List of cavalry recipients of the Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration that may be bestowed upon members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces for acts of valour or gallantry performed in the face of the enemy. Within the British honours system and those of many Commonwealth nations it is the highest award a soldier can receive for actions in combat. It was established in 1856 and since then has been awarded 1,356 times, including three service personnel who were awarded the VC twice.[1]

The Victoria Cross

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]

Due to its rarity, the VC is highly prized and the medal has fetched over £400,000 at auction.[6] A number of public and private collections are devoted to the Victoria Cross. The private collection of Lord Ashcroft, amassed since 1986, contains over one-tenth of all VCs awarded. Following a 2008 donation to the Imperial War Museum, the Ashcroft collection went on public display alongside the museum's Victoria and George Cross collection in November 2010.[7] Since 1990, three Commonwealth countries that retain the Queen as head of state have instituted their own versions of the VC. As a result, the original Victoria Cross is sometimes referred to as the "Commonwealth Victoria Cross" or the "Imperial Victoria Cross", to distinguish it from the newer awards.[8][9]

The first awards to cavalrymen were the nine awarded during the Crimean War, the first seven in the Charge of the Light Brigade 25 October 1854. The largest number for any one campaign was the twenty-nine awarded during the Indian Mutiny (also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857), twelve of those to one regiment, the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers. All together ninety-two awards have been made to cavalrymen, the last on 23 September 1918 in the final days of the First World War.

Cavalry recipients
NameRegimentDateConflictLocation
Herman AlbrechtImperial Light Horse6 January 1900Second Boer WarLadysmith[10]
Charles Anderson2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)8 October 1858Indian MutinySundeela Oudh[11]
William Bankes7th (The Queen's Own) Light Dragoons19 March 1858Indian MutinyLucknow[12]
William Beresford9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers3 July 1879Anglo-Zulu WarWhite Umfolozi River[13]
John Berryman17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers25 October 1854Crimean WarBalaclava[14]
James Blair2nd Bombay Light Cavalry12 August 1857
23 October 1857		Indian MutinyNeemuch
Jeerum[15]
Robert Blair2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)28 September 1857Indian MutinyBolandshahr[16]
Edward Brown14th (King's) Hussars13 October 1900Second Boer WarGeluk[17]
Sam Browne2nd Punjab Irregular Cavalry31 August 1858Indian MutinySeerporah[18]
Thomas Byrne21st (Empress of India's) Lancers2 September 1898Mahdist WarOmdurman[19]
Adrian Carton de Wiart4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards 2–3 July 1916First World WarLa Boiselle[20]
James Champion8th (The King's Royal Irish) Light Dragoons8 September 1858Indian MutinyBeejapore[21]
George Clare5th (Royal Irish) Lancers28–29 November 1917First World WarBourlon Wood[22]
John ClementsRimington's Guides24 February 1901Second Boer WarStrijdenburg[23]
Hampden CockburnRoyal Canadian Dragoons7 November 1900Second Boer WarKomati River[24]
Harry Crandon18th Hussars4 July 1901Second Boer WarSpringbok Laagte[25]
Thomas CreanImperial Light Horse18 December 1901Second Boer WarTygerkloof Spruit[26]
John DanaherNourse's Horse (Transvaal)16 January 1881First Boer WarElandsfontein[27]
Henry D'ArcyFrontier Light Horse3 July 1879Anglo-Zulu WarWhite Umfolozi River[28]
Patrick Donohoe9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers28 September 1857Indian MutinyBolandshahr[29]
John Doogan1st (King's) Dragoon Guards28 January 1881First Boer WarLaing's Nek[27]
Alexis DoxatImperial Yeomanry20 October 1900Second Boer WarZeerust[17]
Frederic Dugdale5th (Royal Irish) Lancers3 March 1901Second Boer WarDerby[30]
Alexander Dunn11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars25 October 1854Crimean WarBalaclava[14]
John Dunville1st (Royal) Dragoons24–25 June 1917First World WarEpehy[31]
Henry Engleheart10th (The Prince of Wales's Own) Royal Hussars13 March 1900Second Boer WarBloemfontein[32]
William EnglishScottish Horse3 July 1901Second Boer WarVlakfontein[33]
John Farrell17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers25 October 1854Crimean WarBalaclava[34]
Gordon FlowerdewLord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)31 March 1918First World WarBois de Moreuil[35]
Charles Fraser7th (The Queen's Own) Light Dragoons31 December 1858Indian MutinyRiver Raptee[36]
John Freeman9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers10 October 1857Indian MutinyAgra[29]
Charles Garforth15th (The King's) Hussars23 August 1914First World WarHarmingnies[37]
Francis Grenfell9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers24 August 1914First World WarAudregnies[37]
John Grieve2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)25 October 1854Crimean WarBalaclava[14]
William Goat9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers6 March 1858Indian MutinyLucknow[38]
Charles Gough5th Bengal European Cavalry15 August 1857,
18 August 1857,
27 January 1858,
3 February 1858		Indian MutinyKhurkowdah
Not known
Shumshabad
Meangunge[39]
Hugh Gough1st Bengal European Light Cavalry12 November 1857,
25 February 1858		Indian MutinyAlumbagh
Jellalabad[40]
Walter HamiltonGuides Cavalry2 April 1879Second Afghan WarFuttehabad[41]
Thomas Hancock9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers19 June 1857Indian MutinyDelhi[42]
Henry Hartigan9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers8 June 1857
10 October 1857		Indian MutinyDelhi
Agra[43]
Frederick HarveyLord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)27 March 1917First World WarGuyencourt[44]
Herbert HendersonRhodesia Horse30 March 1896Second Matabele WarBulawayo[45]
Clement Heneage8th (The King's Royal Irish) Light Dragoons17 June 1858Indian MutinyGwalior[46]
Edward HollandRoyal Canadian Dragoons7 November 1900Second Boer WarKomati River[24]
George Hollis8th (The King's Royal Irish) Light Dragoons17 June 1858Indian MutinyGwalior[46]
Charles Hull21st (Empress of India's) Lancers5 September 1915First World WarHafiz Kor[47]
Robert JohnstonImperial Light Horse21 October 1899Second Boer WarElandslaagte[48]
Alfred Jones9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers8 June 1857Indian MutinyDelhi[16]
Robert Kells9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers28 September 1857Indian MutinyBolandshahr[29]
Paul Kenna21st (Empress of India's) Lancers2 September 1898Mahdist WarOmdurman[19]
Alexander Lafone1st County of London Yeomanry27 October 1917First World WarEl Buggar Ridge[49]
Brian Lawrence17th (The Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers7 August 1900Second Boer WarEssenbosch Farm[17]
James Leith14th Light Dragoons1 April 1858Indian MutinyBetwa[29]
John Malcolmson3rd Bombay Light Cavalry8 February 1857Anglo-Persian WarKhoosh-ab
Joseph Malone13th Light Dragoons25 October 1854Crimean WarBalaclava[50]
William Marshall19th (Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own) Hussars29 February 1884Mahdist WarEl Teb[51]
Francis MaxwellRobert's Light Horse31 March 1900Second Boer WarKorn Spruit[52]
John Milbanke10th (The Prince of Wales's Own) Royal Hussars5 January 1900Second Boer WarColesberg[53]
Thomas Monaghan2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)8 October 1858Indian MutinyJamo[11]
Raymond de Montmorency21st (Empress of India's) Lancers2 September 1898Mahdist WarOmdurman[19]
Arthur Moore3rd Bombay Light Cavalry8 February 1857Anglo-Persian WarKhoosh-ab[54]
James Mouat6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons26 October 1854Crimean WarBalaclava[55]
Charles MullinsImperial Light Horse21 October 1899Second Boer WarElandslaagte[48]
Alexander Murray16th (The Queen's) Lancers17 August 1897Tirah CampaignNawa Kili[56]
Robert Newell9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers19 March 1858Indian MutinyLucknow[38]
John Norwood5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Dragoon Guards30 October 1899Second Boer WarLadysmith[57]
Edmund O'TooleFrontier Light Horse3 July 1879Anglo-Zulu WarWhite Umfolozi River[28]
Samuel Parkes4th Light Dragoons25 October 1854Crimean WarBalaclava[14]
Frank de Pass34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse24 November 1914First World WarFestubert[58]
John Pearson8th (The King's Royal Irish) Light Dragoons17 June 1858Indian MutinyGwalior[46]
Frederick PottsBerkshire Yeomanry21 August 1915First World WarGallipoli[59]
Dighton Probyn2nd Punjab Cavalry1857 to 1858Indian MutinyAgra[16]
John Purcell9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers19 June 1857Indian MutinyDelhi[42]
Henry Ramage2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)25 October 1854Crimean WarBalaclava[55]
Arthur RichardsonLord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)5 July 1900Second Boer WarWolwespruit[60]
James Roberts9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers28 September 1857Indian MutinyBolandshahr[29]
David Rushe9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers19 March 1858Indian MutinyLucknow[38]
Reginald Sartorius6th Bengal Cavalry17 January 1874Third Ashanti WarAbogu[61]
Badlu Singh14th Murray's Jat Lancers23 September 1918First World WarRiver Jordan[62]
Gobind Singh28th Light Cavalry30 November 1917
1 December 1917		First World WarPezières[63][64]
Nevill Smyth2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)2 September 1898Mahdist WarOmdurman[19]
David Spence9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers17 January 1858Indian MutinyShunsabad[38]
Harcus StrachanFort Garry Horse20 November 1917First World WarMasnieres[49]
Richard TurnerRoyal Canadian Dragoons7 November 1900Second Boer WarKomati River[24]
William Vousden5th Punjab Cavalry14 December 1879Second Afghan WarAsmai Heights[65]
Joseph Ward8th (The King's Royal Irish) Light Dragoons17 June 1858Indian MutinyGwalior[46]
John Watson1st Punjab Cavalry14 November 1857Indian MutinyLucknow[16]
George Wheeler7th Hariana Lancers12–13 April 1915First World WarShaiba[66]
Richard WestNorth Irish Horse2 September 1918First World WarCourcelles-le-Comte[67]
Frederick Whirlpool1st Punjab Cavalry3 April 1858,
2 May 1858		Indian MutinyJhansi
Lohari[68]
Evelyn Wood17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers19 October 1858Indian MutinySinwaho[69]
Charles Wooden17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers26 October 1854Crimean WarBalaclava[70]

References
  1. "Victoria Cross: The Premier Award for Gallantry". Ministry of Defence (UK). Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  2. Davies, Catronia (28 December 2005). "Author explodes myth of the gunmetal VC". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  3. "No. 27986". The London Gazette. 15 January 1907. p. 325.
  4. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
  5. "No. 31946". The London Gazette. 18 June 1920. p. 6702.
  6. "The Victoria Cross ... awarded to Captain Alfred Shout have been sold at auction". Iain Stewart, Victoria Cross.org. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  7. "Press Release: The Lord Ashcroft Gallery, Extraordinary Heroes". Imperial War Museum. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  8. "Pro Valore: Canada's Victoria Cross" (PDF). National Defence; Government of Canada. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  9. "Victoria Cross for Australia" (PDF). Australian Government. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  10. "No. 27462". The London Gazette. 8 August 1902. p. 5085.
  11. "No. 22680". The London Gazette. 11 November 1862. p. 5346.
  12. "No. 22212". The London Gazette. 24 December 1858. p. 5519.
  13. "No. 24760". The London Gazette. 9 September 1879. p. 5395.
  14. "The First Investiture of the Victoria Cross". Victoria Cross. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  15. "No. 22601". The London Gazette. 25 February 1862. p. 956.
  16. "No. 22154". The London Gazette. 18 June 1858. p. 2960.
  17. "No. 27266". The London Gazette. 15 January 1901. p. 308.
  18. "No. 22485". The London Gazette. 1 March 1861. p. 1007.
  19. "No. 27023". The London Gazette. 15 November 1898. p. 6688.
  20. "No. 30375". The London Gazette. 9 November 1917. p. 11639.
  21. "No. 22347". The London Gazette. 20 January 1860. p. 178.
  22. "George Clare". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  23. "No. 27320". The London Gazette. 4 June 1901. p. 3769.
  24. "No. 27307". The London Gazette. 23 April 1901. p. 2775.
  25. "No. 27366". The London Gazette. 18 October 1901. p. 6779.
  26. "No. 27405". The London Gazette. 11 February 1902. p. 843.
  27. "No. 25084". The London Gazette. 14 March 1882. p. 1130.
  28. "No. 24769". The London Gazette. 10 October 1879. p. 5830.
  29. "No. 22212". The London Gazette. 24 December 1858. p. 5517.
  30. "No. 27356". The London Gazette. 17 September 1901. p. 6101.
  31. "No. 30215". The London Gazette. 31 July 1917. p. 7906.
  32. "No. 27235". The London Gazette. 5 October 1900. p. 6126.
  33. "No. 27362". The London Gazette. 4 October 1901. p. 6481.
  34. "No. 22065". The London Gazette. 20 November 1857. p. 3920.
  35. "Charge of Flowerdew's Squadron". Canadian War Museum. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  36. "No. 22445". The London Gazette. 8 November 1860. p. 4126.
  37. "No. 28976". The London Gazette. 13 November 1914. pp. 9373–9374.
  38. "No. 22212". The London Gazette. 24 December 1858. p. 5512.
  39. "No. 22318". The London Gazette. 21 October 1859. p. 3792.
  40. "No. 22212". The London Gazette. 24 December 1858. p. 5516.
  41. "No. 24768". The London Gazette. 7 October 1879. p. 5777.
  42. "No. 22083". The London Gazette. 15 January 1858. p. 178.
  43. "No. 22396". The London Gazette. 19 June 1860. p. 2316.
  44. Gallagher, Brenden (12 July 2006). "Heroes in battle and on the field of play". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  45. "The History of Rhodesian Honours and Awards". The Rhodesian Forces. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
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  47. "21st Lancers (Empress of India's)". National Army Museum. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  48. "No. 27283". The London Gazette. 12 February 1901. p. 1059.
  49. "No. 30433". The London Gazette. 14 December 1917. p. 13222.
  50. "No. 22043". The London Gazette. 25 September 1857. p. 3194.
  51. "William Thomas Marshall VC". The Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Victoria Cross Committee. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  52. "No. 27292". The London Gazette. 8 March 1901. p. 1649.
  53. "No. 27208". The London Gazette. 6 July 1900. p. 4196.
  54. "The Victoria Cross awarded to Lieutenant Arthur Moore". Victoria Cross. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  55. "No. 22149". The London Gazette. 4 June 1858. p. 2756.
  56. "No. 26908". The London Gazette. 9 November 1897. p. 6143.
  57. "No. 27212". The London Gazette. 20 July 1900. p. 4509.
  58. "No. 29074". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 February 1916. p. 1700.
  59. "No. 29312". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 1915. p. 9642.
  60. "No. 27229". The London Gazette. 14 September 1900. p. 5688.
  61. "No. 24145". The London Gazette. 27 October 1874. p. 5113.
  62. "No. 31034". The London Gazette. 27 November 1918. p. 14040.
  63. "SIXTH SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the 8th of JANUARY, 1918". The London Gazette (30471): 725. 11 January 1918.
  64. "Jemadar Gobind Singh". National Army Museum. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  65. "No. 25027". The London Gazette. 18 October 1881. p. 5140.
  66. "No. 29281". The London Gazette. 31 August 1915. p. 8699.
  67. "No. 30982". The London Gazette. 29 October 1918. p. 12801.
  68. "No. 22318". The London Gazette. 21 October 1859. p. 3793.
  69. "No. 22419". The London Gazette. 4 September 1860. p. 3257.
  70. "No. 22194". The London Gazette. 26 October 1858. p. 4575.
  • Crook, M.J. (1975). The Evolution of the Victoria Cross. Midas Books. ISBN 0-85936-041-5.
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