund 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 , BelgiumStephen Garvin 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 060 60th Rifles Delhi , IndiaPeter Gill 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Loodiana Regiment Benares , IndiaHenry Gore-Browne 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 032 32nd Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaCharles Gough 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 5th Bengal European Light Cavalry Lucknow , IndiaHugh Gough 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 1st Bengal European Light Cavalry Lucknow , IndiaJohn 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 , IndiaPeter Grant 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 093 93rd Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaPatrick Green 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 075 75th Regiment of Foot Delhi , IndiaWilliam 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 , IndiaFrederick Hall 1915* First World War 008 8th (Winnipeg Rifles) Battalion Ypres , BelgiumWalter 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 , FranceJohn Harrison 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Naval Brigade Lucknow , IndiaReginald Hart 1879 Second Afghan War Royal Engineers Bazar Valley , Afghanistan Henry Hartigan 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 009 9th Queen's Royal Lancers Delhi , IndiaFrederick Harvey 1917 First World War Lord Strathcona's Horse Guyencourt , FranceRobert Hawthorne 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 052 52nd Regiment of Foot Delhi , IndiaSamuel Hill 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 090 90th Regiment Lucknow , IndiaJohn Holland 1916 First World War Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment Guillemont , FranceThomas Hughes 1916 First World War Connaught Rangers Guillemont , FranceCharles Irwin 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 053 53rd Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaJames Jackman 1941* Second World War Royal Northumberland Fusiliers Tobruk , Libya Edward Jennings 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bengal Artillery Lucknow , IndiaRobert 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 , IndiaRichard Keatinge 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bombay Artillery Chundairee , IndiaRichard Kelliher 1943 Second World War Australian Australian Imperial Force New Guinea , PacificHenry Kelly 1916 First World War Duke of Wellington's Regiment Le Sars , France[ 5] William Kenealy 1915 First World War Lancashire Fusiliers Gallipoli , TurkeyJames Kenny 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 53rd Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaWilliam Kenny 1914 First World War Gordon Highlanders Ypres , BelgiumWilliam Kenny 1920* Waziristan Campaign 039 39th Garhwal Rifles Kot Kai , IndiaGeorge Lambert 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 084 84th Regiment of Foot Oonao , IndiaThomas Lane 1860 Second Opium War 067 67th Regiment of Foot Taku Forts , ChinaThomas Laughnan 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bengal Artillery Lucknow , IndiaSamuel Lawrence 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 032 32nd Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaEdward 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 , NetherlandsCharles 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 , IndiaAmbrose 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 , IndiaWilliam Manley 1864 New Zealand Wars Royal Artillery Tauranga , New ZealandEdward 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 , FranceJohn McGovern 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 101 101st Regiment of Foot Delhi , IndiaJames McGuire 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 101 101st Regiment of Foot Delhi , IndiaPatrick McHale 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 005 5th Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaPeter McManus 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 005 5th Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaBernard McQuirt 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 095 95th Regiment of Foot Rowa , IndiaWilliam McWheeney 1854 Crimean War 044 44th Regiment of Foot Sevastopol , Crimea Martin Moffat 1918 First World War Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment Ledeghem , BelgiumArthur 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 , BelgiumJohn Moyney 1917 First World War Irish Guards Broembeek , BelgiumAndrew 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 ZealandPatrick Mylott 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 084 84th Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaMichael John O'Leary 1917 First World War Irish Guards Cuinchy , FranceWilliam Nash 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Rifle Brigade Lucknow , IndiaDavid Nelson 1914 First World War Royal Artillery Néry , FranceClaude Nunney 1918* First World War 038 38th Battalion, CEF Drocourt-Quéant Line , FranceGeorge 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 , FranceWilliam Olpherts 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bengal Artillery Lucknow , IndiaMartin O'Meara 1916 First World War 001 1st Division (Australia) Pozières , FranceMichael O'Rourke 1917 First World War 007 7th Battalion, CEF Hill 70 , FranceGerald O'Sullivan 1915 First World War Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Gallipoli , TurkeyEdmund 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 , IndiaDighton Probyn 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 002 2nd Punjab Cavalry Agra , IndiaJoseph 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 , IndiaRobert Quigg 1916 First World War Royal Ulster Rifles Hamel , FranceHamilton 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 , IndiaRichard Ridgeway 1879 Naga Hills Expedition Bengal Staff Corps Konoma , IndiaFrederick Roberts 1899* Second Boer War King's Royal Rifle Corps Colenso , South Africa Clement Robertson 1917* First World War Queen's Royal Regiment Zonnebeke , BelgiumPatrick Roddy 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Bengal Army Kuthirga , IndiaRobert Rogers 1860 Second Opium War 044 44th Regiment of Foot Taku Forts , ChinaGeorge Roupell 1915 First World War East Surrey Regiment Hill 60 , BelgiumJohn Ryan 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 102 102nd Madras Fusiliers Lucknow , IndiaJohn Ryan 1863 New Zealand Wars 065 65th Regiment of Foot Cameron Town , New ZealandMiles Ryan 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 101 101st Regiment of Foot Delhi , IndiaRobert Scott 1900 Second Boer War Manchester Regiment Natal , South Africa [ 12] John Sinnott 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 084 84th Regiment of Foot Lucknow , IndiaMichael Sleavon 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Royal Engineers Jhansi , IndiaFrederick Smith 1864 New Zealand Wars 043 43rd Regiment of Foot Tauranga , New ZealandPhilip Smith 1855 Crimean War 017 17th Regiment of Foot Sevastopol , Crimea James Somers 1915 First World War Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Gallipoli , TurkeyDudley Stagpoole 1863 New Zealand Wars 057 57th Regiment of Foot Poutoko , New ZealandJohn Sullivan 1855 Crimean War Naval Brigade Sevastopol , Crimea William Temple 1863 New Zealand Wars Royal Artillery Rangiriri , New ZealandJames Travers 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 002 2nd Bengal Native Infantry Indore , IndiaMark 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 , IndiaGeorge 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
See also
References ^ a b Christopher McCreery (2015). The Canadian Honours System 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 . ^ 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 parentageDoherty, 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
Bibliography Archives
