Victoria Cross medal - what battles was it awarded
Discussion
OK now lets see how many of us are related to anyone awarded the VC.
I am related to Teignmouth Melvill
www.victoriacross.net/award.asp?vc=858
I am related to Teignmouth Melvill
www.victoriacross.net/award.asp?vc=858
clapham993 said:
Gen peter de la Billiere has just written a good book on this but, basically, it has been open for award in all conflicts since 1857. Awards were certainly made during the Korean war but none since the Falklands
Although a George Cross was awarded in Iraq. Same value medal, but awarded to non-combatants. I.e. not in the face of the enemy. Civilians and armed forces can both be awarded this medal.
>> Edited by mrmaggit on Monday 14th February 13:26
If you ever get a chance to watch the Jeremy Clarkson programme on this subject, it's excellent. Personally I'm a huge fan of JC anyway, but perfectly understand those who cannot stand him. That said, I have heard members of the 'hate' camp say how well he presented (and I think researched) the show.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Moore_Lascelles
Won his award in 1917 but was killed 4 days before the the end of WWI. Sad.
Won his award in 1917 but was killed 4 days before the the end of WWI. Sad.
After doing a bit of research a short while ago, I discovered that of the 1,354 VCs that have ever been issued, 190 were awarded to Irishmen. This represents over 12% of all VC recipients. The only country with a higher total is (naturally) England with 614. For the record, Scotland has 158, Wales 25,Australia 97, Canada 90, New Zealand 24 and the remaining scattered mostly amongst other Commonwealth countries. Amazingly, one VC was received by a German!
In fact, in doing a little bit of "Googling" about Irish VCs, I discovered that David "Lummy" Lord, who won a posthumous VC at Arnhem in 1944, was born in Co. Cork. Although I'd known about Lord's VC for many years, I never realised he was Irish!
He was given a VC when the C-47 Dakota he was flying was set on fire by AA fire but he kept flying the plane ensuring that vital supplies were dropped to the troops below until it was too late to bale out. The incident is depicted (although not referred to directly) in the film "A Bridge Too Far".
I am really amazed about this discovery. The Irish are terrible in that they have never properly acknowledged the contribution made by Irishmen in the great military campaigns of the 19th and 20th centuries.
He was given a VC when the C-47 Dakota he was flying was set on fire by AA fire but he kept flying the plane ensuring that vital supplies were dropped to the troops below until it was too late to bale out. The incident is depicted (although not referred to directly) in the film "A Bridge Too Far".
I am really amazed about this discovery. The Irish are terrible in that they have never properly acknowledged the contribution made by Irishmen in the great military campaigns of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Still means nothing to me. That's what comes of not having kids going through the education system anymore.
Anyway. going back to the original question as to what battles and campaigns resulted in VCs being dished out, it certainly seems that they were much more freely awarded in the 19th century compared to the 20th. As most of us know, 13 were awarded for the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879. There also seems to have been a clutch awarded at Luknow in 1857.
Anyway. going back to the original question as to what battles and campaigns resulted in VCs being dished out, it certainly seems that they were much more freely awarded in the 19th century compared to the 20th. As most of us know, 13 were awarded for the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879. There also seems to have been a clutch awarded at Luknow in 1857.
Or perhaps because news was just about to hit the papers of the defeat at Isandlwana earlier the same day - apparently the government of the time sought to "spin" the news stories by playing down the massacre and playing up the heroism.
(Doesn't mean they didn't deserve them, though)
(Doesn't mean they didn't deserve them, though)
I wonder if it is because of the fewer skirmishes that happened pre-1901 where single acts of bravery could be witnessed confirmed and awarded. Wheres during WWI and WWII the battles were so prolonged, larger and involved many more people the act needed to stand out from all the other bravery to be awarded the VC. If all the brave acts of WWI & WWII received the VC then so many would have to be given out it might cheapen the high regard of recieving the VC. Not that any of them were not deserving of such high honours.
vlc said:
i saw a docu on discovery channel about that flight 93 on 9-11 incident, an thought it'll be a nice idea if the MOD awarded its british passenger todd beamer, the victoria cross - after all, it were he who said 'roll it' - so he must have been involved in the fight back.
He was a civilian, so not eligible. As I posted earlier, he could be awarded the George Cross, same value as the VC, but awarded to civilians or the military, when not in a war.
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