List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Royal Navy

The Victoria Cross in its pre-1918 Naval form, with a blue ribbon

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a naval and 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. It takes precedence over all other postnominals and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. It is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour not "in the face of the enemy."[1] The VC has been awarded on 1356 occasions to 1353 individual recipients.

The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. The traditional explanation of the source of the gunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russian cannon captured at the siege of Sevastopol. Recent research has thrown doubt on this story, suggesting a variety of origins.[2] The original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously. Between 1897 and 1901, several notices were issued in the London Gazette regarding soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, six of the soldiers mentioned were granted the VC, but not "officially" awarded the medal. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six officers and men.[3] The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to explicitly allow posthumous awards until 1920 but one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous.[4][5]

Within this list, the date of action listed is the year in which the action took place for which the VC was awarded. The most naval Victoria Crosses awarded in a single conflict were for the First World War, followed by the Second World War and then the Crimean War. There have been a total of 117 recipients of the Victoria Cross who served with the Royal Navy. Sixty-eight awards were to ship-based Royal Navy personnel, with 49 given to those who served with other organisations within the British naval service, such as the Royal Naval Brigade and the Royal Marines. The Royal Marines have received 10 Victoria Crosses, the Royal Naval Reserve and Volunteer Reserve being awarded 22 VCs. Richard Bell-Davies of the Royal Naval Air Service also received an award. Note: this list does not include naval awards of the VC to persons serving in navies other than the British, i.e. Lieut. R.H. ("Hammy") Gray, VC, DSC, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Recipients

  This along with the * indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously

NameVesselDate of actionConflictPlace of actionNotes
Hunter, ThomasThomas Hunter43 Commando1945*Second World WarComacchio, Italy
Esmonde, EugeneEugene EsmondeFleet Air Arm
No. 825 Squadron
1942*Second World WarStraits of Dover, England
Harding, IsraelIsrael HardingHMS Alexandria1882Occupation of EgyptAlexandria, Egypt
Robarts, JohnJohn RobartsHMS Ardent1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Bythesea, JohnJohn BytheseaHMS Arrogant1854Crimean WarÅland Islands, Finland
Ingouville, GeorgeGeorge IngouvilleHMS Arrogant1855Crimean WarFort of Viborg, Finland
Johnstone, WilliamWilliam JohnstoneHMS Arrogant1854Crimean WarÅland Islands, Finland
Holbrook, NormanNorman HolbrookHMS B111914First World WarDardanelles, Turkey
Hewett, WilliamWilliam HewettHMS Beagle1854Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Trewavas, JosephJoseph TrewavasHMS Beagle1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Sandford, RichardRichard SandfordHMS C31918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Carless, JohnJohn CarlessHMS Caledon1917*First World WarBattle of Heligoland, Germany
Beattie, StephenStephen BeattieHMS Campbeltown1942Second World WarSt. Nazaire, France
Ryder, RobertRobert RyderHMS Campbeltown1942Second World WarSt. Nazaire, France
Cornwell, JackJack CornwellHMS Chester1916*First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark
Agar, AugustusAugustus AgarHM Coastal Motor Boat 41919Baltic CampaignKronstadt, Russia
Dobson, ClaudeClaude DobsonHM Coastal Motor Boat 311919Baltic CampaignKronstadt, Russia
Steele, GordonGordon SteeleHM Coastal Motor Boat 881919Baltic CampaignKronstadt, Russia
Cookson, EdgarEdgar CooksonHMS Comet1915*First World WarKut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Sephton, AlfredAlfred SephtonHMS Coventry1941*Second World WarCrete, Mediterranean
Daniel, EdwardEdward DanielHMS Diamond1854Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea[6]
Pitcher, ErnestErnest PitcherHMS Dunraven1917First World WarBay of Biscay, Atlantic[7]
Dunbar-Nasmith, MartinMartin Dunbar-NasmithHMS E111915First World WarDardanelles, Turkey
Boyle, EdwardEdward BoyleHMS E141915First World WarDardanelles, Turkey
White, GeoffreyGeoffrey WhiteHMS E141918*First World WarDardanelles, Turkey
Boyes, DuncanDuncan BoyesHMS Euryalus1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiShimonoseki, Japan
Pride, ThomasThomas PrideHMS Euryalus1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiShimonoseki, Japan
Seeley, WilliamWilliam SeeleyHMS Euryalus1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiShimonoseki, Japan[8]
Campbell, GordonGordon CampbellHMS Farnborough1917First World WarAtlantic Ocean
Mantle, JackJack MantleHMS Foylebank1940*Second World WarPortland, England[9]
Roope, GeraldGerald RoopeHMS Glowworm1940*Second World WarWest Ford, Norway[10]
Ritchie, HenryHenry RitchieHMS Goliath1914First World WarDar es Salaam, Tanganyika
Warburton-Lee, BernardBernard Warburton-LeeHMS Hardy1940*Second World WarNarvik, Norway
Mitchell, SamuelSamuel MitchellHMS Harrier1864New Zealand Land WarsTe Papa, New Zealand
Maillard, WilliamWilliam MaillardHMS Hazard1898Occupation of CreteCrete, Greece
Lucas, CharlesCharles LucasHMS Hecla1854Crimean WarÅland Islands, Finland
Wilson, ArthurArthur WilsonHMS Hecla1884Mahdist WarBattles of El Teb, Sudan
Bradford, GeorgeGeorge BradfordHMS Iris II1918*First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Fegen, EdwardEdward FegenHMS Jervis Bay1940*Second World WarAtlantic Ocean
Firman, HumphreyHumphrey FirmanSS Julnar1916*First World WarKut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Buckley, CecilCecil BuckleyHMS Miranda1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Cooper, HenryHenry CooperHMS Miranda1855Crimean WarTaganrog, Crimea
Savage, WilliamWilliam SavageHM Motor Gun Boat 3141942*Second World WarSt. Nazaire, France
Bingham, EdwardEdward BinghamHMS Nestor1916First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark
Odgers, WilliamWilliam OdgersHMS Niger1860New Zealand Land WarsOmata, New Zealand
Sherbrooke, RobertRobert SherbrookeHMS Onslow1942Second World WarNorth Cape, Norway
Day, GeorgeGeorge DayHMS Recruit1855Crimean WarGenitichi, Crimea
Malleson, WilfredWilfred MallesonSS River Clyde1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Unwin, EdwardEdward UnwinSS River Clyde1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Williams, WilliamWilliam WilliamsSS River Clyde1915*First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Hall, WilliamWilliam HallHMS Shannon/Naval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
Hinckley, GeorgeGeorge HinckleyHMS Sphinx1862Taiping RebellionFung Wha, China
Jones, LoftusLoftus JonesHMS Shark1916*First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark
Burgoyne, HughHugh BurgoyneHMS Swallow1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Gould, ThomasThomas GouldHMS Thrasher1942Second World WarCrete, Mediterranean
Roberts, PeterPeter RobertsHMS Thrasher1942Second World WarCrete, Mediterranean
Miers, AnthonyAnthony MiersHMS Torbay1942Second World WarCorfu, Greece
Linton, JohnJohn LintonHMS Turbulent1943*Second World WarMediterranean
Wanklyn, MalcolmMalcolm WanklynHMS Upholder1941*Second World WarSicily, Mediterranean
Robinson, EricEric RobinsonHMS Vengeance1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Carpenter, AlfredAlfred CarpenterHMS Vindictive1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Crutchley, VictorVictor CrutchleyHMS Vindictive1918First World WarOstend, Belgium
Harrison, ArthurArthur HarrisonHMS Vindictive1918*First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
McKenzie, AlbertAlbert McKenzieHMS Vindictive1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Peters, FrederickFrederick PetersHMS Walney1942Second World WarOran, Algeria
Commerell, JohnJohn CommerellHMS Weser1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Rickard, WilliamWilliam RickardHMS Weser1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Kellaway, JosephJoseph KellawayHMS Wrangler1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea
Magennis, JamesJames MagennisHMS XE31945Second World WarJohore Straits, Singapore
Place, BasilBasil PlaceHMS X71943Second World WarKåfjord, Norway
Curtis, HenryHenry CurtisNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Gorman, JamesJames GormanNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, Crimea
Guy, BasilBasil GuyNaval Brigade1900Boxer RebellionTientsin, China
Harrison, JohnJohn HarrisonNaval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
Peel, WilliamWilliam PeelNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Raby, HenryHenry RabyNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Reeves, ThomasThomas ReevesNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, Crimea
Robinson, EdwardEdward RobinsonNaval Brigade1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
Salmon, NowellNowell SalmonNaval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
Scholefield, MarkMark ScholefieldNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, Crimea
Sheppard, JohnJohn SheppardNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Sullivan, JohnJohn SullivanNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Taylor, JohnJohn TaylorNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Young, ThomasThomas YoungNaval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India
Bell-Davies, RichardRichard Bell-DaviesNo. 3 Squadron
Royal Naval Air Service
1915First World WarFerrijik Junction, Bulgaria
Warneford, ReginaldReginald WarnefordNo. 1 Squadron
Royal Naval Air Service
1915First World WarGhent, Belgium
Dowell, GeorgeGeorge DowellRoyal Marine Artillery1855Crimean WarFort of Viborg, Gulf of Finland
Finch, NormanNorman FinchRoyal Marine Artillery1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Lumsden, FrederickFrederick LumsdenRoyal Marine Artillery1917First World WarFrancilly, France
Wilkinson, ThomasThomas WilkinsonRoyal Marine Artillery1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Bamford, EdwardEdward BamfordRoyal Marine Light Infantry1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Halliday, LewisLewis HallidayRoyal Marine Light Infantry1900Boxer RebellionPeking, China
Harvey, FrancisFrancis HarveyRoyal Marine Light Infantry1916*First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark
Parker, WalterWalter ParkerRoyal Marine Light Infantry1915First World WarGaba Tepe, Gallipoli, Turkey
Prettyjohns, JohnJohn PrettyjohnsRoyal Marine Light Infantry1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, Crimea
Beak, DanielDaniel BeakRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarLogeast Wood, France
Louis, RowlandRowland LouisRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarOstend, Belgium
Cowley, CharlesCharles CowleyRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1916*First World WarKut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Dean, PercyPercy DeanRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarZeebrugge, Belgium
Drummond, GeoffreyGeoffrey DrummondRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarOstend, Belgium
Prowse, GeorgeGeorge ProwseRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarPronville, France
Tisdall, ArthurArthur TisdallRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Auten, HaroldHarold AutenRoyal Naval Reserve1918First World WarEnglish Channel, England
Bonner, CharlesCharles BonnerRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarBay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean
Cameron, DonaldDonald CameronRoyal Naval Reserve1943Second World WarKåfjord, Norway
Crisp, ThomasThomas CrispRoyal Naval Reserve1917*First World WarNorth Sea
Drewry, GeorgeGeorge DrewryRoyal Naval Reserve1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Fraser, IanIan FraserRoyal Naval Reserve1945Second World WarJohore Straits, Singapore
Parslow, FrederickFrederick ParslowRoyal Naval Reserve1915*First World WarAtlantic Ocean
Samson, GeorgeGeorge SamsonRoyal Naval Reserve1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Sanders, WilliamWilliam SandersRoyal Naval Reserve1917*First World WarAtlantic Ocean
Smith, ArchibaldArchibald SmithRoyal Naval Reserve1917*First World WarAtlantic Ocean
Stannard, RichardRichard StannardRoyal Naval Reserve1940Second World WarNamsos, Norway
Stuart, RonaldRonald StuartRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarAtlantic Ocean
Watt, JosephJoseph WattRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarStrait of Otranto, Italy
Wilkinson, ThomasThomas WilkinsonRoyal Naval Reserve1942*Second World WarJava Sea, Malaya
Williams, WilliamWilliam WilliamsRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarAtlantic Ocean

Notes

  1. "The world's most exclusive club". Ministry of Defence. 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  2. Davies, Catronia (2005-12-28). "Author explodes myth of the gunmetal VC". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 27986. p. 325. 15 January 1907. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  4. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.6890
  5. The London Gazette: no. 31946. p. 6702. 18 June 1920. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  6. VC forfeited for desertion in 1861. "Edward St John DANIEL VC". Michael Daniels pHd. 2001-06-01. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  7. VC awarded by ballot. Ashcroft, Michael, pp.224227
  8. First American recipient. Ricketts, Bruce. "American Victoria Cross recipients". Mysteries of Canada. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  9. Only naval VC awarded for action on British mainland. "Jack Mantle VC". victoriacross.org. 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
  10. Only person to be nominated by enemy. "Foylebank". Heritage Coast. Retrieved 2008-03-07.

References

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