'FOR VALOUR': BRITAIN'S VICTORIA CROSS WINNERS

Since 1856, 1,351 British and colonial soldiers have won the right to wear the Victoria Cross, a medal awarded to those who ‘perform acts of conspicuous courage and bravery.’

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by Peter Harrington

Since 1856, 1,351 British and colonial soldiers have won the right to wear a medal in the shape of a small Maltese Cross, made of bronze taken from Russian guns captured at Sebastopol during the Crimean War. This decoration, hanging from a purple ribbon, is Britain’s highest award for gallantry and heroism in battle.

On the morning of 26th June, 1857, Queen Victoria presented the first 62 recipients with their medals in a ceremony held in Hyde Park. The Queen stated that the medal should be awarded to those who ‘perform acts of conspicuous courage and bravery’. One of the first recipients was a Crimean War veteran, Lieutenant Charles David Lucas. On 21st June, 1854, while serving on board H.M.S. Hecla during the campaign in the Baltic Sea, Lucas picked up a live Russian shell that had landed on the ship’s deck and threw it overboard where it exploded. Lucas became the first winner of the newly coveted award and proudly received it from his monarch’s own hands. While the Royal Warrant founding the Cross had not been issued until 29th January, 1856, it was awarded retroactively to a total of 112 recipients for their service in the Crimean War.

Other early recipients of the VC included Sergeant Richard Wadeson of the 75th Regiment of Foot, who received the honour less than one month after the Hyde Park ceremony for rescuing two privates who were about to be cut down by enemy cavalrymen during the Mutiny in India.

On 27th July, 1880, Sergeant Patrick Mullane of the Royal Horse Artillery performed a similar act of selflessness at the battle of Maiwand during the Second Afghanistan War. Mullane’s battery was withdrawing before the enemy when he saw a fellow soldier fall from his horse, mortally wounded. Mullane quickly ran back and dragged him to the gun limber where the man died almost immediately. Later on the same day, Mullane volunteered to fetch water for the wounded, and succeeded in doing so by going into one of the nearby villages where many of his comrades had already been killed.

Several of the heroic deeds deemed worthy of the VC during the 19th century were performed by pipers who inspired their comrades in the heat of battle. Piper Findlater of the Gordon Highlanders, though wounded in both legs, continued playing his instrument at Dargai during fighting on the north-west frontier of India in 1897. Piper James Richardson of the 13th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force, also won the VC for his actions on the Western Front. His Victoria Cross citation reads:

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, prior to attack, he obtained permission from his Commanding Officer to play his company ‘over the top’. As the company approached the objective, it was held up by very strong wire and came under intense fire, which caused heavy casualties and demoralised the formation for the moment. Realising the situation, Piper Richardson strode up and down outside the wire playing his pipes with the greatest coolness. The effect was instantaneous. Inspired by his splendid example, the company rushed the wire with such fury and determination that the obstacle was overcome and the position captured. Later, after participating in bombing operations, he was detailed to take back a wounded comrade and prisoners. After proceeding about 200 yards Piper Richardson remembered that he had left his pipes behind. Although strongly urged not to do so, he insisted on returning to recover his pipes. He has never been seen since, and death has been presumed accordingly owing to lapse of time.

Originally, the medal was bestowed only upon survivors, but many of the recipients from the First World War onwards died in the act of winning the VC. King Edward VII first approved the idea of awarding the medal posthumously, as well as to survivors, in 1902. The King presented two of the earliest posthumous awards in 1907 to the families of Lieutenants Teignmouth Melvill and Nevill Coghill of the 24th Foot, who were both killed attempting to save the Queen’s Colour at the tragic battle of Isandhlwana on 22nd January, 1879 at the outset of the Zulu War.

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