# List of Victoria Cross recipients from the British 2nd Division

The Victoria Cross (VC) 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. All those who earn the VC have their names published in The London Gazette.
The 2nd Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which was formed and disbanded several times over a 200-year period. It was raised in 1854, to take part in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire. It played an important role in the Battle of Inkerman, and was engaged throughout the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855). In 1856, after the conclusion of hostilities, the division was disbanded. During the war, ten VCs were earned by members of the division. It was formed again, in 1899, for service in the Second Boer War. The division took part in all the notable battles that made up the Relief of Ladysmith. At the end of 1900, when conventional warfare ended, the division was broken-up so its forces could be reassigned in an effort to combat the Boer guerrilla tactics. During this period, a further eight VCs were earned by soldiers who were part of the division. The division was reformed in 1902, and went on to fight in many of the major battles on the Western Front during the First World War (1914–1918). During the four years of war, eighteen members of the division earned VCs. The division next saw combat during the Second World War (1939–1945), which resulted in three more soldiers being awarded the VC. Since the Second World War, the division has not been in battle and was disbanded for the final time in 2012.

## Recipients

| Date of action | Rank | Name | Unit | Place of action | Country of action |
| 26 October 1854 | Brevet-Major | John Conolly | 49th Regiment of Foot | Inkerman, Crimea | Russia |
| 26 October 1854 | Sergeant Major | Ambrose Madden | 41st Regiment of Foot | Inkerman, Crimea | Russia |
| 30 October 1854 | Corporal | James Owens | 49th Regiment of Foot | Crimea | Russia |
| 5 November 1854 | Private | Thomas Beach | 55th Regiment of Foot | Inkerman, Crimea | Russia |
| 5 November 1854 | Private | John McDermond | 47th Regiment of Foot | Inkerman, Crimea | Russia |
| 5 November 1854 | Brevet-Major | Hugh Rowlands | 41st Regiment of Foot | Inkerman, Crimea | Russia |
| 5 November 1854 | Brevet-Major | Mark Walker | 30th Regiment of Foot | Inkerman, Crimea | Russia |
| 5 November 1854 | Sergeant | George Walters | 49th Regiment of Foot | Inkerman, Crimea | Russia |
| 8 September 1855 | Lieutenant-Colonel | Frederick Maude | 3rd Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | Russia |
| 8 September 1855 | Private | John Connors | 3rd Regiment of Foot | Sevastopol, Crimea | Russia |
| 15 December 1899 | Major | William Babtie | Royal Army Medical Corps | Colenso | Natal |
| 15 December 1899 | Captain | Walter Congreve | Rifle Brigade | Colenso | Natal |
| 15 December 1899 | Corporal | George Nurse | Royal Field Artillery | Colenso | Natal |
| 15 December 1899 | Captain | Hamilton Reed | Royal Field Artillery | Colenso | Natal |
| 15 December 1899 | Lieutenant | Frederick Roberts | King's Royal Rifle Corps | Colenso | Natal |
| 15 December 1899 | Captain | Harry Schofield | Royal Field Artillery | Colenso | Natal |
| 23 February 1900 | Private | Albert Curtis | East Surrey Regiment | Wynne's Hill | Natal |
| 27 February 1900 | Captain | Conwyn Mansel-Jones | West Yorkshire Regiment | Tugela | Natal |
| 23 August 1914 | Corporal | Charles Garforth | 15th The King's Hussars | Harmingnies | Belgium |
| 25–26 August 1914 | Lance Corporal | George Wyatt | Coldstream Guards | Landrecies | France |
| 14 September 1914 | Private | George Wilson | Highland Light Infantry | Verneuil | France |
| 19–20 September 1914 | Captain | Harry Ranken | Royal Army Medical Corps | Haute-Avesnes | France |
| 28 September 1914 | Lance Corporal | Frederick Dobson | Coldstream Guards | Near Soupir | France |
| 29 October–8 November 1914 | Lieutenant | Arthur Martin-Leake | Royal Army Medical Corps | Zonnebeke | Belgium |
| 11 November 1914 | Lieutenant | Walter Brodie | Highland Light Infantry | Becelaere | Belgium |
| 1 February 1915 | Lance Corporal | Michael O'Leary | Irish Guards | Cuinchy | France |
| 16 May 1915 | Lance Corporal | Joseph Tombs | King's (Liverpool Regiment) | Rue du Bois | France |
| 25 September 1915 | Captain | Arthur Kilby | South Staffordshire Regiment | Cuinchy | France |
| 27 September 1915 | Corporal | Alfred Burt | Hertfordshire Regiment | Cuinchy | France |
| 16 November 1915 | Second Lieutenant | Alexander Turner | Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) | Vermelles | France |
| 24 October 1916 | Sergeant | Albert Gill | King's Royal Rifle Corps | Delville Wood | France |
| 17 February 1917 | Lance Sergeant | Frederick Palmer | Royal Fusiliers | Near Miraumont | France |
| 29 April 1917 | Lance Corporal | James Welch | Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment) | Oppy | France |
| 30 November 1917 | Lieutenant (Acting Captain) | Walter Stone | Royal Fusiliers | Near Moeuvres | France |
| 30 November–1 December 1917 | Lieutenant (Acting Captain) | Allastair McReady-Diarmid | Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) | Near Moeuvres | France |
| 16 April 1918 | Private | Jack Counter | King's (Liverpool Regiment) | Boisieux St. Marc | France |
| 15–16 May 1940 | Second Lieutenant | Richard Annand | Durham Light Infantry | River Dyle | Belgium |
| 21 May 1940 | Company Sergeant-Major | George Gristock | Royal Norfolk Regiment | River Escaut near Tournai | Belgium |
| 4–6 May 1944 | Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) | John Randle | Royal Norfolk Regiment | Kohima | India |