The
highest British Award for conspicuous bravery or devotion to Country
and duty in the face of the enemy.
The VCs are made from bronze. The metal comes from melted
down breeches of guns captured from the Russians at Sebastopol
in the
Crimea. The rough cast Crosses are then individually hand
finished; each is therefore unique.
The remaining ingot of
bronze, believed to be sufficient for a further 80
Crosses, is held by the Ministry of Defence.
Victoria Cross Recipients
Page One...
 Lieutenant H S Cochrane (28 years)
86th(Royal County Down)Regiment 1st April 1858
Jansi India
On 1st April 1858 near Jhansi, India, when No. 1
company of the regiment was ordered to take a gun, Lieutenant Cochrane
dashed forward at a gallop under heavy musketry and artillery fire,
drove the enem
from the gun and kept possession of it until the
company came up. He also showed conspicuous gallantry
in attacking the
rear guard of the enemy when he had three horses in succession shot
under him.
Later acheived the rank of Colonel
Captain
H E Jerome (28 years)
86th(Royal
County Down)Regiment 3rd April 1858
Jansi India
On 3rd April 1858 at
Jhansi, India, Captain Jerome, with the assistance of a private (BYRNE,
James)
removed under very heavy fire a Lieutenant of the regiment who
was severely wounded, at a very
exposed point of the attack upon the
Fort. He also displayed great gallantry at the capture of the Fort of
Chandairee, the storming of Jhansi and in action with a superior rebel
force at Jumna on 28th May, when he
was severely wounded.
Later acheived the rank of
Major General
 Private James Byrne (36 years)
86th(Royal County Down)Regiment 3rd April 1858
Jansi India
On 3rd
April 1858 at Jhansi, India, Private Byrne assisted a captain of his
regiment (JEROME, H.E.) in removing,
under very heavy fire, a
lieutenant who was severely wounded. They took the injured man to a
place of safety, in the performance of this act Private Byrne was
wounded.
Later acheived the rank of Sergeant
 Private
James Pearson (35 years)
86th(Royal County Down)Regiment 3rd April 1858
Jansi India
On 3rd April 1858 at
Jhansi, India, Private Pearson attacked a number of rebels, one of whom
he killed and then bayoneted two others. He was himself wounded in the
attack. He also brought into Calpee, under heavy fire, a private who
afterwards died of his wounds
Later acheived the rank of Sergeant
 Private
Robert Morrow (23 years)
1st
Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers 12th April 1915 Messines
Belgium
On 12 April 1915 near
Messines, Belgium, Private Morrow rescued and carried to places of
comparative safety several men who had been buried in the debris of
trenches wrecked by shell fire. He carried out
this work on his own
initiative and under heavy fire from the enemy.
Killed In action, St. Jan, Ypres Salient, Belgium - 26 Apr 1915
 Captain G R O'Sullivan (26 years)
1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd July 1915
Gallipoli
On 2nd July 1915 south-west
of Krithia, Gallipoli, Turkey, Captain O'Sullivan volunteered to lead a
party
of bomb throwers to recapture a vital trench. He advanced in the
open under very heavy fire and in order
to throw his bombs with greater
effect, got up on the parapet, completely exposed to the enemy
occupying the position. He was finally wounded, but his example led his
men to make further efforts
which resulted in the recapture of the
trench. Previously, on 18/19 June he had saved a critical situation
by
his gallantry and leadership.
Killed in action, Suvla, Gallipoli, Turkey - 21 Aug
1915
 Sergeant James Somers (31 years)
1st Bn
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 2nd July 1915 Gallipoli
On 2nd July 1915, in
Gallipoli, Turkey, when, owing to hostile bombing, some of our troops
had retired from a sap, Sergeant Somers remained alone there until a
party brought up bombs. He then climbed over into the Turkish trench
and bombed the Turks with great effect. Later on, he advanced into the
open
under heavy fire and held back the enemy by throwing bombs into
their flank until a barricade had been established. During this period,
he frequently ran to and from our trenches to obtain fresh supplies of
bombs.
Returned to
Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, where he died of his wounds, and where
he is buried.
 Captain E N F Bell (20 years)
1st Bn
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st July 1916 Thiepval
(Somme) France
On 1 July 1916, at
Thiepval, France, when our frontline was checked by enfilading
machine-gun fire, Captain Bell crept forward and shot the
machine-gunner. Later, on no less than three occasions, when our
bombing parties were unable
to advance, he went forward alone and threw
trench mortar bombs among the enemy. When he had no more bombs
available, he stood on the parapet, under intense fire, and used a
rifle with great coolness
and effect on the enemy advancing to
counter-attack. Finally, he was killed
rallying and reorganising
infantry parties which had lost their officers.
Killed in the above action
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