# List of Crimean War Victoria Cross recipients

The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 111 members of the British Armed Forces during the Crimean War (also known as the Russian War) that lasted from 1854 to 1856. The Victoria Cross is a 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. The VC was introduced in Great Britain on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. It takes precedence over all other Orders, decorations and medals; it may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The first ceremony was held on 26 June 1857 where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in Hyde Park.
In 1854, the Crimean War broke out between the Russian Empire and an alliance of France, Great Britain, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire. One of the first battles of the War was the Battle of the Alma where allied forces convincingly defeated the Russian forces. The Siege of Sevastapol followed shortly after in September 1854; it was to last for a year at the cost of over 128,000 lives, three-quarters of which died from disease. After the siege at Sevastapol, the fighting mainly ceased and on 30 March 1856, after two years of action, the Russians negotiated a Peace Treaty at the Congress of Paris. The Treaty set the Black Sea as neutral territory, closing it to all warships, and prohibiting fortifications and the presence of armaments on its shores. The Crimean War led to a number of large-scale changes in the British Army. The sale of commissions came under great scrutiny during the war, especially in connection with the Battle of Balaclava, which saw the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade. This scrutiny eventually led to the abolition of the sale of commissions.
The dispatches of William Howard Russell during the war highlighted how many acts of bravery and valour by British servicemen went unrewarded. There was a growing feeling amongst the public and in the Royal Court that a new award was needed to recognise incidents of gallantry that were unconnected with a man's lengthy or meritorious service. Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign-manual on 29 January 1856 (gazetted 5 February 1856) that officially constituted the VC. The order was backdated to 1854 to recognise acts of valour during the Crimean War. The first awards ceremony was held on 26 June 1857 where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in a ceremony in Hyde Park.
Citations for the Crimean War, particularly those in the first gazette of 24 February 1857, listed multiple actions for about a third of the recipients. The format of each citation varied between recipients, some specify the actual date, some the name of the battle and others have both sets of information.
Until 1907, it was policy not to award the VC posthumously. Between 1857 and 1901, nine notices were published in the London Gazette for soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, medals were sent to the next of kin of the three mentioned for the Boer War and at the same time the first three official posthumous awards, again for the Boer War, were gazetted. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the remaining six officers and men. As a result of the change of policy, one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous but it was only in the general revision of the warrant issued in 1920 that a clause was inserted to explicitly allow posthumous awards.

## Recipients

| Name | Unit | Date of action | Place of action |
| Alfred Ablett | Grenadier Guards | 1855-09-022 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Alexander | 09090th Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Thomas Arthur | Royal Regiment of Artillery | 1855-06-077 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Thomas Beach | 05555th Regiment of Foot | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| Edward Bell | Royal Welch Fusiliers | 1854-09-2020 September 1854 | Alma, Crimea |
| John Berryman | 01717th Lancers | 1854-10-2525 October 1854 | Balaclava, Crimea |
| Claud Bourchier | Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) | 1854-11-2020 November 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Joseph Bradshaw | Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) | 1855-04-2222 April 1855 | Woronzoff Road, Crimea |
| Cecil Buckley | HMS Miranda | 1855-05-2929 May 1855 | Sea of Azov, Crimea |
| Hugh Burgoyne | HMS Swallow | 1855-05-2929 May 1855 | Sea of Azov, Crimea |
| John Byrne | 06868th Regiment of Foot | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| John Bythesea | HMS Arrogant | 1854-08-099 August 1854 | Åland, Finland |
| Daniel Cambridge | Royal Regiment of Artillery | 1855-09-088 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Henry Clifford | Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| William Coffey | 03434th Regiment of Foot | 1855-03-2929 March 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Coleman | 09797th Regiment of Foot | 1855-08-3030 August 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Commerell | HMS Weser | 1855-10-1111 October 1855 | Sea of Azov, Crimea |
| John Connors | 0033rd Regiment of Foot | 1855-09-088 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Conolly | 04949th Regiment of Foot | 1854-10-2626 October 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Henry Cooper | HMS Miranda | 1855-06-033 June 1855 | Taganrog, Crimea |
| James Craig | Scots Fusiliers Guards | 1855-09-066 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| William Cuninghame | Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) | 1854-11-2020 November 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Henry Curtis | Naval Brigade | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Edward Daniel | HMS Diamond | 1854-10-1818 October 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Gronow Davis | Royal Regiment of Artillery | 1855-09-088 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| George Day | HMS Recruit | 1855-09-1717 September 1855 | Genitichi, Crimea |
| Collingwood Dickson | Royal Regiment of Artillery | 1854-10-1717 October 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Matthew Dixon | Royal Regiment of Artillery | 1855-04-1717 April 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| George Dowell | Royal Marine Artillery | 1855-07-1313 July 1855 | Fort of Viborg, Finland |
| Alexander Dunn | 01111th Hussars | 1854-10-2525 October 1854 | Balaclava, Crimea |
| Howard Elphinstone | Corps of Royal Engineers | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Frederick Elton | 05555th Regiment of Foot | 1855-03-2929 March 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Thomas Esmonde | 01818th Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Samuel Evans | 01919th Regiment of Foot | 1855-04-1313 April 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Farrell | 01717th Lancers | 1854-10-2525 October 1854 | Balaclava, Crimea |
| George Gardiner | 05757th Regiment of Foot | 1855-03-2222 March 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Gerald Goodlake | Coldstream Guards | 1854-10-2828 October 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| James Gorman | Naval Brigade | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| Thomas Grady | 0044th Regiment of Foot | 1854-10-1818 October 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Gerald Graham | Corps of Royal Engineers | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Grieve | Royal Scots Greys | 1854-10-2525 October 1854 | Balaclava, Crimea |
| Thomas Hale | 0077th Regiment of Foot | 1855-09-088 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Thomas Hamilton | 06868th Regiment of Foot | 1855-05-1111 May 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Andrew Henry | Royal Regiment of Artillery | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| William Hewett | HMS Beagle | 1854-10-2626 October 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| William Hope | 0077th Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Mathew Hughes | 0077th Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-077 June 1855 18 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Robert Humpston | Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) | 1855-04-2222 April 1855 | Woronzoff Road, Crimea |
| George Ingouville | HMS Arrogant | 1855-07-1313 July 1855 | Fort of Viborg, Finland |
| William Johnstone | HMS Arrogant | 1854-08-099 August 1854 | Åland Islands, Finland |
| Henry Jones | 0077th Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-077 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Joseph Kellaway | HMS Wrangler | 1855-08-3131 August 1855 | Sea of Azov, Crimea |
| John Knox | Scots Fusiliers Guards | 1854-09-2020 September 1854 | Alma, Crimea |
| Peter Leitch | Corps of Royal Engineers | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| William Lendrim | Corps of Royal Engineers | 1855-02-1414 February 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Wilbraham Lennox | Corps of Royal Engineers | 1854-11-2020 November 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Robert Lindsay | Scots Fusiliers Guards | 1854-09-2020 September 1854 | Alma, Crimea |
| Charles Lucas | HMS Hecla | 1854-06-2121 June 1854 | Åland Islands, Finland |
| Charles Lumley | 09797th Regiment of Foot | 1855-09-088 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Lyons | 01919th Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-1010 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Henry MacDonald | Corps of Royal Engineers | 1855-04-1919 April 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Ambrose Madden | 04141st Regiment of Foot | 1854-10-2626 October 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| Joseph Malone | 01313th Light Dragoons | 1854-10-2525 October 1854 | Balaclava, Crimea |
| Frederick Maude | 0033rd Regiment of Foot | 1855-09-055 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Charles McCorrie | 05757th Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-2323 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John McDermond | 04747th Regiment of Foot | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| Roderick McGregor | Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) | 1855-04-22July 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| James McKechnie | Scots Fusilier Guards | 1854-09-2020 September 1854 | Alma, Crimea |
| William McWheeney | 04444th Regiment of Foot | 1854-10-2020 October 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Frederick Miller | Royal Regiment of Artillery | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| James Mouat | 0066th Dragoons | 1854-10-2626 October 1854 | Balaclava, Crimea |
| Andrew Moynihan | 09090th Regiment of Foot | 1855-09-088 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| William Norman | 0077th Regiment of Foot | 1854-12-1919 December 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Luke O'Connor | Royal Welch Fusiliers | 1854-09-2020 September 1854 | Alma, Crimea |
| James Owens | 04949th Regiment of Foot | 1854-10-3030 October 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Anthony Palmer | Grenadier Guards | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| John Park | 07777th Regiment of Foot | 1855-04-1919 April 1855 | Alma, Crimea Inkerman, Crimea |
| Samuel Parkes | 0044th Light Dragoons | 1854-10-2525 October 1854 | Balaclava, Crimea |
| William Peel | Naval Brigade | 1854-10-1818 October 1854 5 November 1854 18 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Henry Percy | Grenadier Guards | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| John Perie | Corps of Royal Engineers | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Prettyjohns | Royal Marine Light Infantry | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| Joseph Prosser | 0011st Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-1616 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Henry Raby | Naval Brigade | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Henry Ramage | 0022nd Dragoons | 1854-10-2525 October 1854 | Balaclava, Crimea |
| Thomas Reeves | Naval Brigade | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| William Reynolds | Scots Fusiliers Guards | 1854-09-2020 September 1854 | Alma, Crimea |
| William Rickard | HMS Weser | 1855-10-1111 October 1855 | Sea of Azov, Crimea |
| John Robarts | HMS Ardent | 1855-05-2929 May 1855 | Sea of Azov, Crimea |
| John Ross | Corps of Royal Engineers | 1855-07-2121 July 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Hugh Rowlands | 04141st Regiment of Foot | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| Charles Russell | Grenadier Guards | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| Mark Scholefield | Naval Brigade | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| John Sheppard | Naval Brigade | 1855-07-1515 July 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Robert Shields | Royal Welch Fusiliers | 1855-09-088 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Sims | 03434th Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Philip Smith | 01717th Regiment of Foot | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| William Stanlake | Coldstream Guards | 1854-10-2626 October 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| George Strong | Coldstream Guards | 1855-09-00September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| John Sullivan | Naval Brigade | 1855-04-1010 April 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| William Sylvester | Royal Welch Fusiliers | 1855-09-088 September 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| George Symons | Royal Regiment of Artillery | 1855-06-066 June 1855 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| John Taylor | Naval Brigade | 1855-06-1818 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Christopher Teesdale | Royal Regiment of Artillery | 1855-09-2229 September 1855 | Kars, Turkey |
| Joseph Trewavas | HMS Beagle | 1855-07-033 July 1855 | Sea of Azov, Crimea |
| Mark Walker | 03030th Regiment of Foot | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| George Walters | 04949th Regiment of Foot | 1854-11-055 November 1854 | Inkerman, Crimea |
| Francis Wheatley | Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) | 1854-10-1212 October 1854 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Thomas Wilkinson | Royal Marine Artillery | 1855-06-077 June 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |
| Charles Wooden | 01717th Lancers | 1854-10-2626 October 1854 | Balaclava, Crimea |
| Alexander Wright | 07777th Regiment of Foot | 1855-03-2222 March 1855 19 April 1855 | Sevastopol, Crimea |